Gillian Welch and David Rawlings Take Acoustic ‘Reckoning’ Tour to Brooklyn Bowl Nashville
On April 3 and 4, Gillian Welch and her longtime musical accompanist, David Rawlings, commenced their Acoustic Reckoning Tour at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville. The landmark two-set concerts nodded to the 45th anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s double live album, Reckoning, recorded in September and October 1980 in both New York and San Francisco. During the live shows, the musicians leaned into a bank of traditionals and alternative versions of beloved classics. Like the record, the duo underscored their choice material while paying homage to the Dead’s acoustic capacity.
During the opening night of Welch and Rawlings’ Reckoning run on Friday, April 3, they opened the show with a slowed-down rendition of fan favorite “Bertha,” before follow-ups: “Dire Wolf,” “Oh Babe It Ain’t No Lie” [Elizabeth Cotten original], and “It Must Have Been the Roses.” They carved a path for Jerry Garcia’s “Loser” before a take on Bill Browning and His Echo Valley Boys’ “Dark Hollow.”
A haunting “China Doll” emerged ahead of “Cassidy” and a frame ending “Cumberland Blues.” The second set found the pair stepping into “Brown-Eyed Women,” before traditionals turned Grateful Dead-arranged “I’ve Been All Around This World” and “Deep Elem Blues.” The second set floated the intimate ballad “To Lay Me Down,” a well-paced “Jack Straw,” and seasonal “Cold, Rain and Snow.”
Before ending the tour opener, Welch and Rawlings played through “High Time,” “Bird Song,” and “Ripple.” For the night’s encore, they landed on “St. Stephen,” before tipping their toes into “Not Fade Away,” and the final number, Bonnie Dobson’s “Morning Dew.”
Saturday’s return to Brooklyn Bowl Nashville found the pair delivering a rearranged two-set concert that also included fresh additions like “The Monkey and the Engineer,” “Brokedown Palace,” and “Jack-a-Roe” during the first half of the night. Set two featured a newly added “Black Peter” and a live debut of “Stella Blue,” spiced with a “Bird Song” conclusion.
Like set two, the pair pulled out another debut during the evening’s encore, via “Althea.” Before ending their time in Nashville, Welch and Rawlings delivered “Friend of the Devil” as well as “We Bid You Goodnight.”
After submitting the initial Reckoning Tour concerts at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville, Welch and Rawlings will take their affinity for the Dead’s double live LP to Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw, N.C. Tickets remain on sale.
For more information and to procure access, visit www.gillianwelch-davidrawlings.com/tour.
Scroll down to view setlists from Friday and Saturday night.
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
Acoustic Reckoning Tour – Night 1
Brooklyn Bowl – Nashville, Tenn.
April 3, 2026
Set I: Bertha, Dire Wolf, Oh Babe It Ain’t No Lie, It Must Have Been the Roses, Loser, Dark Hollow, China Doll, Cassidy, Cumberland Blues
Set II: Brown-Eyed Women, I’ve Been All Around This World, Deep Elem Blues, To Lay Me Down, Jack Straw, Cold Rain and Snow, High Time, Bird Song, Ripple
Enc.: St. Stephen, Not Fade Away%, Morning Dew
Notes:
% With “St. Stephen” reprise
…
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
Acoustic Reckoning Tour – Night 2
Brooklyn Bowl – Nashville, Tenn.
April 4, 2026
Set I: Loser, The Monkey and the Engineer, Dire Wolf, Dark Hollow, It Must Have Been the Roses, Cumberland Blues, Brokedown Palace, Jack-a-Roe, Cassidy
Set II: Bertha, I’ve Been All Around This World, Deep Elem Blues, Cold Rain and Snow, Black Peter, Brown-Eyed Women, Bird Song, Stella Blue+, Ripple
Encore: Althea, Friend of the Devil, And We Bid You Goodnight
Notes:
+ Live debut, with “Bir