This was my first proper concert at the Bristol Beacon since its renovation and reopening, and oh boy ok yes are the acoustics in here to die for now. At one point Lenker stops mid-tuning to ask if the audience can hear it unamplified from the back of the hall - and they can.
I’m a big fan of Lenker both in Big Thief and in her solo work, so to be treated to selections from both is great for me. A lot of stuff from her lockdown solo album “songs”, a real favourite of mine.
Specifically, though, on the Big Thief front, and allow me to fan out here - oh my god she played Simulation Swarm solo and it was perfect and I am so happy I got that and squee as the kids used to say.
The set’s split between a solo performance and being joined by Nick Hakim on piano, Josefin Runsteen on violin, and both of them on… erm… you know when you’re playing with a baby and you make a funny noise by vibrating your lips by running the edge of your finger up and down over them? That. Them on that.
Nick Hakim by himself is the support act, playing some very delicate piano songs, at one point interrupting himself like three bars in to start playing a different one instead. Oddly charming, if not quite mood-setting.