Paolo Nutini: A Soulful Return to the Highlands

As the sun sets over the Corran Halls in Oban, Paolo Nutini takes to the stage, bringing with him an Italian breeze and a Scottish edge that’s all too familiar. After a five-year hiatus, the Paisley artist is back, and his fans are eager to indulge in his soulful melodies once more.

Paolo Nutini performing live at the Corran Halls in Oban

The crowd is rowdy, fueled by the excitement of seeing their beloved artist return to the stage. But Nutini handles the energy with calm and cool, his humility and gratitude palpable as he launches into his new track, Afterneath. The instrumental stirs and spoken word draw from the pent-up energy in the bobbing heads below, setting the tone for a night that promises to be both intimate and energetic.

“Thank you for listening to all the new songs… the sooner we play them, they’ll become old fucking songs, if you know what I mean.”

Nutini’s ability to balance the old with the new is a delicate one, but he navigates it with ease, cleverly steering the show away from being a greatest hits setlist. Old tracks are reworked and styled differently, while new tracks are introduced with a humble offering. The crowd is on board, and Nutini has them firmly in his grasp.

Paolo Nutini and his band bring the house down at the Corran Halls

Candy, once a solo endeavor, is now played with a full band backing and electric guitar slides that give the track a fuller sound. The room is in perfect unison, the lyrics ingrained in our minds as Nutini’s soulful raspiness soars.

In moments, the band steps out, leaving Nutini alone on stage with an acoustic guitar and a stool. It’s a playful and personal moment, one that feels like a private conversation with the artist. He soothes his soulful raspiness with Dream A Little Dream of Me, the gig feeling like a personal reflection of what Nutini is feeling in the moment.

Pencil Full of Lead is unrecognizable, stripped down to its bare essentials, and it’s here that Nutini’s growth as an artist is most evident. The lyrics are heard like never before, a reflection of an older Nutini looking back on his past.

The night closes with Writer, a new track that showcases Nutini’s storytelling abilities. It’s an intimate conversation, one that clutches the chaotic yet loving crowd for a moment and pulls them closer.

Paolo Nutini closes the show with his new track, Writer