PHOTOS: Improvement Movement and Annie Leeth at 529

It’s been a hell of a year for the Improvement Movement. The Atlanta psychedelic folk quartet entered 2024 as one the city’s most promising acts, but one that, perhaps, hadn’t reach its full potential. In February, however, the band unveiled “On the Bus,” the first single from their sophomore full length, Slump, and everything just seemed to click into place. Brimming with lush harmonies and gorgeous songcraft—not to mention a killer live video—the song was a welcome harbinger of things to come. Subsequent singles, “Too Far” and “Better,” only furthered the group’s stunningly expressive template, showcasing a band with a wildly expansive vision and the collective chops to pull it off.

Once Slump was released in May, Improvement Movement seemed to shift into overdrive. There was a summer tour to support the record, an excellent and adventurous solo LP from guitarist Clark Hamilton (a.k.a. Klark Sound), streaming collaborations with Rose Hotel, and more touring. Still, it wasn’t until late September when the band announced they would be supporting Khruangbin at the Eastern that it became clear just how far they had come. Then, the very next night, they opened for Royal Otis to another sold-out Eastern crowd. For us on the outside looking in, it was that rare moment of a local band making good on their promise. A come up for the ages, as they say, in real time.

So what better way to celebrate an explosive year of growth than to host a two-night blowout for your hometown fans? Last Friday and Saturday evening, the group did just that, putting on a pair of captivating performances at 529. Complete with guest artists, a rapturous audience, and mind-expanding visuals courtesy of a large video wall, the shows had an undeniably magical quality about them. It felt like a were you there moment to be held in some distant future conversation. For Improvement Movement, it must’ve felt like a perfect bookend to 2024, even as they headed up the coast to complete the remainder of their tour.

As for those that were in attendance, they’ll have their memories, as well as the litany of videos that have been popping up online. Fortunately for us, photographer Chris Marley was there on night one and was kind enough to share the photos below, including some of opener Annie Leeth, whose alluring abstract pop made for a fitting segue into Improvement Movement’s sweeping psych-folk pyrotechnics.

Click on an image to enlarge.