Sarah Kinsley brings Atmospheric pop to Thalia Hall

Written by: Valeria Lazu

CHICAGO – Sarah Kinsley brought her distinct atmospheric pop sound to Chicago's Thalia Hall on April 19 in support of her latest EP, Fleeting, released on February 13. 

Opening the show was Charlie Burg, and after a few songs in, he talked about his writing process. When he first started, it was just him and a guitar, and he returned to that for his latest projects as well. A gift to the crowd was him performing I Think About You (i wrote this an hour ago), which was released just a few days prior to this show.

The moment Kinsley took the stage was bittersweet since her last show at this venue in 2023 ended with her losing her voice due to vocal strain. This year, however, she was an absolute powerhouse as she opened the set with Truth of Pursuit off the EP. The 16-song setlist featured work from Fleeting as well as some of her older pieces and fan favorites.

Kinsley wore a silver sheer dress and boots, carrying a stunning and shimmery look as she sang her heart out to a sold out show. She took a moment to sing a couple ballads, just her and the piano. The rest of the band left the stage as she sang After All and I’m Not A Mountain, allowing her to intimately connect with the audience. 

Her bandmates rejoined for Reverie, followed by Lonely Touch, when she went to the front of the stage and danced around with the crowd. She closed her set with the EP’s title track — a perfectly fitting way to end the night. 

Kinsley translated Fleeting into a deeply engaging and all-encompassing experience. She continues her tour until the end of April with Charlie Burg before picking back up at the end of May in the United Kingdom with support from Yndling.