Big Thief Has Launched Live Concert Archive
The band released a new digital portal featuring concert recordings and customizable playlist tools.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Folk
Live Poll
Would you access a free online archive to listen to past live performances by your favorite bands?
Big Thief has launched a free website containing recordings of live performances from its concert history. The archive includes an initial 10 shows and features unreleased songs alongside interactive playlist options.
Why it matters
The project documents the evolving nature of the band’s music as performed on stage. Drummer James Krivchenia was inspired to create the archive by the Grateful Dead live release catalog.
The archive debuted with 10 full shows recorded by Alice Wilder and Aleda Deroche, with audio mixing provided by Fabian Prynn. The band intends to expand the library by adding one new concert recording on the second Tuesday of each month.
The players
Big Thief
Big Thief is an American indie folk band known for their evolving live arrangements.
James Krivchenia
James Krivchenia is the drummer for Big Thief and the primary inspiration behind the live archive project.
The details
The website captures the band's live development, including a recently released version of Incomprehensible recorded in Dublin. Fans can utilize an interactive feature to create custom concert sets from the provided audio library.
Timeline
The band began recording live shows in 2019.
The earliest concert recording in the archive is dated November 11, 2019.
A performance at the Hollywood Bowl was recorded on September 27, 2025.
A performance at Forest Hills Stadium was recorded on October 25, 2025.
A live version of Incomprehensible was recorded in Dublin on April 29, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This project mirrors the Grateful Dead live release catalog by prioritizing deep-catalog access for fans to track performance variations. It reflects a growing trend where artists reclaim direct control over their live legacies outside of traditional label distribution.
Listeners can access the archive for free to stream shows and create their own custom concert playlists. The platform provides a direct way for fans to hear unreleased material and evolving versions of songs recorded across various tour dates.
The takeaway
This archive offers fans a unique opportunity to study the improvisation and growth of songs over years of touring. Listeners can use the playlist features to curate their own ideal concert experience from the band's history.
What happens next
The band will add one new concert recording to the archive on the second Tuesday of every month.
Further reading
Explore more performances and artist archives in our Folk section.
Live Poll
Would you access a free online archive to listen to past live performances by your favorite bands?
