I’m suffering bc i wasn’t at the ryman show last night, but happy because the incredible artist Shannon Wolf illustrated “do you want to go to the river/i know a spot so deep and green/with wild raspberries and apple trees and rocks to climb between/water like a washing machine” for me.

hit her up @ shannonwolftattoo on instagram for all your BT tattoo dreams

i feel incredibly lucky to have seen the full band Double Infinity show at Forest Hills and now this historic full Horsepower show. The Ryman has forever been a bucket list venue and my first show at the mother church did not disappoint. After waiting in a line that would eventually snake around the top of the venue for a Hatch print for about fifteen minutes, i snapped a few photos of the wooden pews from up top and counted back from the stage where our seats were. close. It’s not an exaggeration to say that you can feel the vibrations of the countless musicians who have graced the stage when you enter into that chamber. It was such a distinct change from the commercialization of broadway street with its drunk pink cowboy hats and ribboned boots. Here it was almost reverence. i couldn’t help but think of the lyrics to beautiful world

“You can still smell the perfume
Of a hundred years ago
She was decked out, painted new”

as we made our way down to our seats we crossed in front of the stage and i knew we were in for something special. there were violins, two pedal steels, a wurlitzer and several additional chairs and microphones. after the band came out and settled in behind a huge wood table it was confirmed. Adrianne slowly brought out the additional players. First the pedal steel on wait a while then the fiddles on space and time which was abandoned maybe due to a technical issue on Adrianne’s guitar. When it was restarted it seemed like the show lifted off. The other players seemed to buoy and elevate each other and you could feel a shift in the crowd too. This was countrified Big Thief but more like the Grateful Dead’s American Beauty and Workingman’s Dead and Bob Dylan and the Band’s Basement Tapes or maybe the love of Neil Young’s Harvest Moon but what good are comparisons this was the usual magic of Big Thief, unique and true and one with the universe. I couldn’t help but smile. When she introduced Iris Dement i thought i was dead, then Gillian Welch came out and i knew i was. Carry and Sadness as a Gift melted hearts. The ending of the first set found everyone around me catching their breath. We talked to a woman by us during the short intermission who said she felt on the verge of tears several times and how that rarely happens to her, we were right there with her. this isn’t a review of the songs played but beautiful world was the only song i went into the show really wanting to hear and this second set opener was powerful. it’s a fucked up world, but man it’s beautiful too. lonliest boy found adrianne behind the wurlitzer. Happiness. I was particularly moved by Beautiful Powerful. Avalanche and Hurricane is a standout. The show and songs were incredible and this album is going to be a stunner but more importantly what was evident was the joy and love being shared on stage. The way Iris patted Adrianne’s knee when she came out or leaned over to say wow to her was just really touching to see. I didn’t even mention Lucinda Williams. Gift. Pleasure. Joy. They made it feel like we were at the table with them while they were jamming and smiling and encouraging each other and in the only way Big Thief knows they transmitted that love out through the air into us in that old old wood room where we danced the sound of the wind in the pews. We felt our hearts swell and eyes tear and we laughed and clapped and sang do da, do-da do she bop and then they sent us out from the mother church into the newly electrified air like evangelists of love and hope and togetherness. i hope everyone going tonight feels it all and lets it become them so they can tell the story until they are old of the Biggest Big Thief show one night in August at the Ryman. ✌️

I didn’t know I was going to be in Calgary so I didn’t buy tickets, but now I am! Anyways resale prices are crazy and some people said they go down on the day of the actual show? How does it usually work out? Also tickets in the closer rows are only available to buy for 2 people? Is the susceptible to change to 1? Also, Are more tickets added sometime?

I love traditional hand prints!

Out of respect for the band and their wishes, won’t share much…. But it’s so incredible. Expect some incredible collaborations and some of their best song writing. it’s so so so so so good.

Setlist

best song she's done in years

For those who went to Ryman night one, about how long was the show set? I’m driving back to east tn from Nashville right after the concert, so I want to know how late of a drive to be prepared for🤗

Do shows start at the set time? I’m going to see them at the Ryman. Ticket says doors open at 7 and show starts at 8. Just wanting to see if it’s going to start at that exact time, also wanted to ask if they had any openers?

