KT Tunstall is unplugged by power cut disaster… 45 seconds into her big New York night

Playing one of the most iconic music venues in the world can prove a bit of a nerve-jangler for even the biggest rock stars.

But Scots singer KT Tunstall must have wished she was On The Other Side Of The World when her first appearance at the legendary Madison Square Garden was almost ruined by a power failure.

Recounting the near-calamity, Ms Tunstall said she was faced with the sound of silence when her guitars and amps stopped working just 45 seconds into her performance at the New York venue. 

In a podcast, she told Scots comedian Craig Ferguson how she was due to open a gig for US duo Hall & Oates when disaster struck.

Ms Turnstall, whose songs include Suddenly I See and Float, said: ‘This was February 25, 2020, so it was just before everything shut down [due to the pandemic]. 

Madison Square Garden is just Holy Grail and it’s just not on your bingo card of life that you might ever get to play that place. I was so excited.’

Technicians were able to locate a loose connection and plug Tunstall back into the mains, allowing her to finish her 20-minute set with the hit Suddenly I See

She told the latest episode of Ferguson’s Joy podcast series: ‘I’m there, 45 seconds into my song and all my gear craps out. The lights turn off. It is dead. 

‘I have no equipment, my guitar’s not working, but for some reason my mic is still working. And so I’m f****** on stage with my pants down with a microphone in front of 20,000 people.

‘I just felt myself go, “F*** it, no abyss, go!” And I just got on the mic and went, “Madison Square Garden, if the 15-year-old me could see the 47-year-old me standing on stage at Madison Square Garden while all of her stuff f***s up, she’d be delighted!”’

Technicians were able to locate a loose connection and plug her back into the mains, allowing her to finish her 20-minute set with the hit Suddenly I See.

By then, the delighted crowd were able to hear as well.