Slingshot: Big Thief Adrianne Lenker and her bandmates appear destined for greatness.

Slingshot: Big Thief

Public Radio's Artist Incubator

Tuesday February 26, 2019

Big Thief Announces A New Album, 'U.F.O.F.,' And Releases Its First Single

Big Thief, left to right: Adrianne Lenker, Max Oleartchik, James Krivchenia and Buck Meek. Michael Buishas/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

Michael Buishas/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Big Thief Announces A New Album, 'U.F.O.F.,' And Releases Its First Single

February 26, 2019 • The song is quieter than might be expected from the band, and would fit right in with the solo album singer Adrianne Lenker released last fall.

Wednesday December 20, 2017

Spencer C. Amonwatvorakul/KCRW

Watch Big Thief Perform 'Mythological Beauty' In 360 Degrees

KCRW

December 20, 2017 • The Brooklyn folk-rock band performs a powerful story-song about family and pain live in the KCRW studio.

Wednesday December 13, 2017

WGBH

Watch Big Thief's Full Performance At Gateway City Arts

WGBH Radio

December 13, 2017 • During an intimate show by the canals of downtown Holyoke, Mass., the band played songs from both Masterpiece and Capacity.

Sunday November 26, 2017

Big Thief's 'Shark Smile' Is A Rocking Road Song Ending In Tragedy

Big Thief's Adrianne Lenker performs at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival on Oct. 6, 2017 in San Francisco. Scott Dudelson/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

Big Thief's 'Shark Smile' Is A Rocking Road Song Ending In Tragedy

November 26, 2017 • Lead singer Adrianne Lenker shares how Bruce Springsteen influenced the tune, which tells the story of a doomed car ride through the Midwest.

Big Thief's 'Shark Smile' Is A Rocking Road Song Ending In Tragedy

Listen · 4:41 4:41

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/565921721/566566997" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Thursday November 9, 2017

Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist

Editors' Picks

The Lore Of Big Thief

November 9, 2017 • If Adrianne Lenker's unequivocal, instinctive and deeply personal songs ring true to life, it may be because they're true to hers.

Thursday October 26, 2017

An Interview With Big Thief's James Krivchenia

James Krivchenia of Big Thief performs onstage during day two of FYF Fest at Exposition Park on July 22, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

An Interview With Big Thief's James Krivchenia

KERA

October 26, 2017 • The drummer shares why his bandmates kneel when Adrianne Lenker plays solo, the importance of respecting your bandmates, and what it's like to have such a devoted fanbase.

Wednesday October 11, 2017

Cole Whitworth/KEXP

Watch Big Thief Perform In KEXP's Studios

KEXP

October 11, 2017 • Watch the indie-rock band's emotional performance, featuring songs from its sophomore album, Capacity.

Wednesday October 4, 2017

opbmusic

Let's Revisit Big Thief's First Radio Appearance

OPB

October 4, 2017 • The Slingshot band's first on-air session came via opbmusic in Portland.

Wednesday September 27, 2017

WBGH

Big Thief Shares Its Origin Story

WGBH Radio

September 27, 2017 • Adrianne Lenker, James Krivchenia, and Max Oleartchik describe how they met, their first impressions of the music industry and life on tour.

Wednesday September 20, 2017

An Interview With Big Thief's Adrianne Lenker

Adrianne Lenker at WFUV Kristal Ho/WFUV hide caption

toggle caption

Kristal Ho/WFUV

An Interview With Big Thief's Adrianne Lenker

WFUV

September 20, 2017 • The indie-rock band's frontwoman talks life on the road, childhood guitar lessons, and hearing her band's sophomore album in a coffee shop in this interview with WFUV.

An Interview With Big Thief's Adrianne Lenker

17:54

Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/551525216/552171466" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Monday July 31, 2017

Big Thief, Live In Concert: Newport Folk 2017

Adrianne Lenker of Big Thief performs at the 2017 Newport Folk Festival. Adam Kissick for NPR hide caption

toggle caption

Adam Kissick for NPR

Big Thief, Live In Concert: Newport Folk 2017

July 31, 2017 • The rising indie-rock band performed some new, unreleased songs during its Newport set.

Big Thief, Live In Concert: Newport Folk 2017

48:36

Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/539334569/540437991" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Monday June 5, 2017

Big Thief's 'Capacity' Is The Quiet Catharsis We Needed

Big Thief's new album, Capacity, is out June 9. Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of Artist hide caption

toggle caption

Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of Artist

Review

Big Thief's 'Capacity' Is The Quiet Catharsis We Needed

June 5, 2017 • Capacity takes singer Adrianne Lenker to quieter and more private places, with an inward-facing sound to match her ever richer, altogether more intimate storytelling.

Wednesday May 31, 2017

Big Thief's 'Mary' Is A Meditation On Resilience And Recovery

"It's about childhood being brought to life and reignited after the slush of the teenage years," Adrianne Lenker says of "Mary." Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist