The ninth annual Love Rocks NYC benefit concert brought both loving vibes and rocking performances to the historic Beacon Theatre in New York City, on Thursday, March 6. The star-studded event ran more than four hours and featured highlight after highlight from an impressive lineup of music stars.
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Among the evening’s many performers were Alicia Keys, Michael McDonald, Peter Frampton, Cher, Beck, Mavis Staples, and Phish’s Trey Anastasio. Several comedians and other celebrities also hit the stage to entertain the crowd and encourage people to donate to the show’s beneficiaries.
The concert raised more than $4 million for the God’s Love We Deliver charity and its Los Angeles-based sister organization, Project Angel Food.
Here is a rundown of some of the event’s many highlights:
Alicia Keys
Tracy Morgan got the evening started by introducing Keys, who began the concert with a performance of Roberta Flack’s chart-topping 1973 hit “Killing Me Softly with His Song.” Alicia expressed “big love” for Flack, who died on February 24 at age 88.
Keys then played her own No. 1 hit “No One,” segueing into an apropos rendition of her collaborative chart-topping smash with Jay-Z, “Empire State of Mind.”
Eric Burton of Black Pumas
God’s Love We Deliver president and CEO Terrence Meck addressed the audience about his organization’s mission to bring free, nutritious meals to people with severe and chronic illnesses in the New York City area. He also discussed Project Angel Food, which provides a similar service in the L.A. area. The latter charity was chosen as a co-beneficiary this year in the wake of the devastating wildfires that hit Southern California recently.
The next performer was Eric Burton, lead singer of psychedelic soul band Black Pumas. Burton sang an uplifting rendition of his group’s 2019 song “Colors.” He followed that with his own take on the Otis Redding classic “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay.”
Kate Hudson and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Curb Your Enthusiasm star Susie Essman hit the stage to introduce actress Kate Hudson. Hudson, who released her debut album, Glorious, in 2024, showed off her vocal talents with a performance of her gritty, soulful original tune “Gonna Find Out.”
Acclaimed blues guitarist Christone “Kingfish” Ingram then wowed the crowd with a version of Jimi Hendrix’s “Red House.” He was joined by Ivan Neville on keyboards and Danny Clinch on harmonica.
Bill Murray
Bill Murray, who has performed at previous Love Rocks NYC concerts, made a surprise appearance at this year’s show. Murray delivered on over-the-top rendition of Stephen Stills’ 1970 hit “Love the One You’re With.” The song was highlighted by a frenzied conga solo by percussionist Pedrito Martinez.
Jesse Malin
Murray then introduced New York City punk/roots rocker Jesse Malin. Malin, who suffered a spinal stroke in 2023 that left him paralyzed below the waist, hit the stage in a wheelchair.
Malin rose from the wheelchair to stand at the mic for his performance. He first sang “She Don’t Love Me Now,” from his 2015 album New York Before the War. Malin then dedicated his next tune, a cover The Rolling Stones’ “Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker),” to New York Dolls frontman David Johansen. Johansen died of cancer on February 28 at age 75.
Mavis Staples and Michael McDonald
Amy Schumer delivered some laughs before introducing gospel/soul great Mavis Staples and Doobie Brothers singer Michael McDonald. Staples, 85, was joined by McDonald for a soulful and funky version of her family group The Staple Singers’ classic 1972 hit “I’ll Take You There.”
Mavis then handed the stage over to McDonald, who sat down at the keyboards and performed inspired renditions of two of his most famous Doobie Brothers tunes—“What a Fool Believes” and “Takin’ It to the Streets.”
Peter Frampton
Hudson returned to introduce Frampton, with whom she appeared in the 2000 Cameron Crowe film Almost Famous.
Frampton played a three-song set that kicked off with a tasteful instrumental version of the standard “Georgia on My Mind.” He followed that with an extended rendition of his own “Do You Feel Like We Do,” highlighted by a interlude featuring his signature talk-box effect.
Frampton ended his set with what turned out to be one of the show’s most thrilling moments. He brought out Anastasio and 18-year-old blues-guitar phenom Grace Bowers for a blistering performance of the George Harrison-penned Beatles song “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Bowers, Anastasio, and Frampton took turns delivering solos, with Grace impressing the crowd with her searing fret skills.
Grace Bowers
Actor Steve Guttenberg, who was directly affected by the L.A.-area wildfires, talked about the destruction he witnessed. He then welcomed Bowers back to the stage. Grace played a medley that combined “Ghost Riders in the Sky” and Santana’s “Soul Sacrifice.”
Luke Spiller of The Struts
Struts frontman Luke Spiller sang the title track of his upcoming debut solo album, Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes and Wine.
Spiller followed that with a raucous cover of Elton John’s “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.”
Dave Stewart of Eurythmics with Vanessa Amorosi
Eurythmics member Dave Stewart was up next, joined by powerhouse Australian singer Vanessa Amorosi in place of Annie Lennox. The duo performed two Eurythmics classics, “Here Comes the Rain Again” and “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These).” Stewart got the audience clapping and singing along t the latter tune.
Cher
Whoopi Goldberg made a surprise appearance to introduce the one-and-only Cher. The legendary entertainer began her set dressed as Elvis Presley, performing a cover of Marc Cohn’s memorable 1992 tune “Walking on Memphis.”
She left the stage for a costume stage, while a female dancer did an expressive, emotive dance. Cher returned wearing a winter coat and hat, then commented, “New York, I love you because you guys are so f—in’ strong.”
She then sang her soaring 2001 tune “(This Is) A Song for the Lonely,” accompanied by several dancers.
Cher then changed her outfit once more before transforming the Beacon Theatre into a dance club with a rendition of her classic 2000 hit “Believe.”
Beck
Standup comic Alex Edelman introduced Beck, who got the crowd chanting along to his breakthrough hit “Loser.” The eclectic artist kept the party going with an inspired cover of Prince’s “1999.”
Trey Anastasio
Murray hit the stage again to introduce the evening final performer, Anastasio.
Trey first played a version of Phish’s 2020 tune “Everything’s Right.” He then brought the rock with a hard-charging cover of Led Zepplin’s “Dazed and Confused.” Spiller joined in to belt out the song’s break section.
Star-Studded Finale
To bring the evening to a close, nearly all of the performers returned to the stage for a rousing rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.” Highlights of that performance included Anastasio gleefully sharing a mic with Cher, and Bowers ripping another impressive guitar solo.
More About the Love Rocks NYC Concert
The Love Rocks NYC Benefit Concert was first held in 2017. Since then, the event has raised $50 million for the God’s Love We Deliver meal initiative. That money has helped provide 5 million meals to those living with serious illnesses in the New York City area.
You can donate to God’s Love We Deliver by visiting GLWD.org.
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