Nearly a year to the day after releasing her sophomore studio album, Surrender, beloved singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers made her comeback to the touring scene after a three-year hiatus because of COVID-19. Before her return, Rogers’ last tour was in 2019, celebrating her beloved debut record on the Heard It in A Past Life tour.
The “Light On” singer went old school earlier this year to sell tickets for her Summer of ’23 tour by selling tickets in-person at various box offices, considering scalpers and bots on ticketing websites such as Ticketmaster and A.X.S. In April, Maggie went out of her way to visit the Music Hall of Williamsburg box office in Brooklyn to greet fans in line who were purchasing tickets for the Forest Hills gig. Without a doubt, Rogers’ consideration of her fans in light of the recent Ticketmaster controversy with concert tours such as Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour was evident.
The N.Y.U. Alum performed at the infamous Forest Hills Stadium alongside a setlist with a perfect mix of cherished tracks from her debut record, “Heard It In A Past Life,” music from her first E.P., Now That the Light Is Fading, Surrender, and fresh offerings of new music, which the devoted crowd fell in love with.
Rogers performed unreleased tracks, which included “Sick of Dreaming,” “Don’t Forget Me,” and “The Kill.” Maggie had the lyrics of each new song projected onto the screen behind her. Since the Fall of 2022, Rogers has been on tour, promoting Surrender at various concerts and music festivals within Europe, the U.K., and the U.S.
The familiar chimes of Rogers’ fan-favorite tune, “Dog Years,” sent the audience into an absolute frenzy and brought the crowd closer. The stands and the floor of the stadium quickly became a sea of lights by the end of the song as Maggie tearfully thanked the crowd in gratitude and humbleness.
A standout performance of the night was Maggie’s rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” mixed with a beloved track, “Retrograde.” from her first album. Long-time fans of Maggie know that Houston’s infamous song is played for the audience after each of Maggie’s shows to leave the night on a fun note.
“This is the best night of my life!” The beloved artist exclaimed as she ran off stage after concluding her anthem, “That’s Where I Am.”
Throughout the set, the knowingly outspoken activist took a moment to point out partnerships for the summer tour, including organizations such as HeadCount, dedicated to promoting voter registration and participation, as well as Planned Parenthood, known for providing reproductive and sexual healthcare and education within the United States. Exhibiting the power of how music can be harnessed for a more significant cause, the Summer of ’23 tour is also in collaboration with Musically Fed, a non-profit org based in Phoenix, Arizona, that is focused on donating unused backstage meals to feed people facing homelessness and food insecurity. Maggie’s tour initiatives are also focused on waste reduction to eliminate single-use plastic in collaboration with R.Cup, TURN, and more.
The bolt of lightning that illuminated the sky above the crowd at Forest Hills Stadium made the night even more magical. Maggie had reached the powerful instrumental of her final song, “A Different Kind of World,” leaving the audience in awe and surging with energy.
Within minutes to spare, Maggie concluded her set just in time before the torrential downpour amid July humidity in New York City.
Maggie’s music and performance have a way of connecting with her audience emotionally throughout the show. The atmosphere at her shows exudes love and acceptance, fostering a community and sense of belonging.
The Summer of ’23 tour profoundly affected the audience, evident from the happy and cathartic tears shed by many of her fans in the crowd. Maggie’s dedication to projecting the themes of the Surrender album was evident on stage, as she created a live-music environment that fostered a cathartic and safe space for her audience to feel anything and everything. This era and album have been a testament to feeling raw and genuine emotions, leaving fans and anyone who listens in awe.
Everyone needs to experience a Maggie Rogers show at least once.
