Things have been awfully busy in the Big Thief world lately. The band recently parted ways with bassist Max Oleartchik, and they devoted most of their headlining set at Portland’s Project Pabst festival to debuting new songs. Now, bandleader Adrianne Lenker has released a new single of her own, and it might sound familiar to anyone who’s seen either Big Thief or Lenker’s solo sets in recent years.
Earlier this year, Adrianne Lenker released her spare, countrified solo album Bright Future. During those sessions, she recorded “Once A Bunch,” and the song appeared as a bonus track on the album’s Japanese CD edition. (They’re still doing that!) Both Big Thief and Adrianne Lenker have been playing “Once A Bunch” live since 2021, and now it’s getting a proper single release.
In its recorded form, “Once A Bunch” is a ramshackle, lo-fi campfire-singalong thing. It’s got a lot of fiddle and a keening country-folk sensibility, and it fits right in with the sensibility of Bright Future. The song is coming out as Adrianne Lenker gets ready to head out on a solo tour of the East Coast this fall, but all the dates are already sold out. Listen to the song below.
The song, originally available only to fans in Japan, features Josefin Runsteen, Mat Davidson, and Nick Hakim alongside Lenker. “Once A Bunch” has a warm, folksy sound that is reminiscent of Lenker’s solo work and the Americana-inspired music that Big Thief is known for. The track is a testament to Lenker’s talent for creating music that is both intimate and expansive.
A 7″ single of “Once A Bunch” is coming out this fall, and it’ll be available exclusively at independent record stores.
While the release of “Once A Bunch” is exciting for fans of Adrianne Lenker, it also comes at a time of significant change for Big Thief. The band’s recent departure from bassist Max Oleartchik has left fans wondering what the future holds for the group. However, the band’s recent performance at Portland’s Project Pabst festival showed that they are still going strong and that they are not afraid to experiment with new sounds and ideas.
Adrianne Lenker’s solo work and Big Thief’s music are both essential listening for fans of indie rock, folk, and Americana. “Once A Bunch” is a great example of the kind of music that both Lenker and Big Thief are capable of making: music that is both beautiful and powerful, intimate and expansive. It is a song that will stay with you long after you’ve heard it for the first time.
With Lenker’s solo tour set to begin in November and Big Thief’s European tour starting soon after, fans have a lot to look forward to in the coming months. Both artists are sure to continue to release new music and tour extensively, and they are sure to keep their fans engaged with their unique and powerful music.
