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Big Thief debuts upcoming triple album at surprise Nashville shows

The indie rock band performed unreleased material alongside a 13-piece ensemble featuring guest folk and country artists at the Ryman Auditorium.

The short version

  • Big Thief performed two surprise weekend concerts at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, debuting songs from an upcoming triple album titled 'Horsepower'.
  • The core band expanded into a 13-piece ensemble featuring guest vocalists and instrumentalists including Iris DeMent, Gillian Welch, Rodney Crowell, and Lucinda Williams.
  • The three-hour performances featured new arrangements, extended jams, and guest solos spanning folk, country, and psychedelic rock.
  • The album 'Horsepower' is scheduled for release next year.

Key facts

  • Big Thief performed surprise concerts at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville over the weekend.[NPR]
  • The band debuted songs from their forthcoming triple album, 'Horsepower', which was recorded at Sound Emporium in May.[NPR]
  • 'Horsepower' is scheduled to be released next year.[NPR]
  • The quartet expanded into a 13-piece ensemble for the three-hour shows, incorporating pedal steel players, fiddlers, and guest vocalists.[NPR]
  • Featured guest performers included Iris DeMent, Gillian Welch, Rodney Crowell, Lucinda Williams, Russ Pahl, Greg Leisz, Hannah Read, Zosha Warpeha, and Richard Bowden.[NPR]

What remains uncertain

  • The exact release date for the album 'Horsepower' has not been announced beyond a general timeline of next year.[NPR]

Sources