Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory: XPoNential Music Festival: River Stage (Wiggins Park, Philadelphia PA, September 20, 2025)
September 20, 2025 by Paul Debraski
[ATTENDED: September 20, 2025] Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory
Sharon Van Etten and her new band The Attachment Theory headlined Saturday night’s Festival. I saw SVE in 2019 (I loved her debut album). But I wasn’t really sure I needed to see her again. Then she announced a Free at Noon and I went. And I regretted not seeing her full show at Union Transfer. So I was pretty psyched that she was headlining tonight. After Kathleen Edwards, we headed over and managed to get a spot standing pretty close to the stage.
The sun was setting and the atmosphere was building And soon Sharon and the band came out.
It’s a little weird to start out by singing Who wants to live forever over and over, but I guess it works to build an atmosphere as the song got bigger and louder. But for me the show really kicked of into high gear when they played Afterlife. It’s a slow song with a lot of keys (Teeny Lieberson) and then a great bass line (Devra Hoff–whose bass work is outstanding both fretted and fretless). And when the chorus barrels in–the backing vocals are just gorgeous (Sharon picks the best backing vocalists).
They followed it up with the great single from the album, Idiot Box. Another great bass line from Devra and Sharon picked up the guitar to play the main guitar line. It’s such a great catchy song and it’s really fantastic live.
Up next was Comeback Kid, a great single from 2019. The gritty keyboard & bass sound that opened the song was complemented with a great drumbeat from Jorge Balbi. Sharon told the story of the song. That her brother found her a job at a liquor store in Perryville NJ and her parents let her move back in with them in her early 20s–her dad is here tonight. And they told her to go to school and get a job and it saved her life. And she thanked XPN for playing her debut song before she even had a record out.
She then said that the songs were from an impromptu jam session that led to the album. An even more killer bass line and fun keyboards introduced I Can’t Imagine. There’s a great part in the middle where she just yells STOP and the music stops except for a bass line and she turns and yells STOP IT. And after a pause… oh no they’re starting again. It’s such a great dramatic moment and totally unexpected (unless you know the song of course).
Something Ain’t Right is another great song that feels perfectly times to 2025. During this song Shanna Polley stepped up and played a nifty guitar solo. It’s another great song with, again, some great bass work. Southern Life has a dark and gritty sound. I love that Sharon sings in a monotone while the music changes and thumps around her–it makes the lyrics all the more dramatic (including the two curses!)
Sharon spends a lot of time walking around to the band members and singing with them or just hanging by them and she seems to really focus on Devra, and how could you not since every bass line is golden. The bass in Trouble is just gorgeous. When I saw them at Free at Noon, they opened with this song I was taken immediately with Devra’s playing. And once again the backing vocals in the chorus are stunning.
That had been almost entirely songs from the new album. But then they dipped back to the older songs for a bit, starting with No One’s Easy to Love (and a roaring bass sound).
The tone of the set changed when Teeny left the keys, picked up a guitar and came down to sing next to Sharon. They keys are pretty prominent on the new album so without them, the guitar just rocked out. And then I was super psyched because the song segued into my favorite SVE song Serpents. I’ve always loved the intensity of the bridge and chorus and Teeny helped to capture it perfectly. I feel like the drums really stood out on this one too.
Every Time the Sun Comes Up is an upbeat song whose lyrics dispute the upbeatness (every time the sun comes up I’m in trouble again). The end of the set featured two more oldies, two songs that I first heard at Union Transfer in 2019. Jupiter 4 and Seventeen sounded fantastic. She said Seventeen is her Jerseyesty song and it goes out to her dad. It’s such a rocking anthem and is really quite a great set ender.
So I was a little surprised she returned to the new album for I Want You Here, a slower moodier song but it has a big ending and sent everyone off happy.
