Band of Horses — KEXP Studio, Seattle, 2026

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Why this recording

For this 20 March 2026 session, KEXP brought in two guest engineers, Mark Arnold and Patrick Moore, alongside house engineer Kevin Suggs, plus five camera operators. Ben Bridwell leads a five-piece in which three players are on guitar, a setup that shows how the band's arrangements are built. The four-song set ends with “The Funeral”, at 12:39 according to the description's chapters. The video came out two months after the recording, in May 2026.

— Simon Janvier, live-sound professional and editor of the catalogue

Recording technical sheet

Rights-holding channelKEXP
Source statusOfficial — broadcaster or organiser
Uploaded
Exact runtime
ResolutionHD (720p+)
Cameras5 cameras
Source qualityProfessional (multi-camera)

Metadata checked on YouTube on 29 September 2026; direction, camera setup and sound documented by the editors.

Published on September 8, 2026 by

Live session recorded on 20 March 2026 at the KEXP radio studio in Seattle, this set brings Band of Horses into an intimate, carefully mixed setting. A cornerstone act of American indie rock, the group led by Ben Bridwell runs through four songs spanning its catalogue: The First Song, Our Swords, The Great Salt Lake and, above all, The Funeral, arguably its best-known track. The line-up assembled here features Ben Bridwell (guitar, vocals), Matt Gentling (bass), Creighton Barrett (drums), Brett Nash (guitar) and Joel Graves (guitar, keyboards), a multi-guitar configuration that highlights the atmospheric textures and soaring melodies central to the band’s sound. KEXP’s live format, known for pristine recording quality and its closeness to performers, suits Bridwell’s high, instantly recognisable voice and the group’s layered harmonies especially well. Between enveloping reverb, expansive tempos and anthemic choruses, this live performance offers a faithful distillation of the Band of Horses universe, sitting somewhere between folk rock, americana and contemplative indie. Whether you are a longtime listener or a newcomer, it is an ideal way to experience the band stripped back, without studio embellishment, in the hands of a seasoned live crew.

Setlist

  1. The First Song
  2. Our Swords
  3. The Great Salt Lake
  4. The Funeral

Personnel & credits

  • Ben Bridwell — guitar, vocals
  • Matt Gentling — bass
  • Creighton Barrett — drums
  • Brett Nash — guitar
  • Joel Graves — guitar, keyboards
Category

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Band of Horses appears once more in the catalogue, and KEXP, Seattle gathers 87 recordings in all.

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