John Mayer performed a rare solo show on Friday, October 9, offering fans a glimpse of what to expect from his upcoming residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Mayer, 48, took the stage at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, to kick off a three-night celebration for the casino’s 30th anniversary. Much like his 2023 and 2024 tour, the seven-time Grammy winner sang for the 10,000 fans in attendance with just a microphone, a guitar and a piano rather than having a full band accompany him.
Mayer performed 20 songs during his intimate two-hour set. He opened with “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” and then ran through hits from his nearly three-decade catalog, including “Your Body Is a Wonderland” and “Gravity,” before closing out the evening with a cover of Tom Petty‘s “Free Fallin’.”
Mohegan Sun’s 30th birthday celebration will also include concerts by country music superstar Lainey Wilson on Saturday, October 10, and DJ Cassidy on Sunday, October 11. Cassidy is set to be joined by guests including Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, Ja Rule, Jadakiss and Nelly for the latest installment of his Pass the Mic Live! series.
Mayer’s one-off show on Friday comes less than two weeks after he announced an 18-night Sphere residency for April, May and June 2027, during which he will perform solo, with a band and with his John Mayer Trio that also features Pino Palladino and Steve Jordan.
“These performances will combine immersive sound, visual spectacle and sensory feedback to make each show a unique, unforgettable celebration,” a press release obtained by Us teased.
Mayer, who previously performed at the Sphere from 2024 to 2025 as a member of Dead & Company, shared that he has already spent “several months” putting together his upcoming concerts.
“The excitement around the reveal inspires me to go even deeper into creating this show over the months to come,” he wrote via Instagram on September 30. “It’s never lost on me that I get to work with the most talented people to make beautiful things for a living. I can’t wait for you to see and hear what I’m dreaming up.”
Mayer is currently working on his ninth studio album, which will be the follow-up to 2021’s Sob Rock.