Or at least we assumed they were done. People hung around and clapped and the lights sort of went on but not really. Some people started to leave. My wife and I started to head out–actually we just moved to a comfy spot by the stairs and the applause grew louder and louder. It’s funny how standing there for a minute seems so long. I think we waited about 2 minutes before they came back out to do a quickie.
Sharon had the lyric sheet and they launched into a rocker from the new album, Indio. This meant they played 9 of ten songs from the new album and it suited the band perfectly.
We managed to get out of the area pretty quickly but then at the toll booths there was a huge tie up. There was a truck broken down AND a car in a lane which I guess didn’t have money or something. So there was like only one lane open. Good lord. But once we got out, we got home pretty quickly.
| 2025 XPoNential Festival |
2025 Free at Noon |
2019 Union Transfer |
| Live Forever [∉] |
Trouble [∉] |
Jupiter 4 [⇔] |
| Afterlife [∉] |
Afterlife [∉] |
Comeback Kid [⇔] |
| Idiot Box [∉] |
Idiot Box [∉] |
No One’s Easy to Love [⇔] |
| Comeback Kid [⇔] |
Southern Life (What It Must Be Like) [∉] |
One Day [€] |
| I Can’t Imagine (Why You Feel This Way) [∉] |
I Can’t Imagine (Why You Feel This Way) [∉] |
Tarifa [Δ] |
| Somethin’ Ain’t Right [∉] |
Somethin’ Ain’t Right [∉] |
Memorial Day [⇔] |
| Southern Life (What It Must Be Like) [∉] |
Tarifa [Δ] |
You Shadow [⇔] |
| Trouble [∉] |
Everytime The Sun Comes Up [Δ] |
Malibu [⇔] |
| No One’s Easy to Love [⇔] |
|
Hands [⇔] |
| Anything [Ø] |
|
Black Boys on Mopeds (Sinead O’ Connor cover) |
| Serpents [¥] |
|
Seventeen [⇔] |
| Every Time the Sun Comes Up [Δ] |
|
Every Time the Sun Comes Up [Δ] |
| Jupiter 4 [⇔] |
|
Stay [⇔] |
| Seventeen [⇔] |
|
encore |
| I Want You Here [∉] |
|
I Told You Everything [⇔] |
| encore |
|
Serpents [¥] |
| Indio [∉] |
|
Love More [€] |
[∉] = and the Attachment Theory (2025) [didn’t play Fading Beauty]
[Ø] = We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong (2022)
[⇔] = Remind Me Tomorrow (2018)
[Δ] = Are We There (2014)
[¥] = Tramp (2012)
[€] = Epic (2010)
RIVER STAGE:
Soccer Mommy
Molly Tuttle
Sharon van Etten and the Attachment Theory
MARINA STAGE:
Tune-Yards
Richard Thompson
Kathleen Edwards
Iris Dement • John Gorka • October Project • Sam Phillips • Sarah McLachlan • Shawn Colvin • Sonia Dada • Subdudes • T-Bone Burnett
Ani DiFranco • Black 47 • BoDeans • David Wilcox • Freedy Johnston • Jill Sobule • John Flynn • Patsy Foster • Patty Larkin • Paula Cole • Susan Werner • The Schramms • Wanderlust
Cheryl Wheeler • Francis Dunnery • Jonatha Brooke • June Rich • Martin Sexton • Nil Lara • The Iguanas
Big Blue Hearts • Bruce Cockburn • Dar Williams • Grey Eye Glances • John Hiatt • Kim Fox • Kim Richey • Paul Cebar & the Milwaukeeans • Suzanne Vega
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones • Francis Dunnery • Huffamoose • James McMurtry • Lucinda Williams • Marah • Mary Arden Collins • Moxy Fruvous • Olu Dara • Patty Griffin • Southern Culture on the Skids
Brian Seymour • Duncan Sheik • Entrain • Indigenous • Kelly Willis • Old 97’s • Richard Thompson • Spooky Ghost • Steve Earle • Susan Werner
Ben Arnold & the Philly All-Stars • Chris Smither • David Mead • Jimmie Dale Gilmore • John Flynn • Mary Chapin Carpenter • Patti Smith • Phil Roy • Shelby Lynne • Steve Forbert & Rough Squirrels • Terri Hendrix
