Northwell Health at Jones Beach (Long Island, NY)
08/18/23
Folk band The Lumineers played to a sold-out crowd of 15,000 people at Jones Beach on Long Island, New York. Opener James Bay, a British singer-songwriter known for his hits “Let It Go” and “Hold Back The River” kicked off the evening with a stunning performance as the sun set over the small bay that surrounds the amphitheater, and then The Lumineers took the stage.
Opening up with their beloved hits “Cleopatra” and “Ho Hey,” The Lumineers dove right into their set as fans screamed along, couples twirled in the aisles, and excited kids held up handmade posters. They followed with fan favorites “Flowers in Your Hair” and “Angela.” Their set rounded out with 18 songs, ending on “Big Parade,” before they returned to the stage for a 5-song encore with “Stubborn Love” as the evening’s finale. One particularly memorable moment was during their performance of “Slow It Down,” one of their more stripped-back acoustic songs, when a massive and beautiful disco ball lowered from the ceiling and reflected orange light throughout the amphitheater. It was similarly emotional being in the crowd during “Donna,” when the entire audience turned on their phone lights and swayed together, softly “singing like Hallelujah” as one.
Everyone onstage was undeniably a seasoned professional, displaying impressive musicianship and stage presence while also clearly having fun. It was captivating to see how they mixed it up throughout the night – drummer Jeremiah Fraites (with his iconic suspenders and hat combo) frequently ran around onstage with a tambourine, played from secondary setups at the end of the long catwalk, and more, a refreshing display compared to drummers who are often glued to their spot in the back of the stage. Similarly, their (infamously barefooted) piano player Stelth Ulvang occasionally took on the more portable accordion or tambourine, and throughout the night was all over the stage, in the audience, and even on top of his piano – at one point going so far as to do a headstand on it mid-song. And of course, the incredible vocals of Wesley Schultz, the storytelling he offered about some of the songs, and the energy and care he put into each and every moment made the late summer evening one to remember.
The Lumineers are an American folk-rock band from Denver, Colorado. They’ve been releasing music since their debut self-titled in 2012, and most recently put out their 4th full length, BRIGHTSIDE, in 2022. They’re traveling across the United States with James Bay for the rest of the summer, having just kicked off their tour in Maine a couple nights before Jones Beach, and are definitely not a show to miss.
