BIG THIEF RETURN TO AUSTRALIA THIS DECEMBER Things have been moving at an incredibly fast pace in the world of enchanting Brooklyn folk-rock quartet Big Thief. Having conquered all and sundry on their inaugural Australian tour at the tail-end of our last southern summer, they’re returning triumphantly less than 12 months later clutching their powerful second statement Capacity, a stunning follow-up to their acclaimed debut Masterpiece which introduced them to the world in 2016. Musically Big Thief remain resolutely in thrall to no particular genre, swinging seamlessly between sparse, atmospheric folk and beautifully refined indie rock. Despite the wide critical acclaim afforded Masterpiece, for Capacity the band chased a raw sound where spontaneity was paramount, arranging the new songs for the first time in the studio and then recording them that very same day to capture the initial spark. The results are fresh and uncontrived, brimming with subtlety and restraint yet immediate and headstrong and unfailingly potent. On their initial Australian visit earlier this year Big Thief delighted crowds at Perth Festival as well as at their own well-attended gigs in Sydney and Melbourne (including a slot on the celebrated Melbourne Zoo Twilight series alongside LA rockers Warpaint). Now upon their return Down Under they’re upping the ante significantly, playing headlining shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Brunswick Heads, as well as a prime spot on the cherished Meredith Music Festival line-up. They’re in fine fettle on the live front having spent the best part of a year criss-crossing the globe since Masterpiece first took root, so take the opportunity to immerse yourself in the gorgeously harrowing-yet-hopeful world of Big Thief as they return south to Australia this December: they may steal your heart, but your soul will be reinvigorated and your spirit left bolstered. Big Thief also playing Meredith Music Festival.