The amazing Cowboy Junkies — with frontlady Margo Timmins leading the band — stopped by The Birchmere recently for the first of two shows on their current 40th Anniversary Tour. The folks in attendance were in for a huge treat of classic Junkies tunes and if they missed the first show would have the chance to catch a second show two nights later.
It seems like just yesterday when the Cowboy Junkies formed this unique country, folk, and rock band. Forty years onward they still have their dynamic sound and feel, and Margo is still one of the finest vocalists of our generation. The band consists of Margo on lead vocals, Michael Timmins on guitar, Peter Timmins on drums, and Alan Anton on bass.
This band from Toronto, Canada got their real big first break with the masterpiece album The Trinity Session receiving huge accolades from the LA Times as one of the best of the year back in the 1980s.
I first started seriously listening to the Cowboy Junkies decades ago. Once I heard “If You Were the Woman, and I Was the Man,” the duet they did with John Prine I was a convert to their dynamic music and lyrics. Black Eyed Man is still my favorite album they have released in a career of numerous great albums including another of my favorites “The Caution Horses” from 1990.
The Cowboy Junkies had no opener on June 8, and for this first show at The Birchmere they played two sets of classic Cowboy Junkies hits and cover songs for which they are known. The show opened with no drama and a great version of “Hell Is Real” to get the fans in attendance quickly into the set followed by “A Common Disaster” and “Follower 2.” The Cowboy Junkies are a band of not too much seemingly trivial moments but a band that pulls you into the show and never lets you out. They easily weave from one great track to the other keeping the audience in the show from beginning to the end.
Watch the official music video for “A Common Disaster” by Cowboy Junkies on YouTube:
After a few songs, Margo Timmins talking very comfortably and conversing with the audience throughout the evening advised that the band had first played the Birchmere in 2005 and were releasing a box set of music for the 40th anniversary. While discussing the 40th tour, Timmins was reflective on the 4 decades of music by emphasizing charmingly that they weren’t that old.
Later in the set, the Junkies played “200 More Miles,” which brings out the best in the Cowboy Junkies. The version this night was one of the finest moments for me during the show, and a song I feel captures that specific Cowboys Junkies sound which beautifully blends Margo’s vocals, words, and great instrumentation.
On this current 40th anniversary tour the band is covering songs such as “Forgive Me” by John Lee Hooker, one of their best-known hits, “Sweet Jane” by The Velvet Underground, “Powderfinger” by Neil Young and Crazy Horse, and “Blue Moon” to pay tribute to Elvis.
Before closing the first set for a short break, Timmins advised that the band was working on a new album.
The band played a fantastic second set and closed out the show with an encore, followed by a standing ovation for an evening of brilliantly played music. The Cowboy Junkies playing their heavy songs, and beautifully written songs are in great form on this 40th anniversary tour. If you have not seen them in a while, this would be a great show for long time fans to see or new followers of the band.
The Cowboy Junkies are playing several more US dates, before heading back to Canada and more US dates later in the year.
Setlist:
1. Hell Is Real
2. A Common Disaster
3. Follower 2
4. Hard to Build. Easy to Break
5. Where Are You Tonight”
6. Forgive Me (John Lee Hooker cover)
7. Oregon Hill
8. Sweet Jane (The Velvet Underground cover)
9. Continental Drift
10. 200 More Miles
11. Working on a Building (traditional cover)
12. Angels in the Wilderness
13. Powderfinger (Neil Young & Crazy Horse cover)
14 Shadows 2
15. He Will Call You Baby
16. Missing Children
17. Blue Moon Revisited
Here are some photos of Cowboy Junkies performing live at The Birchmere on June 8, 2026. All pictures copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.