Amber deLaurentis • Billy Jonas • Blackthorn • Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer • Eliza Carthy • Erin McKeown • Ernie & Neal • Five for Fighting • Girls From Mars • Jeb Loy Nichols • Marc Cohn • Nanci Griffith • North Mississippi Allstars • Tim Eason
4 Way Street • Beats Walkin’ • Cousteau • John Eddie • John Flynn • John Mayer • Los Lobos • Nick Lowe • Raul Malo • Solomon Burke • Sonia Dada • Suzanne Vega
Alexi Murdoch • Art Garfunkel, Maia Sharp & Buddy Mondlock • Damien Rice • Eastmountainsouth • Grey Eye Glances • Indigenous • Kathleen Edwards • Nickel Creek • Rhett Miller • Richard Thompson • Robert Randolph & the Family Band • Sharon Katz & The Peace Train • They Might Be Giants • Townhall
Amos Lee • Bubboon & Bubbles • Charlie Musselwhite • Fountains of Wayne • John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting • Michael McDermott • Mindy Smith • Nellie McKay • North Mississippi Allstars • Old 97’s • Philly Locals in the Round with: Jim Boggia, Lauren Hart, Mutlu • Rachael Yamagata • Sarah Harmer • Shemekia Copeland
Billy Miles • Danielia Cotton • Drive-By Truckers • Erin McKeown • Indigo Girls • Jim Boggia • John Legend (Guest Appearance) • Loudon Wainwright, III • Mike Doughty’s Band • Patti Smith • Rickie Lee Jones • Rodney Crowell • Son Volt • Soulive • Townhall • Warren Haynes (Guest Appearance)
Alejandro Escovedo • Allen Toussaint • Amos Lee • Antje Duvekot • BC Camplight • Ben Franklin Middle School Drummers with Attitude • Blue Sinatra • Brandi Carlile • Citizen Cope • Codename • Danielia Cotton • Darcie Miner • Dave Quicks Trio of the BurnDown All-Stars • DrugByrds • Grace Potter and the Nocturnals • Hoots & Hellmouth • IV Thieves • Jeffrey Gaines •Jim James of My Morning Jacket • Jonah Smith • Josh Ritter • Konono N°1 • Lotus • Mary Lee’s Corvette • Marah • Mutlu • New York Dolls • Seth Kallen and the Reaction • Slo-Mo featuring Mic Wrecka • Steve Wynn • The Brakes • The Fractals • The Hiders • The Lowlands • Willy Mason • Yonder Mountain String Band
Adrienne Young • ALO • Andrew Lipke • Beretta 76 • Bitter Bitter Weeks • Blackthorn • Bob Mould • Brett Dennen • Cracker • David Falcone & Kenli Matus • Dr. Dog • Earl Greyhound • Eastern Conference Champions • Fionn Regan • Fountains of Wayne • Grace Potter and the Nocturnals • Hoots & Hellmouth • Illinois • James Hunter • Jesca Hoop • Jesse Malin • Julian Velard • Kim Richey • Los Lonely Boys • Marc Broussard • Martin Sexton • Robert Hazard • Ruder Than You • Ryan Shaw • Sam Roberts Band • Sharon Little & Scot Sax • Slo-Mo featuring Mic Wrecka • Suzanne Vega • Switches • The A-Sides • The Cat Empire • The Cobbs • The Fratellis • The Smithereens • The Swimmers • Tower of Power • Vienna Teng • Will Hoge
Alejandro Escovedo • Amos Lee • Angel Band • Back Door Slam • Beth Orton • Blind Boys of Alabama • Cheers Elephant • Chuck Prophet • Dar Williams • Dave Barnes • Dean & Britta • Ezra Furman & the Harpoons • Fooling April • Ingrid Michaelson • Jesse Ruben • Jim Bianco • Jim Boggia • Joan Osborne • John Gorka • Kuf Knotz & The Hustle • Madi Diaz • Matt Nathanson • Michael Franti & Spearhead • Mutlu • Nicole Atkins • O’Death • Railroad Earth • Salvador Santana Band • Shelby Lynne • Susan Werner • Suzanne Vega • Teddy Thompson • The Brakes • The Budos Band • The Loved Ones • The Mint • The Redwalls • The Refugees • The Shackletons • The Spinto Band • The War On Drugs • Toby Lightman • Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer
Aimee Mann • Andrew Lipke & the Prospects • Annuals • Assembly of Dust • Donna the Buffalo • East Hundred • Farewell Flight • Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams • Gillian Grassie • Good Old War • Guster • Hoots & Hellmouth • Illinois • John Forte • John Gorka • John Wesley Harding • Katie Herzig • Like A Fox • Los Straitjackets • Matt Duke • Minas • Perkasie • Pete Yorn • Peter Bjorn And John • Robert Cray • Sarah Borges & the Broken • Serena Ryder • Sharon Little • Shemekia Copeland • Singles • Steve Forbert & the Windfall Prophets • Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3 • The Bacon Brothers • The Hold Steady • The Low Anthem • The Peace Creeps • The Revelations featuring Tre’ Williams • They Might Be Giants • Tom Hamilton’s American Babies • Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby • Yeasayer
Alejandro Escovedo • Amy Correia • Ben Arnold • Ben Vaughn • Big Head Todd & the Monsters • Blood Feathers • Bobby Long • Birdie Busch • Cowboy Junkies • Dawes • Diane Birch • Dr. Dog • Dutch • Earl Greyhound • Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros • Fool’s Gold • Free Energy • Grace Potter and the Nocturnals • Harper Blynn • Joshua James • Nicole Atkins • Robert Francis • Robert Randolph and the Family Band • Rosanne Cash • The Felice Brothers • The Great Unknown • The Holmes Brothers • The Walkmen • These United States • Toy Soldiers • Yo La Tengo
Ben Folds • Booker T • Carbon Leaf • Citizen Cope (solo Acoustic) • Clap Your Hands Say Yeah • Dar Williams • David Uosikkinen’s In The Pocket • Deb Callahan • Emmylou Harris • Gary Clark Jr. • Givers • Hayes Carll • Hezekiah Jones and Andrew Lipke • Jeff Bradshaw and Brass Heaven • Johnny Miles and the Waywards • Joseph Arthur • Jukebox The Ghost • Keb’ Mo’ • Kingsfoil • Kuf Knotz • Matt Duke • Nicos Gun • North Mississippi All Stars Duo • Other Lives • Queen Electric • Ra Ra Riot • Shemekia Copeland • Sun Airway • Susan Werner • Ted Leo and the Pharmacists • The Smithereens
City Rain • Counting Crows • Dana Alexandra • Dave Hause • Dawes • Delta Rae • Delta Spirit • Diego Garcia • Dr. Dog • Field Report • Good Old War • JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound • JD McPherson • JD Souther • John Wesley Harding’s Cabinet of Wonders with: Rhett Miller, Megan Reilly, Eugene Mirman, and Rick Moody • Kaki King • Kasey Anderson • Kathleen Edwards • Lee Ranaldo Band • Lower Dens • Matt Santry Band • Mike Doughty • Ozomatli • Patterson Hood and the Downtown Rumblers • Rhett Miller and the Serial Lady Killers • The Avett Brothers • The Bailey Hounds • The Fleeting Ends • The Hold Steady • The Lumineers • The War On Drugs • We Are Augustines • Wilco •Work Drugs
Aaron Brown • Alo Brasil • Bob Dylan and His Band • Brett Dennen • Dawes • Dr. Dog • Dr. John • DRGN King • Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros • Erin McKeown • Hey Marseilles • John Butler Trio • Jose James • Justin Townes Earle • Kat Edmonson • Kopecky Family Band • Lianne LaHavas • Lord Huron • Matt Pond • Michael Kiwanuka • My Morning Jacket • Phosphorescent • Polica • Red Baraat • Ryan Bingham • The Districts • The Fleeting Ends • The Last Bison • The Lumineers • The Stray Birds • Trampled By Turtles • Wilco
