Craig Finn Kicks Off Union Pool Residency with Cassandra Jenkins Sit-In and All-Star Band

Rob Moderelli on February 5, 2026

Craig Finn. photo by Dan Monick

Craig Finn kicked off his February residency at Brooklyn, N.Y.’s Union Pool on Wednesday night with a stacked two-set show. The venerable singer-songwriter and Hold Steady frontman stepped into the spotlight at the local favorite Williamsburg haunt both solo and with a band of longtime friends and collaborators, quickly making good on his guarantee of surprises.

Finn started the first of his three Wednesday shows alone with the Always Been standout “Clayton.” Apart from the I Need a New War favorite “Magic Marker,” which he cut early to address a medical issue in the crowd, the solo set exclusively featured cuts from his fourth solo studio album. After ”Bethany,” “Crumbs” and the lead single “People of Substance,” Finn welcomed indie singer/songwriter Cassandra Jenkins, who has added backing vocals to all of Finn’s solo offerings and supported several tours through the years. The longtime collaborators reunited in close harmonies on a set-closer of “Shamrock.”

When he returned for his second set, Finn was accompanied by a supergroup of other old friends like super-producer and Bonny Light Horseman member Josh Kaufman, singer-songwriter and Kaufman’s partner Annie Nero, Brooklyn scene veteran multi-instrumentalist Stuart Bogie, The Walkmen co-founder Walter Martin and esteemed jam drummer Joe Russo. Kaufman, who also joined Finn’s People of Substance Band with Russo for the Always Been release show last May, put together an eclectic setlist, beginning with Finn’s first performance of “It Hits When It Hits” since 2018 and fourth to date. Other unexpected twists and turns in Finn’s 11-song full-band frame included “Going to a Show” (last played in July 2016), “Something to Hope For (last played in November 2019), “They Know Where I Live” (last played in October 2017), “Three Drinks” (last played in June 2016) and a grand finale of “Saint Peter Upside Down” (last played in May 2018).

Finn will return to Union Pool next Wednesday, Feb. 11, then close out his residency on Feb. 18. Find tickets and more information on his full tour itinerary at craigfinn.net.