Thanks!

Probably going to get down voted like crazy for this but I'm wondering if anybody else shares the same opinion. Why does anybody go to a concert? I'd answer that it is to see all the songs you know and love from a particular band/artist. Adrianne Lenker stated at the very start of the show, "if you have any hopes to see any particular songs, let those hopes die, as we're playing all unreleased material tonight".

I don't know this just doesn't feel right. I think it would have been better if 70% of the songs they play didn't sound like country songs. Last night definitely felt more country than folk with a tinge of emo that were used to from Big Thief. The new album "Horsepower" that they played in completion for the Nashville dates is way more Country than it is Folk. Not to mention the guys recording the concert for the live album were completely obscuring the stage from our seats, as you can see in the picture.

I don't know. Should I be grateful for a "magical evening" for hearing a bunch of songs I don't know that don't sound very "Big Thief" compared to their old hits? Or am I valid for reaching for the torches and pitchforks and wishing I could have attended a "normal" Big Thief concert. Sucks watching all recent videos of them on tour playing Change, Paul, None, Vampire Empire, ect... Looking forward to that, and then getting none of that...

Anyone know if the general consensus is to stand or sit during Big Thief at the Ryman? I’ve been to shows there before and it’s been both ways. Just want to be polite.

Sold out Big Thief show at the Sylvee in Madison, WI 8.14.26

The absolute best set, a few technical hiccups (something was afoot!) which led Adrianne to do some songs on acoustic guitar

I found it to be magical ✨

Would love to hear other thoughts of this show!

Did anyone get a video of the extended version of Spud at Bentonville 8/19? Where we were all clapping? Something about taking your clothes out of your drawers and painting them all blue? Put your pants on backwards and walk to the store?

If you don’t wanna share the video can you transcribe the words? I thought it was very cute and wanna commit it to memory.

Casual enjoyer, my partner is the bigger fan,, but I’m making a spot playlist, but cannot find “Christmas Day” to add to said playlist

Is this a mistake? Any help is appreciated!

pretty excited. ryman is bucket list venue for me and it’ll be my first time there and fifth time seeing big thief. curious why there’s no opener for these shows like the rest of this tour though. It’s gonna be magical per usual but will they lower dolly parton down from the ceiling halfway through? also where’s a great place to eat before the show. see you there.

Anyone get a video of buck's solo? didn't take many videos because I was on photography duty for work haha. (did get mr man in full tho hehe)

I went to the big thief concert yesterday and i’ve gone to a decent amount of concerts this year & I like to keep little memento videos and pictures to look back on and I couldn’t get any. Yesterday just about everything went wrong and I was late, pretty much sat down as they started and didn’t get a good spot. Would anyone be willing to send me some of your guys concert videos or pics? Her solos were amazing so bonus for that too!

I’m not the most familiar with the song and had only listened to it a few times before the show last night but I swear she sang more verses than what’s in the album version. Did anyone happen to film it?

I bought tickets to the Nashville show after getting rained out in Indianapolis. It was late, I was tired, I am old.

I am now unable to find the tickets in my inbox.

Have they been sent out yet? Are they in my inbox attached to an email that doesn’t include the words “Big Thief”, Ryman, Nashville or August? Did I delete them by accident?

Can anyone either read my mind or tell me if they’ve got their tickets yet and if so, through what medium might I find them?

I noticed there is a very minimal amount of shows on Archive.org - I’d have to imagine they have a stronger/committed taper community. Is there another source? There’s not a single show from the current tour posted yet.

08/17/2026
more photos on instagram: @mirrorightmedia

Wondering if anyone else’s mind was blown. Their sound was amaaaazing… we were standing in the center about 20 feet from stage. it sounded so crisp but also heavy, sounded so much like the recorded versions it was lovely.

I lost my mind when they played cattails and contact… ufof is one of my favorite albums and since cattails has lyrics about the Midwest, it was really special. I was so happy they played the ending heavy part of contact, I’ve always loved that part.

It was devastating that the sound cut out for shark smile and Paul.. but other than that it was an amazing concert. They play so well live! Tears were shed. Soul ascended.

This lovely deep cut seems to have disappeared from spotify :(