Sufjan Stevens makes first stage appearance since 2018
His Christmas collection Worst Christmas Ever! arrives Nov. 6 with his first new Christmas song in 15 years.
Sufjan Stevens joined Meg Lui onstage in Kingston, NY, on Sept. 25, ending a gap in live appearances stretching back to 2018. At Tempo, he contributed vocals and piano to a performance celebrating Instant Validation, Lui’s new album, for which he handled production.
The appearance comes ahead of Worst Christmas Ever!, due Nov. 6. The album gathers selections from Stevens’ Christmas catalog onto a single disc and adds “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better),” his first new Christmas song in 15 years.
Stevens’ tour for Carrie & Lowell ended in 2016. He played twice in 2017 and twice in 2018, with an Oscars performance among those appearances, before the extended absence from the stage.
He remained active as a recording artist during that period, releasing six full-length albums, including The Ascension, Javelin and collaborative projects. His other work has included producing a Christmas album for John Legend and making guest contributions for indie artists.
