Text: STORYTELLER/MH – Cover photo: jini Sachse / Instagram videos: Ruth Hannuschka / Instagram photo: TechRock
For just under four weeks, Rod Stewart took time out to relax and unwind – including a family holiday in the Mediterranean with side trips to Ibiza and Mallorca. This week, and particularly last night, Sir Rod returned looking well-rested and in high spirits: Rod Stewart performed a show lasting around two hours at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, on Long Island in the US state of New York.
A charity gala in Southampton (also on Long Island) in aid of the non-profit educational organisation Tech Rock served as a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the evening. At this exclusive private concert, Sir Rod was joined on stage by a member of the E Street Band and long-time guitarist and confidant of ‘The Boss’ Bruce Springsteen for the songs ‘Having A Party’ and ‘Stay With Me’. “Performing for Tech Rock with the legend Stevie Van Zandt – what an evening,” Sir Rod is quoted as saying after the performance.
Rod and Steve Van Zandt at the TeachRock charity event
Following the charity evening, Rod treated himself and his musicians to another day ‘off’ before last night’s performance at the Jones Beach Theatre, with the tour really kicking into gear over the coming weeks.
In the first part of the show at the Northwell Jones Beach Theatre, which began at 7.30 pm local time, Richard Marx got the audience in the mood. With a set comprising six songs, Marx sparked the first emotions of the evening, not least with his global hits ‘Endless Summer Nights’, ‘Angelina’ and ‘Right Here Waiting’.
The man everyone in the sold-out amphitheatre was actually waiting for was Sir Rod Stewart.
And there he was – dressed to the nines, as always – taking to the stage with his opener, ‘Infatuation’. Anyone who’d been holding back a little before was now really letting their hair down. Once the atmosphere was in full swing, ‘It’s A Heartache’ (in memory of the recently deceased Bonnie Tyler) had the audience singing along at the top of their voices, some of them even bellowing along. And there was no time for them to catch their breath afterwards either: with ‘Some Guys Have All The Luck’ and ‘Hot Legs’, as well as the duet ‘It Takes Two’ (together with singer Becca Kötte), Stewart – the 81-year-old whirlwind – continued to rock the stage, parts of which are built over the water.
It was only after a string of high-energy tracks that the singer treated himself and the audience to a brief respite with *The First Cut Is The Deepest*, before immediately kicking off again with *Tonight I’m Yours*.
Rod was once again joined on stage by Steve Van Zandt. ‘Little Steven’ – as Springsteen’s mate is known, and who is also famous as an actor (The Sopranos, Lilyhammer) – accompanied Rod on guitar for the three songs ‘I’d Rather Go Blind’, ‘Stay With Me’ and ‘Having A Party’.
All in all, the evening at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theatre was the usual brilliant mix of rock classics and soulful ballads from the British singer’s career. Stewart proved once again that, even at an advanced age, he has lost none of his charisma and energy, both in his stage presence and his voice. One can only say: lucky are those who have such genes. After around two rousing hours, Rod hopped onto the Love Train and left the stage with a thoroughly topical message for his audience: ‘People of the world, join hands.’
Tonight, the singer and his band – who, as usual, filled Stewart’s brief breaks with the songs ‘Jolene’ and ‘Proud Mary’ – are performing at the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheatre in Virginia Beach.
Setlist, Jones Beach Theater, 31/07/2026:
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Infatuation
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It's A Heartache
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Some Guys Have All The Luck
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Hot Legs
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It Takes Two
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Forever Young
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The First Cut Is The Deepest
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Tonight I'm Yours
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Tonight's The Night
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Maggie May
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I'd Rather Go Blind
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Stay With Me
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Having A Party
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Rhythm Of My Heart
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Jolene (Band only)
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People Get Ready
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If You Don't Know Me By Now
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Have I Told You Lately
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Proud Mary (Band only)
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Da Ya Think I'm Sexy
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Love Train
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