Brandi Carlile at Heaven

Brandi Carlile

Heaven, 2 October 2025

Way back in November 2007 I saw Brandi Carlile play what I believe was her first ever London show on the tour for her second album, The Story. It was at the much-missed Borderline and for the encore she played a version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah that was definitely based on Jeff Buckley's version (she may have ever said as much). 

After she signed things for the few of us who were there (it was a tiny venue, although sold out), and we chatted with her about how Buckley had played the very same venue back in the 90s and his photo from that night adorned the wall upstairs. It was clear then what a huge talent she was but I had no way of knowing just what an important artist she would become.

She's about to release her eighth album, Returning To Myself, later this month but she also had collaborative record out early this year with none other than Sir Elton John himself (I'm not a huge fan of John so that didn't excite me but it's still pretty impressive). She also was part of the country supergroup the Highwomen and of course, was instrumental in getting Joni Mitchell back on stage and performing again with the infamous Joni Jams. Although I did catch her last year on the bill with Stevie Nicks at Hyde Park, so much has happened since I last saw her headline a show in London, it's pretty amazing to say the least. 

Carlile did sell out a show at the Royal Albert Hall earlier this year, which proves just how much her star has soared, but it felt so big compared to that wonderful show at the Borderline all those years ago, I decided to skip it. Luckily for me though a surprise out of store Rough Trade acoustic show at the far more intimate Heaven nightclub was announced to promote her new album,  and I managed to snag a ticket (only £24 plus the CD! What a bargain too!)

When I arrived there was already a huge queue, which makes sense given how big she is these days, most of whom were women interestingly enough, many wearing Brandi Carlile t-shirts. There was definitely an air of excitement as this was a much smaller show than she usually plays. Fortunately I still managed to get a good spot at the front of the stage but as I have only been to Heaven once, to see Lissie back in 2010, I had forgotten how high the stage is (with steps up to it on either side). I think this is because it's not usually used for hosting gigs, rather club nights, and the DJ set-up probably works best this way. But I guess it also means even those at the back got a good view, which is nice.

The order of events was that there was to be a Q&A first for 20 minutes and then an acoustic performance for another 20 minutes, which suited me fine (I love an early ending afterall). The big surprise though was when Jason Sudeikis wandered on stage and stood in front of me smiling at the crowd. Is that Ted Lasso? I thought and indeed it was. (I guess he is probably filming the next series of Ted Lasso in town at the moment.) He only introduced himself as Jason, but began telling us that the benefit of "being the older brother to a couple of younger sisters" is that they would introduce him to artists like Brandi Carlile and he was lucky enough that years after he was able be become friends with Carlile herself and introduce her to his sisters! They apparently met when Sudeikis hosted Saturday Night Live, returning after years of being a cast member, and Carlile was the musical guest for the first time, and they've been tight since (Carlile later admitted that Sudeikis often sends her text messages and they always crack her up!). Sudeikis also said, "if it was up to me she would be knighted" and introduced her as "Sir Brandi Carlile!"

Carlile then emerged, her arms in the air and a huge grin on her face looking absolutely radiant. With her stylish blonde cropped hairdo (she had long brunette locks when I met her back in 2007) and wearing a grey jacket and black trousers, she looked great.

They then sat on chairs at the front of the stage and Sudeikis asked some questions submitted by audience members. Now the majority of this Q&A is posted on YouTube thanks to one nice audience member, so I don't really need to go into details here but she was asked questions about whether being gay (or "queer" as the question posed) was still a barrier to success or is it an advantage these days (she replies that she was inspired by artists like the Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge growing up and sees herself as a bridge to current artists like Chappel Roan and thinks it now adds "beauty and honesty" to any careers and no longer needs to be concealed), about what advice she would give to new same sex parents to a daughter (she then speaks about the initial disconnect, or "a grief of separation", she felt because she didn't give birth to her daughter and figuring that out led to her writing the song The Mother) and she's asked for "advice for starting a commune with all your best mates" (she explains how she lives on a compound with her friends and finds it "the most life-affirming thing I've ever done" sharing her life with others and says "I don't believe we're meant to be alone, I believe we're meant to be together").

She's also asked if it was weird doing the harmonies herself on the new record rather than with the Hanseroth twins, who have always provided the harmonies in the past (and indeed are here tonight and play with her as they always have) and she explains that it was weird but it would have been weirder with them singing on it, as there are some really feminine backing vocals on the record and when we hear it we will understand! Then she was asked about her love of comedy and comedians and how was appearing on her first sketch on SNL earlier this year and she said she had a "deep reverence for comedians" and it was the SNL with Cheri Oteri, Ana Gasteyer and Will Ferrell that she loved growing up, but she also called Sudeikis "the best of the best" naturally.

Finally, someone asked if the fact that her first album was self-titled and the new one is called Returning To Myself, is connected. Carlile said she hadn't thought about it but it's probably true and she told a story about before her first album came out she was asked to participate in a magazine photo shoot called "Women to watch" but when she turned up she realised the theme was that all the women were wearing evening dresses. Realising this wasn't her, she decided to leave but when she told the photographer she was going, the photographer was surprised but really liked her stance and offered instead that Carlile simply drape the dress over her shoulders, and she was so proud of that moment of standing up for herself and who she was, she put the photo on the cover of her debut album. For the new record, again it was a photo that showed her not dressed up and with almost no make-up and it wasn't intended to be the cover because she thought "that girl knows who she is" and "so there is a through line". Her message for her younger self with this in mind would be, "be who you are." 

