Scotland's Paolo Nutini truly leads a charmed life. At the age of 20, he will return to Austin to perform at ACL Fest for a second consecutive year and at Stubb's (along with Peter, Bjorn, and John in support) for an ACL aftershow. Last year, he also had the honor of taping an episode of the Austin City Limits television program. Nutini's debut disc These Streets has gone platinum in the UK, and as a result, he's already opened for the likes of Paul Weller and The Rolling Stones. This fall, he'll co-headline a North American theater tour with troubled sensation Amy Winehouse (if she shows up). Somewhere between being compared to Al Green and sharing a stage with Solomon Burke, the pop-rock sensation found time to speak with Austinist about last year's festival experience and the troubles of writing a second album on the road.

You played ACL before as a newcomer before. How was the experience for you last year?

Last year was so bloody hot! We had a morning radio session to do, which we spruced up with some "Texas Teas". We were on early, so it was nice to see the crowd gather gradually as we played. It's all very relaxed in Austin.

The organizers also got you to tape an episode of the Austin City Limits TV show. Had you even seen the program before since you're based in Scotland?

I had never seen the show at all prior to taping it. Although...as soon as you walk in the studios, you get the sense that you have. I mean, the portraits of past performers seem pretty familiar. It was a very surreal and happy night.

Your debut album These Streets has proven so popular that you've been touring a great deal. Have you had time to write material for a second album yet?

I'm writing all the time, but songs haven't been coming as easy, though. It's weird: when I was writing the songs that became the first album, I felt lonely and was needing some respite. Now there are people with me on tour all the time. It's a big difference in situation. You experience more, but less, if you get what I mean.

We've read that you were invited on stage once with soul legend Solomon Burke. Is that a career highlight?

Yeah. It was at the Montreux Jazz Festival last year. I was invited to take part in a show for the late Ahmet Ertegun. Les McCann played first, then I got to play two tunes. Ben E. King followed, and Solomon Burke was to bring an end to the first half of the show. For his last song, he did a version of "What'd I Say" by Ray Charles and called up Les McCann to join him, who in turn called up Ben E. King, who to my delight called me up. That will always be an amazing moment for me.

Scotland is certainly contributing a lot of great bands to rock music these days. Do you have a favorite, and are there newcomers you'd recommend?

I love The View who are from Dundee, and The Fratellis are also great but just don't quite have the same spirit for me. There's always been a lot of great Scottish bands around though, like The Delgados. Aberfeldy have some wicked songs as well.

Your home country is beautiful, but the weather can be dreary. Has there been a city on tour that you'd like to live in someday?

Montreux is amazing. In fact, Switzerland is amazing on the whole.

You spent some time opening for Paul Weller, who we love. Is he a nicer guy than the media makes him out to be?

He's always been nice to me and whoever I've been with at the time. He does enjoy a good drink though, and I could see how he could offend some folk.

American audiences are fairly new to big, outdoor rock festivals. You've played ACL, Bonnaroo, Glastonbury, and Montreux among others. Is there a "best music festival" in the world in your opinion?

Not really. I'm inclined to say T In The Park, as it's the big Scottish festival, but to be honest, they all have their own charm. The American weather does mean you have to drink a whole lot more water alongside your booze, or else you might fall down. Several times.

Finally, will you take some time during ACL to have some beers and check out some of the other bands (Arctic Monkeys, White Stripes, Arcade Fire, Bjork, etc.)?

I'm going to try and take in as much as I can. It should be ace.

Paolo Nutini will perform at The Austin City Limits Festival on Saturday, September 15th at 2:30pm.

[Paolo Nutini Official Site]
[Paolo Nutini MySpace]

Image via Paolo Nutini's MySpace; photo by Clive Goodwin from a 2006 Austin, TX performance.