On February 10, 2025, the Sebastiani Theatre in Sonoma hosted an evening of quiet magic as Bonnie “Prince” Billy (Will Oldham) took the stage alongside David Ferguson and friends. The historic theater, small and warmly worn-in, made for the perfect setting—where the low lights and unpretentious charm made everyone feel like they were sitting in a friend’s parlor rather than a concert hall. The staff, gracious and welcoming, kept things running smooth, with intermissions brief and timely, never pulling the audience too far from the spell being cast onstage.
Oldham’s set was an unpredictable weave of his recent recordings and a reimagined selection of songs from his vast catalog. He didn’t merely play them; he reworked and relived them, bending old melodies into new shapes, bringing forth ghosts of past compositions in unexpected ways. Ferguson and the accompanying musicians added depth and texture, their presence enhancing rather than overwhelming the rawness that defines Oldham’s work.
Will Oldham and his bandmates sported swaths of blue and purple glitter on their faces. Oldham, known for his usual adornments, opted this time for something more clown-like—large foil glitter over his face, in contrast to his typically dark black circles of man-liner around his eyes. He’s always been ironically adorable and scampy, but the lyrics leave you with a sense of personal danger.
The respectful and attentive audience soaked in every note, every phrase, laughing softly at Oldham’s wry between-song banter. It was the kind of night that reminded everyone why live music, in its most unfiltered form, remains something sacred.
