Big Thief brought their distinctive blend of intimacy and intensity to Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom on Saturday 30 May, the first of two sold-out nights at the iconic venue.
Outside, heavy Glasgow rain soaked anyone making their way to the gig. Inside, the packed crowd created a suitably steamy atmosphere long before the headliners took to the stage.
The current line-up comprises Adrianne Lenker, Buck Meek and James Krivchenia, joined on tour by bass guitarist Joshua Crumbly. Before Big Thief appeared, however, the audience were treated to a memorable support set from Ata Kak.
In one word, Ata Kak was joyful.
It’s fair to say that many in the crowd were unfamiliar with the Ghanaian artist before he stepped on stage, but that did not stop them dancing from the outset. Performing songs, primarily in Twi, a major dialect of the Akan language spoken in Ghana, the lyrical content may have been lost on much of the audience. The infectious rhythms certainly were not. His set was full of energy, warmth and personality, and he succeeded in getting the crowd moving while perfectly setting the tone for the evening ahead.
Big Thief opened their set with “Masterpiece”, the title track from their debut album and one of their most recognisable songs. It was an inspired choice, immediately drawing the crowd into the performance. With such a substantial back catalogue, the band have been varying their setlists throughout the tour, ensuring each night offers something unique.
“Simulation Swarm” and “Muscle Memory” followed, with the audience recognising both songs from the opening notes. During “Muscle Memory”, Adrianne Lenker delivered a stunning guitar solo, appearing completely absorbed in the moment before looking up and smiling towards the enthusiastic Glasgow crowd.
Material from the band’s latest release, “Double Infinity”, made up much of the evening’s set. A particular highlight came when Lenker performed “All Night All Day” solo, creating one of the night’s most intimate moments. In a venue packed with thousands of people, she somehow made it feel as though she was playing to each person individually.
“Not” was one of the biggest crowd-pleasers of the evening. The song’s sprawling, emotional build-up was greeted enthusiastically, and it was later revealed that it had been written during a previous visit to Scotland, adding an extra connection between the band and the audience.
As the main set drew to a close, “Vampire Empire” provided a fitting finale. One of Big Thief’s most celebrated recent songs, it was met with a huge response from the Barrowland crowd and capped off an outstanding main set.
The encore featured “Spud Infinity” and “Incomprehensible”, sending the audience home on a high. As the final notes faded and the lights came up, the crowd reluctantly made their way back out into the wet Glasgow night.
Big Thief have built a reputation as one of the most compelling live bands of their generation, and this performance showed exactly why. Across nearly two hours, they moved effortlessly between delicate folk, expansive rock and moments of pure improvisational magic. For the first of two sold-out Barrowland shows, it felt less like a band playing a concert and more like a group of musicians sharing something genuinely special with an audience willing to follow them wherever the songs might lead.
Words and pictures: Allan Petrie @albabrae