Courtney Barnett

Courtney Barnett plays Aviva Studios in Manchester on 17 October 2026. Known for a conversational delivery and unfussy guitar lines, the Australian songwriter blends indie rock, folk touches and a garage edge, turning everyday scenes into songs with a dry, clear-eyed sense of detail. Her early EPs led to The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas, then the breakout album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit. Since then, she’s widened the frame with Lotta Sea Lice, a collaborative detour with Kurt Vile, the more densely amplified Tell Me How You Really Feel, and the pared-back writing of Things Take Time, Take Time.

On stage, Barnett favors a tight electric setup. Expect wiry riffs that bloom into melodic hooks, tempos that stray from brisk churn to loose sway, and lyrics that land like overheard thoughts. The set navigates her catalogue rather than chasing spectacle, letting dynamics and phrasing carry the room. From jangly vignettes to heavier, riff-led stretches, the show draws a straight line between her songwriter instinct and the nervous energy of a small, road-tested rock band.