Max Oleartchik: Last News

Big Thief have pulled out of two upcoming live shows in Israel and issued an apology for the “recklessness and naivete” of a statement they had previously shared defending the booking. Backlash to Big Thief's decision to play two shows in Tel Aviv in July began over the weekend with multiple social media users calling the band out for seemingly ignoring the BDS cultural boycott of Israel.

Big Thief have surprise-released Passional Relations, a new five-track EP, exclusively for sale on the indie-folk band's website. Proceeds from the sales will benefit charities and communities affects by the Los Angeles wildfires.

Big Thief have debuted a tender new track, ‘Taker’ in Belgium – watch fan-shot footage of the performance below.While playing a sold-out gig at Antwerp’s OLT Rivierenhof, Adrianne Lenker introduced the new track, saying: “This is our first time playing this one, today. Y’all are the first [crowd] we’re playing this song for.”Lenker also told fans that she’s started using in-ear monitors, explaining: “I wanna be able to play music and hear the guitar and stuff for the next, like, 50 years.”It comes after the indie-folk band debuted even more new material at Oregon’s Project Pabst and revealed their new line-up following the departure of founding member and bassist Max Oleartchik.They had previously taken to Instagram to say the separation marked “the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one for Big Thief”.“This change was made for interpersonal reasons with mutual respect in our hearts,” they continued.

Big Thief have debuted their new line-up following the departure of bassist and founding member Max Oleartchik.Earlier this month, the indie-folk band took to their official Instagram account to share that Oleartchik had departed from the group, citing “interpersonal reasons” as the bassist’s decision to leave.”It’s a big change for us and the four of us ask for your trust, respect, and care as we grow into the next chapter of our lives,” they wrote on their post.Last night (July 28), Big Thief headlined Portland’s Project Pabst festival marking the group’s first show in over a year. According to a post on Reddit, the new band line-up consisted of a 5 piece, including a percussionist and a new bassist who vocalist Adrianne Lenker reportedly introduced as “Justin”.Their set was comprised of 14 tracks, with 10 of them being brand-new unreleased songs that received their live debut that night — aside from ‘Incomprehensible’ which Lenker debuted during her solo set at the Newport Folk Festival on Friday (July 26).A post shared by BREWPUBLIC (@brewpublic)A post shared by Hector Lopez (@mexifordays)A post shared by Mario Rudd (@new_injuries)A post shared by Mario Rudd (@new_injuries)‘Los Angeles’ (Live debut)‘All Night All Day’ (Live debut)‘How Could I Have Known’ (Live debut)‘Words’‘More Than Anything’ (Live debut)‘Grandmother’ (Live debut)‘No Fear’ (Live debut)‘Terrifying’ (Live debut)‘Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You’‘Incomprehensible’ (Full band debut)‘Masterpiece’‘Muscle Memory’ (Live debut)‘Not’‘Space and Time’The band’s last release was 2022’s ‘Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You’.

Big Thief has announced the departure of their bassist and founding member Max Oleartchik.The indie-folk band took to Instagram to announce the news, writing: “After many beautiful years together, Max is no longer in Big Thief. Our love for each other is infinite, and we are so grateful for all we have shared these many years together since the beginning of our journey as a band.“We wouldn’t be who we are without Max,” they continued.

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, MusicThe indie band Big Thief has announced the cancelation of two concerts in Tel Aviv following a preemptive Instagram post meant to explain their decision to play in Israel. The shows were scheduled for July 6 and 7 at the Barby club.

Ethan Shanfeld “It’s a little bit magic,” Adrianne Lenker chirrs on the title track of Big Thief’s new album, “Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You.” Then, over a weeping pedal steel and her own signature “brush guitar,” her curiosity drifts from a river of morning geese to the birth of a billion planets to a dragon in the phone line. It’s never revealed what, exactly, “it” is, but throughout this adventurous new double-album, Big Thief dives into both the natural and otherworldly, paving new sounds and textures while uncovering new mysteries.Produced by drummer James Krivchenia, “Dragon” was recorded over four sessions with four different engineers in four distinct locations: upstate New York, Topanga Canyon, the Rocky Mountains and Tucson, Ariz.