Earlier this year, Basia Bulat released a brand new album, The Garden, which featured songs from her previous five albums, re-recorded with brand new strings arrangements. To celebrate the album, she set off on a cross-Canada tour, wrapping up in BC with a stop in Vancouver at the Hollywood Theatre.

I was running a bit late for the show and only managed to just catch the end of Katie Tupper, who was opening the show. And was almost immediately disappointed I wasn't there earlier. Joined by only her guitarist on stage, her smooth vocals and neo-soul sound had the gathering crowd captivated.
Her personal songs were juxtaposed by her light banter between, joking about about their origins and her hometown Saskatoon (and even the “mood whiplash” of doing so). She closed out the set with the first track off her current EP Towards The End, a sultry tune called ”Live Inside”.

After a short break, Basia Bulat took the stage alone to start off with an acoustic "It Can't Be You", before being joined by her band; Andrew Woods (her partner) on guitar, Joshua Toal on bass, and Matthew Woodley (of Plants & Animals) on drums.

Bulat floated between guitar, keys, and the autoharp throughout, introducing songs and bantering with the crowd with a bubbly excitement, as her incredible voice filled the room for songs spanning her albums, like “Fool”, “Your Girl”, and “If It Rains”, dedicated specifically to Vancouver.

About halfway through the set, she was joined by local violinist Meredith Bates, as the “strings section” to add the lush sound from the versions off The Garden. Highlights including a gorgeous rendition of "Heart of My Own", the emotionally staggering "Infamous" (which is my absolute favourite of hers), and the soaring "Tall Tall Shadows", one of the best showcases of her powerful vocals.

Basia drew the main set to a close with "Love is at the End of the World", starting soft and then exploding into an extended breakdown, where every band member got the time to shine with their own solo. But as the entire band took a bow and started to leave, they weren’t even off the stage before the crowd was calling Bulat for more.
She returned immediately for a couple of songs on her own, fielding requests for deep cuts like "The Pilgriming Vine" and "Before I Knew", both off her debut album Oh, My Darling. Then finally, the band also returned to ask us one last question: "Are You In Love?"

As is the case with a lot of artists I've seen over the last year, Basia Bulat was very happy to be back on stage; not only telling us how much she missed performing to people (and not a cell phone), but you could see the emotion on her face at various points throughout the night. A feeling that was definitely reciprocated by the crowd.

setlist
It Can't Be You
Fool
Your Girl
If It Rains
Book of Rules [The Heptones cover]
The Garden
Heart of My Own
Already Forgiven
Infamous
Good Advice
Tall Tall Shadow
Love is at the End of the World
[encore]
The Pilgriming Vine
Before I Knew
Are You In Love?