Session Americana finally got their say on Sunday night at the Burren, turning a year’s worth of postponed plans into a sold-out, shoulder-to-shoulder celebration that felt equal parts homecoming and thank-you note. After cancelled shows earlier in the year, the band arrived loose, grateful, and clearly determined to make it up to the room. The Burren—already one of the best listening rooms around—met them halfway, with a crowd that knew when to lean in, when to sing along, and when to let a groove carry the night.

From the jump, the band sounded relaxed and confident, rotating leads and textures the way they do best, with songs passed around the circle like shared stories. Jon Bistline kicked things off behind the wheel on “Driving,” setting a tone that was steady and generous rather than showy. Ry Cavanaugh followed with “All For You,” his voice drawing the first audible sighs from the crowd, before Jim Fitting’s harp swaggered in on “Big Road Blues.”

The early stretch leaned into warmth and familiarity. Dinty Child’s “In the Morning” felt especially right for a winter night, while Kris Delmhorst’s “Rules to Games” showcased her knack for turning quiet insight into something the whole room could hum along with. Cavanaugh returned for “When the Dust Has Settled,” and Child’s “The Upside” kept the mood buoyant without losing the intimacy.

Mid-set highlights came fast. Bistline’s “Casting Call” and Billy Beard’s “Merrimack County” landed like local postcards, grounded and affectionate. Delmhorst’s “Kaleidoscope” shimmered, while Cavanaugh leaned fully into charm on “I’m a Dog,” drawing laughter and knowing nods from longtime fans. Fitting’s “Beauty’s in the Eye” was a reminder of how much personality a harmonica can carry in the right hands.

The back half of the set felt like a victory lap for both band and audience. Delmhorst’s “Secret Girl” hushed the room, followed by a rousing “Big Old Goofy World,” the John Prine cover sung by Fitting that turned into a full-on communal moment—voices blending, glasses raised, everyone smiling at the shared love of the song. Cavanaugh closed the main set with “Tim’s Got Weed,” sending the crowd into the break buzzing.

The encore sealed the night’s celebratory feel. Cavanaugh led a joyful, unexpected “Raspberry Beret,” the Prince cover instantly recognizable and impossible not to sing along to, before Dinty Child brought it home with “Beer Town,” a perfect nod to the Burren itself and the community that fills it.

More than just a concert, the night felt like a conversation resumed after an interruption—band and audience picking up exactly where they left off. For those who had been waiting through the earlier cancellations, Session Americana didn’t just make good; they delivered a reminder of why these Sundays matter, and why a packed room listening together can still feel like something special.