Ryman Auditorium | Nashville, TN
Roots-rock duo Larkin Poe brought down the house with a flourish at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, on May 29.
While they have performed at Nashville’s “Mother Church” before, most recently alongside Ringo Starr, this night was a bit different for the Lovell sisters. Rebecca and Megan Lovell, leading ladies of Larkin Poe, commanded the historic stage as headliners for the first time in their 15-year career. However, their story starts way back in 2005.
Originally a trio, the girls performed alongside sister Jessica. The Lovell Sisters toured for several years, even appearing at the Grand Ole Opry, before Jessica left for college and the group disbanded. Luckily, their story didn't end there. Larkin Poe was officially formed in 2010, giving us the team we know and love today, featuring Rebecca on guitar and lead vocals and Megan on lap steel and harmonies.
In the 15 years since, Larkin Poe has truly come into their own, releasing seven full-length albums featuring their Southern Americana roots. Blood Harmony went on to win the GRAMMY Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album in 2024, making this year’s follow-up release of Bloom a highly anticipated record. Unsurprisingly, Bloom expanded on the best aspects of Larkin Poe’s sound to create a diverse yet cohesive record. The work boasts a variety of sonic standouts, with one personal favorite being “Bluephoria.” As described in a social media post by Larkin Poe, Bluephoria is “a rock n’ roll rumination on the duality of the human experience… where the bitter and sweet twine together… where suffering and joy are galvanized into meaning.”
At 8:30 p.m. sharp, Larkin Poe took to the historic stage at the Ryman (in matching double denim, of course) to a raucous crowd. “Nowhere East” kicked off the evening, followed by “Summertime Sunset” and the chart-climbing “Easy Love Pt. 1.” It was hard to miss the incredible feminine energy surrounding the entire set. Watching two badass women rocking out and commanding a crowd with their soul-deep talent had even the oldest folks in the audience up on their feet.
Rebecca further proved to the world that moms rock—literally. She explained that, when this tour was originally booked, she was not yet pregnant. However, as the Ryman date neared, it became clear that she’d be rocking with her third-trimester-baby-bump. Her husband and co-producer, Tyler Bryant (of the aptly named Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown), beamed proudly in support from the balcony.
Older hits like “Bad Spell” and “Deep Stays Down” earned their spot on the setlist despite the show being geared towards newer material. The acoustic portion of the show featured “Southern Comfort,” “God Moves on the Water,” “Mad as a Hatter,” and a cover of John Denver’s “Thank God I’m a Country Boy.”
In the end, the image that will stick with us for a long time is that of a young girl in the first row. From the moment the lights came up, she was on her feet, smiling, mesmerized by the performance. The twinkle in her eye was unmistakable… She, too, was moved to “bloom” alongside Rebecca and Megan.
Don’t miss your chance to catch this incredible album live on tour. Visit https://www.larkinpoe.com/ for more information on upcoming tour dates and more.
SETLIST:
- Nowhere East
- Summertime Sunset
- Easy Love Pt. 1
- Bluephoria
- Mockingbird
- Little Bit
- Bad Spell
- Southern Comfort
- God Moves on the Water
- Mad as a Hatter
- Thank God I’m a Country Boy (Cover)
- Deep Stays Down
- If God is a Woman
- Pearls
- Wanted Woman
- Blue Ridge Mountains
- Bolt Cutters & the Family Name
- Bloom Again










Photos by Erica Beatey