Sufjan Stevens has returned to the stage for the first time in more than eight years, albeit in a fairly discreet manner. The author of “Fourth of July” appeared by surprise at the concert of singer-songwriter Meg Lui at Tempo, in Kingston, New York, on September 25, but video of his appearance did not begin circulating until now. Only yesterday, Pitchfork reported the news.
Sufjan accompanied Meg Lui at the piano and with backing vocals on “Elvis Queen,” a song from her debut album, “Instant Validation,” released on the very same day and produced by Stevens himself. Wearing a cap and staying in the background, it seems he tried to remain fairly inconspicuous. Lui had also contributed to the backing vocals on “Javelin” (2023), Stevens’ latest studio album.
His last public performance had taken place in 2018, when he participated in the Oscars ceremony performing “Mystery of Love,” nominated for Best Original Song for the film “Call Me by Your Name.” Earlier, in 2017, he had offered two other live performances.
The comeback is a cause for celebration after the artist’s difficult years due to health reasons. In 2023, Stevens revealed that he suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome, a disorder affecting the nervous system that left him temporarily unable to walk. The musician had to relearn how to walk and how to use his hands during rehabilitation. In 2025, he explained that he was still recovering and that he was not yet in a position to go on tour.
screenshot taken from here https://t.co/BCgxDvstWL
— gabby @fearfvn (@alldelightedppl) October 26, 2026