Band of Horses • Bear’s Den • Beck • Caitlin Rose • CJ Cheneir and the Red Hot Louisiana Band • Commonwealth Choir • Dave Hause • Dawes • Diego Garcia • Ginger Coyle • Houndmouth • Hurray For the Riff Raff • Ingrid Michaelson • J Roddy Walston and The Business • James Cotton • Jenny Lewis • Jeremy Messersmith • Lake Street Dive • Lucius • Man Man • Marah • Marian Hill • Nicole Atkins • Old 97’s • Our Griffins • Rodrigo y Gabriela • Ryan Adams • Strand of Oaks • The Districts • The Hold Steady • The Lawsuits • Trigger Hippy • Viv & The Revival
Bombino • Buckwheat Zydeco • Calexico • Cheerleader • Cole Redding • Courtney Barnett • Dawes • Delta Rae • Field Report • First Aid Kit • Fly Golden Eagle • George Ezra • Gina Chavez • Grace Potter • Hop Along • Indigo Girls • Israel Nash • JD McPherson • Kopecky • Lone Bellow • Lord Huron • Lost Bayou Ramblers • Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear • Milton • My Morning Jacket • Pine Barons • Rayland Baxter • Son Little • St. Vincent • The Wailers • The Word (Robert Randolph, John Medeski, North Mississippi Allstars) • Vita and the Woolf
Alabama Shakes • Ben Arnold • Billy Hector • Brandi Carlile • case/lang/veirs • Chicano Batman • Colvin & Earle • Darlingside • David Wax Museum • Diane Coffee • Eliza Hardy Jones • Esme Patterson • Father John Misty (solo) • Femi Kuti & The Positive Force • Gary Clark Jr. • Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band • Kississippi • Kurt Vile & The Violators • Low Cut Connie • Mavis Staples • Old Crow Medicine Show • Oliver John-Rodgers • Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Queen Of Jeans • Rosemary Fiki • Ryan Adams and the Shining • The Districts • The Felice Brothers • The Marcus King Band • The Record Company • The Revivalists • The Suffers • Tommy Stinson • White Denim
Adia Victoria • Amos Lee feat. Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Angel Olsen • Arkells • Brownout • Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires • Chicano Batman • Cliff Hillis • Conor Oberst • Dave Hause & The Mermaid• David Bromberg Quintet • Davy Knowles • Dream Syndicate • Drive-By Truckers • Foxygen • Hardwork Movement • Hop Along • Hurray for the Riff Raff • Hurry • Joseph • No Good Sister • Offa Rex • Pinegrove • Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Rhiannon Giddens • Spoon • Strand Of Oaks • Sweet Spirit • Swift Technique • The Dove & The Wolf • The Record Company • The Suffers • Wilco • Xenia Rubinos
Bermuda Triangle feat. Brittany Howard (of Alabama Shakes), Becca Mancari and Jesse Lafser • Blind Boys of Alabama • Cloves • Courtney Marie Andrews • David Byrne • Darlingside • Devon Gilfillian • Fantastic Negrito • Femi Kuti & The Positive Force • Greg Sover Band • Harmony Woods • Hiss Golden Messenger • Hurry • JD McPherson • Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band • Jupiter & Okwess • Katie Frank • Lo Moon • Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real • M.A.K.U. Soundsystem • Margo Price • Mondo Cozmo • Mt. Joy • Natalie Prass • Phoebe Bridgers • Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Proper Dark • Sunflower Bean • Sturgill Simpson • Swift Technique • Sylvan Esso • Tank and the Bangas • The Lone Bellow • The National Reserve • The War on Drugs • &More (Donn T & Chill Moody)
