Courtney Barnett’s Creature of Habit Tour Stops at Palace Theatre May 16

Courtney Barnett got her start in Melbourne, Australia, releasing a pair of EPs in the early 2010s that quickly caught on outside her home country. By the time her debut album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit came out in 2015, she already had a reputation for sharp, observant songwriting and a delivery that feels casual but is actually pretty precise. Over the years, she’s kept that same core style while shifting the tone a bit. Her later work, especially 2021’s Things Take Time, Take Time, leaned quieter and more reflective, showing a different side without completely stepping away from the dry humor she’s known for.

The Creature of Habit tour follows her newest album of the same name, released earlier this year. It feels like a continuation of that more inward-looking approach, but with a little more energy mixed back in. The songs still focus on everyday patterns and personal habits, but there’s a sense she’s pushing against them too trying to figure out what to keep and what to leave behind. It’s not a huge stylistic reset, more like a gradual evolution, which has kind of been her thing all along.

It’s also been a minute since Barnett last made a proper tour stop in Minnesota. While she’s passed through the Midwest here and there over the years, this is her first headlining return to the Twin Cities since 2022, which makes this show feel a bit more anticipated than a typical mid tour date.

Opening the night is Truman Sinclair, a newer name compared to Barnett but one that fits the overall tone of the bill. Sinclair is based in the U.S. and works more in the indie folk and singer/songwriter lane quieter arrangements, more stripped down production, and a focus on lyrics. From what he’s released so far, his music leans introspective, which should make for a smooth lead in rather than a sharp contrast. He’s still early in his career, but landing on a tour like this suggests he’s starting to reach a wider audience.

Overall, this show doesn’t come across like a big, over the top production. It feels more grounded focused on songwriting and performance rather than spectacle. That’s probably what most people showing up on May 16 are expecting anyway, and it’s where Barnett tends to be at her best.

If you want tickets to the show, you can find them here!