No re-percussions as 'stolen' tambourine returned to KT Tunstall

Singer KT Tunstall launched an online appeal after her tambourine was stolen at a gig, guilt-tripping the thief into sending it back to her in a taxi.

She was packing up after a performance in Wick in the Scottish Highlands on Friday night, when she and her band realised the trusty instrument had been filched.

Suspecting that an overenthusiastic fan had taken it as a souvenir, the singer launched a Twitter appeal to track it down using the hashtag #wherestambo.

She posted: “Wick! Amazing show thank you but someone stole my tambourine off stage; if you know where it is please return to the Mackay Hotel tomorrow am.”

She added that the long-serving tambourine with its gaffer-taped edges and wonky chimes was of sentimental value and she was desperate to get it back in one piece.

The following morning, the tambourine materialised – turning up at the door of the Mackay Hotel. By itself. In a taxi.

She sent word to her relieved fans on Twitter updating them on the good health of her favourite percussion piece, saying: “We did it! I got my tambo back. Thanks for your help. Hey, sometimes excitement gets the better of us!”

The singer was so thrilled by her tambo’s return she penned an instant classic hit: “I got my tambo back” a catchy tune she uploaded to Twitter on Saturday.

Some fans who joined the hunt took it more seriously than others. One of them, @carlroc, tweeted beneath a picture of action hero Rambo brandishing a tambourine.

BroadcastingScotland ‏@broadcastscot Aug 20 tweeted: @KTTunstall Hey Mister tambourine thief, bring back my tambourine or on a jingle-jangle morning, I’ll come following you.”