On Saturday, November 1, as their 2025 tour nears its close, UK-meets-North-Dakota trio Raynes brought their heartfelt fusion of folk, pop and world music to the famed Iridium in Manhattan.
Fresh off the June release of Bloom in June, Raynes has been refining a sound that’s equal parts melodic storytelling and modern pop architecture. The band’s self-coined term “expensive folk” fits perfectly: rooted in acoustic textures but dressed in modern production with layered harmonies and pop hooks.
Mark Race’s (vocals/guitar) vocals carried songs of love, loss and resilience, while Mat Charley (multi-instrumentalist/producer) moved fluidly from fiddle to guitar to synth, and Joe Berger (guitar) anchored the sound with his guitar work.
They opened with Bloom’s catchy single “Your Mouth Is a Garden,” and the crowd sang along to every word of Spotify favorite “Lemon Drop” (over 19 million streams). Introducing “Collapse,” the band joked that it is among their least popular tracks on Spotify, only for a fan to shout, “I love that one!” It was a moment that perfectly captured the band’s humility and connection with the audience.
Mid-set, Race warned that the nest couple of songs might get emotional. They were stripped down, acoustic and beautifully raw. Moments later, he lightened the mood: “That’s the end of the slow, sad songs!”
For the encore, Race returned alone to launch a surprise cover of The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside.” As the audience sang along, Charley and Berger rejoined him one by one, in a joyful, communal finale.
Between songs, the trio thanked the crowd and recounted their origin story—how the two North Dakotans found Race on social media and convinced him to fly to Los Angeles to start a band. Their gratitude radiated off the stage as fans serenaded Race with an early “Happy Birthday.”
As the house lights rose, a long line formed at the merch table—proof of a band steadily building a devoted following.
As they wrap their 2025 tour, with three remaining shows, in Los Angeles (November 29) and Salt Lake City (December 2 and 3), Raynes stands as a trio fully coming into their own. Their sound was rich, the harmonies tight and their connection to the audience never stronger.
Setlist: Tie Me to the Tracks, Tie me Up, Two Seconds in the Sun, Marigolds, Goldfish, White Dress, Lemon Drop, American Waters, Pulling Teeth, Collapse, Miami Underwater, A Shock to Your Heart, Your Mouth Is a Garden, Come My Way, Cast the Bronze
Encore: Mr. Brightside (The Killers)
→ Continue reading at NYS Music
