John Craigie
Troubadour9081 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles 90069
John Craigie heads to the Troubadour, with Lucy Clearwater also on the bill. The show follows the February release of Craigie’s I Swam Here, a record he wrote and produced himself. Its sessions moved between New Orleans and Astoria, with longtime collaborator Anna Moss appearing across much of the album and Desiree Cannon making a guest appearance.
For more than a decade, Craigie has built a body of songs described by the venue as conversational in feel and rooted in sincerity. I Swam Here extends that approach through a collaborative cast: Sam Doores of The Deslondes selected several New Orleans session players, while Craigie’s writing draws on the Gulf Coast’s musical history and the Pacific Northwest’s stillness. One song, “Edna Strange,” takes inspiration from Marty Robbins; another, “Fire Season,” features Cooper Trail, Nevada Sowle, Luke Ydstie, and Jamie Greenan. His 2024 album Pagan Church, made with TK & The Holy Know-Nothings, spent six weeks at number one on the Americana Albums chart. A regular live performer in the U.S., Europe, and Australia, he has appeared at Newport Folk, Pickathon, Edmonton Folk Festival, and High Sierra, and shared stages with Langhorne Slim, Sierra Hull, Gregory Alan Isakov, Brett Dennen, and Jack Johnson.
The Troubadour’s claim to fame is written into pop history: Elton John made his American debut here in 1970, and the musicians who became the Eagles met around the club. It remains an active West Hollywood live-music venue, with current concerts listed at its Santa Monica Boulevard address. Expect a ticketed show in a compact club room, with a bar and a small kitchen serving burgers, sandwiches, chicken tenders, and fries. Seating depends on the event; where it is limited, the venue says it is generally first come, first served, so check your show’s details before arriving. Doors typically open an hour before the performance, and most shows finish between 11 p.m. and midnight, though timing varies. The venue sits near Doheny Drive, on a stretch of West Hollywood with nearby bars and restaurants.