‘So rogue’: country superstar Shania Twain turns London pub into saloon

‘Shacklewell Arms! Here we go.’ Shania Twain performs at the pub. Photograph: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for ABA View image in fullscreen ‘Shacklewell Arms! Here we go.’ Shania Twain performs at the pub. Photograph: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for ABA ‘So rogue’: country superstar Shania Twain turns London pub into saloon Fans from across UK descend on Shacklewell Arms for intimate gig that leaves them wanting one thing more I n the Shacklewell Arms in east London, the usual crowd of hipsters and indie music fans had been replaced by a throng dressed in leopard print, double denim and cowboy hats to pay tribute to the night’s headliner: Shania Twain . “We thought we might have been scammed when we saw the ticket announcement,” said Jack, 28, who came with his sister Amy. “Why would she do a pub this small?” There was a collective sense of disbelief among the lucky 200 ticketholders that they were about to see the bestselling female country artist singing in a dingy back room. Best friends Emma, 26, and Ava, 28, thought it was “so rogue” to see Twain in a pub that used to be their local. The Shacklewell Arms was turned into an old-school saloon for the night to honour Twain, complete with a wall of complimentary cowboy hats and bandanas. Fans travelled from across the UK for the once-in-a-lifetime gig. Nathan, 35, from Scotland, covered in old merch, was here to see her for the eighth time. “Why is she doing this? I don’t care. I only usually get to see her in large concerts. So it’s special to see her up close and personal.” View image in fullscreen The Shacklewell Arms. Photograph: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for ABA Just minutes later, Twain bounded on stage and announced: “Shacklewell Arms! Here we go. Are you ready?” Then she launched into her new single, Dirty Rosie. Once the song was finished, Twain, dressed in a black skin-tight bodysuit with matching boots, welcomed the audience “to [her] very first time in a small bar since [she] was a child”. “When I was a kid, I started on stages just like this,” said Twain. “They would say, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the stage Little Miss Twain.’ And I would get up there and sing my country songs.” For one hour, Twain was back to being a bar singer in a sweaty, cramped room. Every song was punctuated by a quick anecdote. No One Needs to Know was written in the room at a golf resort where she worked. Come On Over was a “very weak album title”, but it represented the “inclusive, welcoming” feel she wanted. Pat Benatar’s Hit Me With Your Best Shot influenced Twain to write That Don’t Impress Me Much. View image in fullscreen A fan gets ready for the gig. Photograph: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for ABA The cosy atmosphere led Twain to ask about UK fan favourite songs. The crowd unanimously responded with When, a top 20 hit from Come On Over. So Twain dutifully treated the fans to a snippet of the chorus, followed by You Win My Love, Don’t Be Stupid, and From This Moment On. Twain’s intimate pub performance is