Nathaniel Rateliff Stuns With Vulnerable Set While Previewing New Tunes at Ann Arbor Folk Festival

Nathaniel Rateliff, sans Night Sweats, offered some disarmingly emotional and revealing commentary about his upcoming solo album And It's Still Alright during his headlining set on Saturday night (Feb. 1) at the 43rd Ann Arbor Folk Festival in Michigan.

Quipping that "playing an hour by yourself is like trying to meditate for an hour — it's a long time!" Rateliff played several songs from the album, due out Feb. 14, and spoke about the "struggle" he experienced during the past couple of years since his last album with the Night Sweats, 2018's Tearing at the Seams. And It's Still Alright, he told the crowd at Hill Auditorium, is about "the importance of us being vulnerable to each other and allowing ourselves to carry each other through… Regardless of what happens in my life, what happens in our life is part of the human experience. It's important for us to continue to find joy."

Rateliff was particularly open about the impact of the 2018 death of Richard Swift, who produced Tearing at the Seams and intended to work on And It's Still Alright. Rateliff choked up while introducing "Rush On," explaining that "Richard lost his life to alcoholism but also the unbearable, unexplainable darkness I think we all have in our lives. I wish I would have been able to sing this song to Richard and let him know he's not alone… You have to let yourself be vulnerable and share your grief and openness and it'll allow you to move forward in your life." He ended the song with wordless wails that sent palpable shivers through the room as the crowd listened in complete silence.

Rateliff begins touring to support And It's Still Alright in earnest on March 4 in Minneapolis. He mentioned having a 10-piece band for the dates but did not indicate whether he meant the Night Sweats or another ensemble. His 2020 schedule so far includes a March 6 show with the band in Chicago.