TL;DR
Get audio and creator gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Sufjan Stevens made a rare live appearance on Sept. 25, playing piano and singing at Meg Lui’s album-release show in Kingston, New York. His forthcoming collection Worst Christmas Ever! also includes “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better),” which Stevens described in a press release as his first new Christmas song in 15 years.
Sufjan Stevens performed live on Sept. 25 for the first time since 2018, joining musician Meg Lui at her album-release show at Tempo in Kingston, New York. The appearance comes as Stevens prepares to release Worst Christmas Ever!, a collection due Nov. 6 that includes “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better),” his first new Christmas song in 15 years, according to the announcement reported by Stereogum.
Stevens provided piano and vocals during Lui’s show. He produced her new album, Instant Validation, which Stereogum describes as bringing together musicians from the pair’s Hudson Valley circle. The performance was a guest appearance at a release event, not an announced return to touring. Stereogum reported that fans had noticed the appearance online after the show, while wider discussion picked up more recently on social media.
The performance took place ahead of the release of Worst Christmas Ever!, scheduled for Nov. 6. The album pares down Stevens’ extensive catalog of Christmas music to a single disc and features the new track “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better).” In a press release, Stevens described the song as a request for forgiveness, writing: “On this Christmas, I ask forgiveness for all the funny things I’ve said and done.”
The reported appearance marks Stevens’ first time onstage since 2018. He had not toured regularly after finishing performances supporting Carrie & Lowell in 2016. The Kingston show is a single reported date; no further live dates are included in the source report.
A Guest Set, Not a Tour Announcement
The appearance is notable because Stevens has spent years away from regular live performance. His last reported onstage activity before Kingston came in 2017 and 2018, including an Oscars appearance. Seeing him play again may interest fans who have followed his music but had little opportunity to see him perform in recent years.
Still, the available details point to a one-off appearance alongside a collaborator, rather than a confirmed change in his live schedule. The new Christmas song offers a separate, concrete release for listeners: it adds a new track to a collection drawn from a body of holiday music Stevens has built over many years.
The news also connects two strands of Stevens’ recent work: behind-the-scenes collaboration and a gradual return to public activity. He produced Lui’s album and contributed to her release show, while the upcoming collection puts his Christmas material back in circulation in a more compact format.
Popular right now
Dyson Car+Boat Cordless Handheld Vacuum
iRobot Roomba Max 715 Pet Robot Vacuum with AutoEmpty Dock
Vitamix Propel Series 510 Professional-Grade Blender, 3 Programs, Black
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Stevens’ Long Pause From Live Shows
Stevens has not been a regular touring artist for about a decade, according to Stereogum. After touring in support of Carrie & Lowell concluded in 2016, he performed twice in 2017 and twice in 2018. He then released six full-length albums, including The Ascension and Javelin, as well as collaborative projects and other releases.
His period away from the stage also included major personal and health challenges. Stereogum reported that Stevens experienced the death of his partner, Evans Richardson, and Guillain-Barré syndrome, which left him learning to walk again. The report says that after sharing aspects of his grief and health struggles publicly, Stevens began taking on behind-the-scenes work, including producing John Legend’s Christmas album and appearing as a guest on projects by other indie musicians.
The Kingston performance follows that pattern of selective participation. It was connected to a collaborator’s album launch and came in a local setting, rather than as part of a tour announcement or a standalone Stevens concert.
““On this Christmas, I ask forgiveness for all the funny things I’ve said and done.””
— Sufjan Stevens, in a press release about “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better)”
No Further Live Dates Confirmed
The reported appearance does not establish whether Stevens plans to perform again. No tour dates or additional shows are identified in the source material, and it is not clear whether the Kingston set was intended as a one-time guest spot or part of a broader return to live music.
The source report also does not provide a complete set list, the length of Stevens’ contribution, or further details about how the performance was arranged. The new song’s release is tied to the scheduled Nov. 6 collection, but no additional recording or performance plans are specified.
Christmas Collection Due Nov. 6
The next scheduled development is the release of Worst Christmas Ever! on Nov. 6. The collection is expected to bring together selections from Stevens’ Christmas catalog on one disc and includes “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better).”
Whether Stevens will make more live appearances remains unknown. For now, the Kingston show and the album release are the confirmed developments described in the report; any further performances would require a separate announcement.
Key Questions
When did Sufjan Stevens perform live?
He appeared on Sept. 25 at Tempo in Kingston, New York, during Meg Lui’s album-release show.
What did Stevens do at Meg Lui’s show?
Stereogum reported that Stevens contributed piano and vocals. He also produced Lui’s album, Instant Validation.
Is Stevens going on tour?
No tour has been announced in the source report. The Kingston performance was a guest appearance, and no additional live dates are confirmed.
What is “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better)”?
It is a new Stevens song included on Worst Christmas Ever!, a Christmas collection scheduled for Nov. 6. Stevens described it as his first new Christmas song in 15 years.
Why has Stevens been away from live performance?
Stereogum reported that Stevens stopped regular touring after the Carrie & Lowell tour ended in 2016. The report also noted personal grief and Guillain-Barré syndrome, which left him learning to walk again.
Source: stereogum.com