Ali Awan • Amy Ray Band (Indigo Girls) • Bettye LaVette • Blondie • Caroline Rose • Christone “Kingfish” Ingram • Dave Hause & The Mermaid • Dawes • Elvis Costello & The Imposters • Foxtrot & The Get Down • Gregory Alan Isakov • Guster • Hozier • J.S. Ondara • Japanese Breakfast • Kathleen Edwards • Killiam Shakespeare • Low Cut Connie • Lucy Dacus • Nilüfer Yanya • Rayland Baxter • RFA • Ruston Kelly • Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds • Sean Ardoin • St. Paul & The Broken Bones • The McCrary Sisters • The Vaughns • The War and Treaty • The Wood Brothers • Y La Bamba • Zeek Burse
VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES BY:
Devon Gilfillian • Great Time • Illiterate Light • Liz Phair • Michaela Anne • Nicole Atkins • The Districts
Ani DiFranco • Adia Victoria • Anna Shoemaker • Arthur Thomas and the Funkitorium • Christone “Kingfish” Ingram • Cimafunk • Cory Henry • Dawes • Devon Gilfillian • Great Time • Hoochi Coochi • Jade Bird • Lakou Mizik • Los Lobos • Michaela Anne • Nicole Atkins • Paul Beaubrun • Pigeons Playing Ping Pong • Shovels & Rope • Sierra Ferrell • Sofia Valdés • Stella Ruze • Strand of Oaks • Tedeschi Trucks: Fireside Live • The Record Company • Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers
Bartees Strange • Black Opry Revue • Buffalo Nichols • Catbite • Chestnut Grove • Cosmic Guilt • Dos Santos • The Felice Brothers • Geese • Highnoon • Houndmouth • Jenny Lewis • Kathleen Edwards • Lo Moon • Lucinda Williams • Nathaniel Rateliff • Neal Francis • Omar’s Hat • Patti Smith and Her Band • Samantha Fish • Sarah Shook & The Disarmers • SNACKTIME • Taj Mahal • Tamino • The Dip • The Revivalists • The Suffers • The Tisburys • The War on Drugs • Valerie June
Allison Russell • Bailen • Bobby Rush • Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers • Celisse • Christine Havrilla & Gypsy Fuzz • Don McCloskey • Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band • Julia Pratt • Leyla McCalla • Low Cut Connie • Margo Price • Mobbluz • Moustapha Noumbissi • Nik Greeley & the Operators • Old Crow Medicine Show • Sammy Rae & The Friends • Say She She • Sunny War • Tegan & Sara • The Hold Steady • Velvet Rogue • Wednesday • Wilder Woods
The Walkmen • Pete Yorn • George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners • Cedric Burnside • Velvet Rouge • Carla Gamble • Rosanne Cash • Greensky Bluegrass • Phosphorescent • Blondshell • Brigitte Calls Me Baby • Lizzie No • Florry • Moustapha Noumbissi • Guster • Trampled by Turtles • Jade Bird • Bully • The Heavy Heavy • Julia Pratt • Grace Bowers • Brittany Ann Tranbaugh
Courtney Barnett • Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory • WAR • Greensky Bluegrass • Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Molly Tuttle • Soccer Mommy • Spin Doctors • Richard Thompson • Tune-Yards • Kathleen Edwards • Craig Finn • Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country • Michigander • SNACKTIME • Southern Avenue • Zinadelphia • Owen Stewart • Emily Drinker • Black Buttafly • Maxwell Stern & The Good Light Band • Fawziyya Heart
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