Seeing Andy Shauf live is like attending a campfire serenade. The Canadian singer-songwriter’s silky voice, story-rich lyrics, and subdued instrumentation invite you to close your eyes and sway, even in the least intimate of spaces. This is sure to be the case on April 24, when he will play a show at 9:30 Club with folk artist Marina Allen. Shauf had this effect in 2021, when I saw him play at Pitchfork Music Festival. It was September, and the three-day event had returned from a pandemic-era hiatus. Festivalgoers were antsy, both from live music deprivation and from post-quarantine social anxiety. Shauf’s set cut through that rowdiness, turning our attention to the serenity of existing outside on a cool fall day. His upcoming D.C. show is part of the promotional tour for Norm, his most recent album, released in February. The project puts a new spin on his signature narrative complexity, centering the perspective of a lovesick stalker named Norm. The poignancy of these ballads will likely render the 9:30 Club as a physical space all but nonexistent. Andy Shauf plays at 7 p.m. on April 24 at the 9:30 Club. 930.com. $25.
Andy Shauf
