Photos/Review: Wardruna @ Beacon Theatre

Wardruna and Chelsea Wolfe were lucky to have the unique experience performing at this year’s Fire In The Mountains festival at the Red Eagle Campground, located on sovereign Blackfeet tribal land in Montana, this past July. The event was a success and is now set to return in 2026. By August, Wardruna donated $14,000 to Firekeeper Alliance, a non-profit organization to reduce suicide rates among the Blackfeet Nation and other Indigenous communities. The funds were raised through a limited-edition t-shirt designed by a Blackfeet Nation student, with over 500 sold online and at the festival. The ritualistic spectacle continued in September when Wardruna and Wolfe teamed up once again, this time for a full North American run in support of Wardruna’s latest album, Birna, released earlier this year.

The tour began on September 4th in Fort Worth, TX, and wrapped on September 28th in Washington, DC. Metal Insider attended their New York City performance at the Beacon Theatre on September 26th, where the historic venue was filled with a mostly mid-aged crowd enjoying the comfort of theater seating. Unlike the overly amplified, super loud sets from heavier shows, this was an evening that didn’t require earplugs. The overall intimate setting only added to the experience.

The evening kicked off with Chelsea Wolfe at 7:30 PM. The Northern California-based solo artist provided a 45-minute set, highlighting tracks from her 2024 album She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She. With subtle lighting and one backing musician, Wolfe’s dark, poetic energy carried the room. Her haunting vocals were more than enough to captivate the audience. Towards the end of her set, Wolfe performed two songs solo, highlighting her raw and immaculate style. Wolfe kept her interaction brief but remained heartfelt, expressing, “This is a beautiful tour.” Her setlist blended newer material with fan favorites, including “The Mother Road,” “Tunnel Lights,” and fan favorites “16 Psyche” and “Feral Love.”

Chelsea Wolfe

Photo Credit: Mathieu Bredeau

After a short break, Wardruna took the stage at 8:35 PM, with seven members filling the space on the stage with a spotlight on frontman Einar Selvik alongside Lindy-Fay Hella. Their 90-minute set surpassed the standard of a musical concert; it felt more like a spiritual awakening. At around 9:40 PM, Selvik took a comedic detour to say, “Cultural pissing contest is irrelevant.” He emphasized the value of song itself by simply stating, “Singing will make you a better person,” before jokingly giving the crowd “homework.” All humor aside, Wardruna isn’t classified as a “party band,” therefore, participation to add to the comedic break wasn’t necessary. Wardruna continued with their musical collection, guiding the audience through a deeper, ritualistic performance.

Before concluding the evening, Selvik expressed gratitude for the tour, calling it an “absolute honor to share this evening with you” and hinting at a return: “We should do it again.” Their setlist spanned both classic and new material, featuring tracks such as “Kvitravn,” “Lyfjaberg,” “Voluspá,” and “Helvegen.” Each song was executed as though they transported the crowd to another spiritual dimension. Wardruna and Chelsea Wolfe created a haunting evening filled with dark poetry, spiritual awakening, and something more. The two paired together worked well.