Big Thief Stole Chicago’s Hearts at a Sold-Out Salt Shed
Chicago, Illinois — August 13, 2026
On another dreary day of rain in Chicago, Big Thief brought a night of sweet relief as they hit the Salt Shed’s stage. Following the release of their latest album Double Infinity, the indie folk-rock band began their Somersault Slide 360 tour last September. Following earlier runs in North America and Europe, they are now in their second North American leg of the tour. Fans marched along soaked sidewalks wearing ponchos and wielding umbrellas that would have to be left outside the fairgrounds. From barricade to balcony, the venue was flooded with fans by the time Chicago-based composer Ben LaMar Gay took the stage. He set a tranquil tone for the night, entrancing the audience with unique electro-acoustic instrumentals.
Lead vocalist and guitarist Adrianne Lenker, backing vocalist and guitarist Buck Meek, and drummer James Krivchenia formed Big Thief in Brooklyn, New York in 2015. Since then, they have released six studio albums and were joined by bassist Joshua Crumbly in 2024.
Lenker drifts to stage with a pen and notebook in hand, and a smile draped across her face. Meek follows suit, smiling and waving at over 5,000 dedicated fans. The four-piece opens with “Vampire Empire,” a single released in 2023 that quickly became one of their most well-loved songs. The crowd erupts in euphonious harmony, fans beaming with joy to experience Big Thief’s first performance in Chicago since Pitchfork Music Festival in 2023.
A double-decker boat full of passengers stopped in the Chicago River to listen in on “Simulation Swarm” and “Muscle Memory,” giving a honk of support before continuing their journey.
Halfway through the setlist, Lenker plays a song she admits to have written the night prior. As she sings, “I’m in need of your love / I’m so high,” her voice shifts from a raw emotional tone to an angelic note that drifts to ears like a whisper. But she didn't just write one song the night before. She wrote two. Lenker prefaced that she wasn’t going to play the second one, but they have a rule: “if you write a song on the road, you gotta play it.” She kindly requested fans not to record this one and emphasized the specialness of hearing two new songs in one night. A few lines in, the band joins, but Lenker pauses. She admits she's not quite ready for the full arrangement yet and restarts, giving fans a peek behind the curtain into her songwriting process.
Following the incredibly vulnerable solo performance, the band continues down the setlist with “Mary,” “Cattails,” and an unreleased track, “Casual Touch.” The band left the stage after playing “Spud Infinity,” a bluegrass-y track off their fifth album Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You. Fans never let up on their applause and shouts of support until Big Thief returned to stage for the encore.
After “Beautiful World” and “Los Angeles,” they hit fans with a true heartbreaker: “Change.” As if scripted, the rain picks back up as the second chorus strikes, turning the moment into something out of a movie. The crowd's voices rise together into what sounds like one huge choir. “Incomprehensible,” a track off their latest album, was the perfect way to close the night, leaving the crowd on a solemn, unforgettable note. Fans with tear-streaked faces trickled out of the venue, gripping onto a feeling they’ll hold closely for the rest of their lives.
Tickets for remaining Somersault Slide 360 tour dates can be purchased here.