Carlile then brings out the twins, Phil and Tim, and tells us that she's not supposed to go over curfew and they told her to sing only three songs but she has eight written down. Thankfully she actually ended up singing 10 songs in all including two new tracks (which she asked us to to post online until the album is out), so it was a proper concert and I think she would have played more if there hadn't been a club about to start just after!

When it was said it was an acoustic set, I had imagined it would just be Carlile sitting on a stool playing a few stripped down tunes so I was surprised to see the twins join her on stage (Phil in his beanie hat looked a dead ringer for The Edge I must say while Tim had a more Americana look with a cloth cap), so even though it was it wasn't a proper band show it actually sounded pretty full and dynamic. 

She started with a new song that they had never played before called A War With Time (this was the one she asked us, if we filmed it, not to post online until after the album came out). She seemed a bit nervous at the start but it was a gentle, country-esque ballad with a rousing emotional chorus and a lovely, finger-picked guitar part. It was hard to believe they had never played it live before as it sounded wonderful.

Things got a bit more rocking, even though it was still acoustic, but with the loud and fast strumming of Broken Horses. This was also one of the highlights seeing her live last year with Stevie Nicks and had the crowd singing along, which just added to the joyful sounds.

"Let's play some jazz," Tim joked as he took up his acoustic guitar but the next song was still the slow and graceful new single Returning To Myself, again another one that hadn't been played live before. This one was really a showcase for Carlile's voice as it hit the high notes and sent chills, with the twins only adding tasteful embellishments and a briefly flamenco-style guitar solo. It was almost like going to church with Carlile's voice echoing around the rafters and leaving everyone spellbound.

Then Carlile moved over to the keyboard at the back of the stage to perform another rousing ballad, Right On Time, and I must say her voice sounded tremendous on this one. I think I had forgotten just what an amazing and natural singer she is: she actually drew cheers as she reached those long notes, sounding like she meant and felt every word. It's always a wonder to witness (she's also a really good pianist I must say).

The boys then left the stage for the next one, before which someone shouted out asking her to play at their wedding. Carlile just laughed and said The Story was a good wedding song. The audience then took the opportunity to shout lots of things at her (she laughed saying "I think you guys want to continue the Q&A") including asking her to come back and tour the UK again. "I will come back," she said earnestly, "in fact they're already talking about it, there will be an announcement soon." She then said that playing in the UK was important to her because her wife is of course from here and if tonight is anything to go by, she has an eager audience waiting for her here. 

She said they she and her wife Catherine had left their kids behind "and we are just reeling from being so far away from them and they, they don't give a fuck!" she laughed. She then played another gentle acoustic number from the upcoming album called You Without Me (which apparently is also on the Elton John duet album they did). I hope the solo album is like tonight's performance though, as it really felt powerful, stripped down with just her guitar and her incredible voice. This seamlessly led into a gorgeous version of The Mother, which felt even more special after hearing her speak about the song earlier and learning the meaning behind it. The audience also sang the woos at the end with her which was a nice moment.

One of my favourite Brandi Carlile songs came next, The Joke, which again sent chills hearing her voice soar and the way the song builds will never not be a thrill, especially the line "I have been to the movies, I have seen how it ends, and the joke's on them." At the start of the song, Carlile joked that the song never ends the same way and they had to figure it out (Tim was on keyboards for this one), but they brilliantly managed to keep it together as they jammed the final instrumental outro.

At this point they had used up their time but Carlile said she was going to continue singing for us until they kicked her off the stage! She said the next song was one was wanted to sing tonight but didn't think she would get time. She put down her guitar for this one and left the music to the twins and the trio beautifully harmonised on the song This Time Tomorrow. It sounded magical even though there was an amusing moment when someone hit the reverb too hard and their voices suddenly loudly echoed, sounding like ghosts singing back to them, and making Carlile chuckle but she still managed to hold it together until the end of the song!

She then burst out singing Bryan Adams' classic tune Heaven ("Finding it hard to believe, we've in heaven" because of course we are in Heaven nightclub!), which is a corny as hell song but it somehow sounded pure magic in the brief snippet that Carlile sang.

She ended on the always incredible The Story, which had everyone singing along. This was the one song that she also performed all those years ago at The Borderline and it did send me back in time to that fantastic night. It's hard to believe it's almost 20 years ago now but there's no doubt The Story still is a truly special song and it still sounds amazing.

The show had to end then because the club night was due to start in 14 minutes! But if this show proved anything, it's that Carlile is so naturally talented, she doesn't need any bells or whistles to make her songs come alive, her guitar (or piano) and her superb voice is enough and I must say, I would not mind seeing her again doing a simple acoustic show like this. I'm sure she will have her band along though next time, which is no bad thing, but it certainly makes this show all the more special and I'm glad I was there to experience it.