Entertainment · Music · 1 hr ago
Sufjan Stevens Makes First Public Musical Appearance in Over Eight Years
Sufjan Stevens made his first public musical appearance in over eight years at a concert in Kingston, New York.
He joined singer-songwriter Meg Lui on piano and backing vocals for “Elvis Queen,” a song from her album Instant Validation.
Lui and Stevens have worked together before: he produced the album, and she sang backing vocals on his 2023 record Javelin.
Stevens revealed in 2023 that he had Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare disorder in which the immune system attacks the nerves.
He said he was working to relearn how to walk and use his hands.
The appearance marks a return to performing in public, but Stevens said last year he was not ready to tour.
The concert took place on September 25 at Lui’s album-release event, and the sources give no details of further performances.
Sufjan Stevens made a surprise appearance at Meg Lui’s concert in Kingston, New York, on September 25.
He played piano and backing vocals on Lui’s song “Elvis Queen.”
The performance was his first public musical appearance in more than eight years.
Stevens produced Lui’s album Instant Validation, which was released on the day of the concert.
In 2023, Stevens said he had been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome and was relearning to walk and use his hands.
- Who
- Sufjan Stevens appeared with singer-songwriter Meg Lui.
- What
- Stevens played piano and backing vocals during her performance of “Elvis Queen.” It was his first public musical performance in more than eight years.
- When
- September 25. The article was published on October 27, 2026.
- Where
- Tempo in Kingston, New York.
- Why
- The appearance took place during Lui’s record release event for Instant Validation, an album produced by Stevens.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Stevens revealed that he had been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome and was working to relearn to walk and use his hands.
Stevens accompanied Meg Lui on piano and backing vocals at her record release event in Kingston, New York.
- Venue
- Tempo, Kingston, New York
- Performance date
- September 25
- Song performed
- Elvis Queen
- Album
- Instant Validation
- Album release label
- Asthmatic Kitty Records
- Diagnosis disclosed
- Guillain-Barré syndrome, in 2023
What people are saying
With Sufjan there was so much more out-of-the-box thinking, and we ended up adding layers upon layers that created an unrestrained soundscape for the record
I’ve had some pretty difficult things happen to me, so I’m in a state of repair and survival
I’m not really in any state of mind or any position to go on tour yet.
But I’m starting to see the light. I’m starting to feel a sense of direction toward something meaningful and substantial.