Last night, Feb. 28, indie-folk outfit Big Thief took the stage at New York City’s Ed Sullivan Theatre as the special guest on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, ahead of their final U.S. tour stop at Radio City Music Hall, tomorrow, March 2. For the segment, Big Thief surprised fans with their first new material since 2020’s two-time Grammy-nominated Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You LP, a single titled “Vampire Empire.”

After a brief introduction from host Stephen Colbert, bandmates Adrianne Lenker (guitar, vocals), Buck Meek (guitar, backing vocals), Max Oleartchik (bass), James Krivchenia (drums) and a guest flute player dove right into the new track. In typical Big Thief fashion, the group’s stage presence was as emotionally charged as their lyrics and sound. Lenker’s vocal performance was particularly organic, punctuating the song’s dark, looping melody with ragged shrieks. 

While the song has not been released on streaming platforms, it has served as a frequent addition to the band’s setlists on their most recent tour, beginning back in November.  Fan-recorded clips of the live track have made their rounds on social media platforms such as Tik Tok, sparking online buzz about the arrival of a studio counterpart for “Vampire Empire.” 

This was not the quartet’s first time gracing The Late Show stage. They made their first appearance on the television show in 2019 and returned in 2022 with a special live-streamed performance of “Simulation Swarm” off of their latest album. 

Following the performance tomorrow night, Big Thief will take a short break from the road before embarking on a series of shows across Europe in April. This summer, they will return to the states for another round of tour dates through July and August. Click here for Big Thief’s full live performance schedule and ticketing information. 

Scroll to watch Big Thief perform “Vampire Empire” live at Ed Sullivan Theatre.