Brandi Carlile Turns Ravinia Into an Intimate, Emotional Singalong

Brandi Carlile brought her powerful voice, remarkable storytelling and unmistakable warmth to Ravinia Festival's newly renovated Hunter Pavilion on Wednesday, August 26, delivering a performance that felt both spectacular and surprisingly intimate.

Opening the evening was I'm With Her, the Grammy-winning folk trio of Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O'Donovan. Their intricate musicianship, beautiful three-part harmonies and acoustic sound were a perfect fit for Ravinia. Carlile joined them onstage for their final song, creating a stunning four-part vocal harmony.

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Carlile's own musical journey has been remarkable. Born in Washington state, she began performing country music as a child before discovering rock and roll. She formed her longtime musical partnership with twins Tim and Phil Hanseroth before signing with Columbia Records and releasing her self-titled debut in 2005. Her 2007 album The Story established her as a major artist, and she has since earned 11 Grammy Awards while moving effortlessly among Americana, folk, rock and pop.

At Ravinia, she opened with "Returning to Myself," the title track from her latest album, before moving through a career-spanning set that included "Human," "Looking Out," "Right on Time," "The Story," "You and Me on the Rock" and "The Joke."

One of the night's highlights was Carlile's willingness to let the audience help shape the show. Three songs—"I Belong to You," "Pride and Joy" and "Dying Day"—were audience requests. Before "I Belong to You," she shared the story of writing her first love song after meeting her wife, Catherine. She also spoke movingly about Dolly Parton, whose influence on her life was profound, particularly during "You Without Me".

"The Story" provided one of the evening's biggest emotional peaks, while her performances of Bonnie Raitt's version of "I Can't Make You Love Me" and "Sinners, Saints and Fools" showcased the extraordinary range of Carlile's voice.

And then there was the encore: Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors," dedicated to Parton, followed by a fiery rendition of Alanis Morissette's "Uninvited."

The newly renovated Hunter Pavilion proved to be an ideal setting. Ravinia's improvements were evident throughout the evening. Carlile's vocals came through with astonishing clarity, from the quietest intimate moments to the full-throated crescendos that have become her trademark.

For more than two hours, she wasn't simply performing for the audience — she was talking with them, laughing with them, listening to them and, ultimately, singing with them.

It was an unforgettable night at Ravinia—and a performance that demonstrated why Brandi Carlile remains one of the most compelling live performers of her generation.