Indianapolis, Indiana - April 14th, 2026

Billie Marten is absolutely one of the great songwriters of our generation. Through touching lyrics with evocative images and complex emotions, her writing is soothing and inspiring in every single component. Following the release of her fifth studio record, Dog Eared, and its accompanying worldwide tour last summer, Marten announced an additional North American leg spanning the Southern and Midwestern United States.

Marking the final quarter of stops on her tour, Marten stopped by Turntable in Indianapolis to share a few of her songs. After a magnificent opening set from indie artist Squirrel Flower (including a decadently harmonious performance of “Wheels,” the recently released collaboration between Squirrel Flower and Billie Marten), the stage was fully stripped to just one chair and a few guitars for Billie Marten to perform with. She opened her set with the magical “Feeling,” the opening track from Dog Eared. It was a truly special experience; her delicate vocals paired with the gentle guitar still managed to fill the room with such an inspiring presence that immediately entranced the entire audience.

One of the most compelling moments of the evening was “Willow.” Billie Marten shared a dedication to those who she and everyone in the audience might possibly miss due to any form of separation. The powerful feelings of loss and yearning were represented elegantly through her performance and the accompanying whisper that echoed throughout the crowd as they sang along. Marten showcased her excellent story-telling skills throughout “Willow,” keeping listeners latched on to every single word through her intimate way of performance.

Billie Marten’s story-telling extends beyond simply her songs. She charmed the entire audience while explaining the backstories behind her songs and how she tries to capture specific moments through her lyricism. One of the best was her explanation of “Planets;” she talked about how the song is about her favorite bar in the whole world: DD’s Double Shots in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The singer said the song was about the joys of stumbling back home after a night out with friends. It was simple, sweet, and somber all wrapped together, making for a moment where everyone got to smile and sway together along with the music.

She offered to share a new song with the audience as well, “Rat Trap.” This song explored a really interesting tone for Marten; the song encapsulates simplicity, dissonance, and brilliance all in one. It stood out amongst the rest of her setlist in a very positive way, and it’s reassuring to know that Marten has continued to utilize her gift of lyricism since the release of her last record. We’ll definitely be keeping our eyes out for the official release of “Rat Trap;” in the meantime, we’ll stay dreaming about the song’s gritty yet tender vocal performance and the enchanting isolation imbued within the track.

Midway through the set, Marten jokingly inquired about there being any whiskey in the establishment, and an excited fan from the crowd exclaimed that he would be happy to buy her a shot. In exchange, she offered to play him his favorite song. The guy honestly shouted her “big play on YouTube Music” to the laughs of Marten and the audience, which was ultimately determined to be “La Lune.” This track was an intricate and honest performance from Marten that perfectly represented the tone for the evening. Marten has a comfort about her that made the evening cozy, social, and relaxed in a way that few concerts are able to achieve.

Marten’s heart-wrenching performance of “Vanilla Baby” also stood out within the set. The contrast between the woeful, longing lyricism with Marten’s warm vocal tone is so poignantly beautiful. Simultaneously, the graceful “Leap Year" was absolutely stunning. While the original recording of the song is still very acoustic with some softer decorative elements in the production, Billie’s voice and words really struck to the core in the fully stripped back version she played at Turntable. Her talent is absolutely inherent, and her stylings she showcased at Turntable are ones that anyone would just keep on coming back to every single night if they could.

While Billie Marten’s North American tour has come to a close, she’ll continue to serenade audiences this summer at San Francisco’s Outside Lands 2026 in addition to a handful of festivals spanning from Canada to Europe, including Poolbar Festival, Osheaga Festival, and LIDO. You can check out her full list of upcoming performances here.