Big Thief in Milan: The Unpredictable Beauty of a Shared Dream

When I got to the Magnolia Park in Milan and joined the queue before entering the venue, the thing that surprised me the most is how diverse Big Thief’s audience was. The first person in the queue was wearing a Cannibal Corpse t-shirt, there were people who had just seen Metallica in Bologna the week prior, along with indie-heads of all ages, a girl in full goth attire and a young man in space-alien wear. I had the pleasure to chat to some of them, soon to learn that people had travelled long distance, from the Balkans to England, only to witness the absolute quality of a Big Thief show.

It’s a few minutes past 8pm when a very emotional Adrianne Lenker gets on stage to introduce their opening act: ATA KAK. ATA KAK is a Ghanian electro-funk act who just returned to the scenes with his 2025 album Batakari after a 31-years-long hiatus. His debut album Obaa Sima was published in 1994. Only 50 copies of which were produced and only 3 were sold, before being re-issued in 2015. The 40 minutes set, was very exuberant and energetic, and got everyone on their feet dancing. The band, consisting of Ata Kak on vocals, a female singer, a bassist and a synth/drum machine player demonstrated their innate ability to entertain the crowds indulging in frequent call and responses that the audience enjoyed partaking in.

The crowd was warmed up (and a bit sweaty after dancing in the Italian summer) and the atmosphere was light and relaxed when Big Thief came on stage. The trio consisting of Adrianne Lenker on guitar and vocals, Buck Meek on guitar, and James Krivchenia on drums was joined by Joshua Crumbly on bass. The band proved once again their excellent musicianship and versatility by playing yet again a different setlist from any other night on this tour.

The night started with a performance of Adrianne Lenker’s solo collection, “Carry” and continued with a mix of fan favourites, deep cuts. “Shoulders” belongs to the latter, while “Real Love” and “Simulation Swarm” definitely belong to the fan favourites. It’s during “Real Love” that, as the song progresses through its louds and its quiets that Lenker turns her back to the crowd to use the feedback of her amplifier to create a suspended sound before launching recklessly into a solo that seemed to be wrenching her own soul. The band also played a consistent number of new and unreleased songs. There is a beauty to seeing Big Thief that lies in the uniqueness of every show. A unique collective dream fuelled by their music, a journey through human emotions guided by the unexpected juxtaposition of songs that are contrasting sonically and lyrically. The band also offers new and unexpected arrangements of their songs often showcasing them in a different skin.

The night progressed with “Masterpiece” and “Not”, and “Vampire Empire”, the absolute show stopper of the night. It’s now time for a few tracks off their latest album Double Infinity : “Words”, “Incomprehensible” and the title track “Double Infinity” were played in succession. The last few songs off their set included two new songs, possibly off their anticipated album that was recorded while making Double Infinity and that reportedly has a “more rock” attitude. Of these, “Pterodactyl” was particularly striking. Upon starting, it sounds like any other Big Thief song, before transcending into post-punk soundscapes that find their finale in a series of very heavy riffs, that would seamlessly feature in a song by modern-day Metallica.

After a quick break, the band comes back on stage for a three-song encore. “I Was Made For Loving You” is followed by “Certainty” from their critically acclaimed album Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You before playing “Paul” by fan request. In this context, even a small setlist variation takes on extra meaning, especially when it is intended to deepen the connection between the band and the crowd. There is no definitive version of a Big Thief show, no fixed script to adhere to, no promise that the song you are waiting for will arrive and if it will, that it will be in the shape you expect.

After just over 90 minutes Big Thief left the stage as the audience was left craving for more.