Waxahatchee Mesmerizes Manchester on a Rainy Night at Albert Hall
So, picture this—it's a typical Manchester Monday, grey skies and relentless drizzle doing their usual thing. But anyone who stepped into the Albert Hall on the 9th of June wasn’t thinking about the weather for long. Because inside, something special was happening. Waxahatchee, the brilliant musical alias of Katie Crutchfield, was in town—and she brought all the warmth and wonder we needed.
The evening kicked off with an enchanting set by Merce Lemon and her band. From the first chord, they set a tone that was both intimate and powerful. Her tender vocals floated through the hall, backed by gritty, emotional guitars. One standout moment? A hauntingly beautiful cover of Bonnie “Prince” Billy’s I See a Darkness . It was a quiet, atmospheric interlude that wrapped around the room like a soft blanket, soothing even the loudest thoughts and most stubborn chills.
Then came the moment everyone was waiting for. Waxahatchee made her entrance to the strains of Dolly Parton’s Here I Am —a perfect nod to the night ahead. And here she was, indeed. She opened with 3 Sisters , a song from her latest album Tigers Blood , and right from the start, Katie’s voice cut through the room with pure, emotional clarity. It was as if she’d taken all the turbulence of the outside world and turned it into a kind of cathartic poetry.
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The crowd roared as she paused briefly before Can’t Do Much , greeting us warmly and letting us know how happy she was to be back in Manchester. We were equally thrilled. Right Back to It —my personal favorite from Tigers Blood —came next, and it hit like a wave of nostalgia and healing, all wrapped in one perfect melody.
What followed was a seamless journey through her discography. Mud , Witches , and Ruby Falls from Saint Cloud felt like old friends stopping by to say hello. And there were a few delightful surprises along the way— Problem With It and Hurricane from her Plains project with Jess Williamson, and even a stunning rendition of Kathleen Edwards’ Six O’Clock News .
As the show drew to a close, she gifted us with Lilacs , then returned for an encore that included Much Ado About Nothing and the fiery, emotional Fire . Every note felt earned, every lyric delivered with sincerity and heart. The connection between artist and audience was palpable, even reverent.
Walking out into the rainy Manchester night, I felt lighter somehow. Katie Crutchfield and her band didn’t just play a concert—they created a moment of collective beauty, one that lifted us above the clouds. And if she comes back again soon, I’ll be the first in line—raincoat, umbrella, and all.
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