Laufey Turns MSG into the City of Jazz with Two Sold-Out Nights
Laufey performing at MSG. Photo by Chance Music, October 2025.
It was all A Matter of Time before the great Madison Square Garden was taken over by orchestra, ballet, and a soft vibrato bouncing off the hearts of 40,000 fans. Two sold-out nights in the city of dreams, and “Lover Girl” herself brought everyone’s attention to living in the moment, with most of the audience putting their phones away to sing along. Hearing her live sounds just like the recordings, only richer, more powerful, and somehow even better. But it wasn’t just the music, it was the whole production of the concert: the concept, the choice of ensemble, the layout of the set and stage. It was clockwork.
The night started off with Act I, taking us through a fairytale dream with songs like “Silver Lining” and “Too Little, Too Late.” An exciting and magical theme made it the perfect setting for a grand entrance. And that it was. From stepping out of what looked like a castle, to drifting gently over the stage on a moonlit swing, to stepping down a grand staircase, it was everything you could imagine in a fairytale world.
She smoothly transitioned to the end of the walkway, where she turned a 20,000-seat venue into her own personal jazz club. This more intimate part of the show brought her closer to the audience, as she showcased her jazz roots with a three-person ensemble. She transformed some of her older music into jazz versions, like “Valentine” and “Fragile,” and transported the audience straight into the 1920s where the beat sped up with a lively swing.
Taking us further into the world of ballet and classical training, Act III brought attention to the string section, and of course, her cello solo in “Cuckoo Ballet,” a moment that made the crowd go silent, as her playing only grew louder. Then came the modern era in Act IV, where “Snow White” brought the crowd to tears, “Goddess” left us mesmerized, and “From the Start” made everyone jump out of their seats. But the show couldn’t end without the Final Act, “Sabotage.” A jump scare to some, but nonetheless, an absolute banger to end the 24-song setlist.
And of course, we have to talk about the surprise guests, because if there’s anything we know about a Laufey concert, it’s that we will always be surprised. Night one featured Rachel Zegler, a moment where two icons shared the stage for a rendition of “Goddess.” Night two surprised the crowd with Broadway legend Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator and star of Hamilton, for a short but unforgettable rendition of “Best of Wives and Best of Women,” which had the crowd screaming at the top of their lungs. I mean, who could resist? It’s New York, after all.
After singing “Letter to My 13-Year-Old Self,” the sold-out venue stood up as an emotional Laufey gave her final remarks on the last night of her two-night stop in the city of dreams, a place where she wrote “Silver Lining,” a place where she said she “feels so full of life,” a place where she looked out at 20,000 people and said, “I’m just a girl from Iceland and I got to sell out two nights at MSG.”
More than anything, she wanted the crowd to know: you're in the city of dreams, so go after it with all you've got. Because if she can say, “I’m just a girl from Iceland and I got to sell out two nights at MSG,” then anything is possible.
