Watch Big Thief & Lucinda Williams Join Forces At Greek Theatre

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, who recently released a new album entitled Stories From A Rock n Roll Heart, has been on tour with Big Thief. Last night at The Greek Theatre in Berkeley, California, Big Thief brought Williams back out after her opening set to join the band on two of Williams’ classic songs.

Big Thief and Williams kicked off their collaboration with “People Talkin’” from Williams’ 2003 album, World Without Tears. Williams, who survived a stroke in November 2020, then led a rendition of “Metal Firecracker,” a track off her breakout 1998 album, Car Wheels On A Gravel Road.

After Williams exited the stage, Big Thief guitarist/vocalist Adrianne Lenker expressed appreciation for Williams. Lenker, who spent part of adolescence living in the Minneapolis suburbs, then led Big Thief through another World Without Tears song, “Minneapolis.”

Big Thief was also joined by Stuart Mathis on violin and Doug Pettibone on pedal steel guitar. Both musicians are part of Lucinda Williams’ current backing band.

Watch audience-captured videos of Lucinda Williams sitting in with Big Thief, as well as footage of “Not” with Mathis and Pettibone, below: