Mohegan Sun Resort is a wonderland.
And for John Mayer, his October 9, 2026 performance at the Uncasville, CT 10,000-seat arena was a homecoming.
Mayer, a Connecticut native, put on an impressive two-hour solo concert in honor of Mohegan Sun’s 30th Birthday Celebration.
Nostalgic yet still new, Mayer’s live performance was a mix of hometown comfort meets freedom of expression — or better yet, freedom to jam out and be himself on stage for the first time in quite a while. It was his first show on his own in years, but Mayer took bluesy, folksy inspiration from his Las Vegas Sphere residency with Dead & Company, giving fans a first look at what they might experience at his own upcoming Sphere performances next spring.
Should you make it to see Mayer in Vegas in April, May or June 2027, expect to be entertained by three distinct concert formats: solo John Mayer, much like I experienced at Mohegan Sun, a full band performance and the John Mayer Trio (comprised of Mayer, Steve Jordan and Pino Palladino).
John Mayer concert review
John Mayer’s warmly entertaining solo Mohegan Sun concert explored not only his range of 25+ years of discography, but also his raw musical range in performing solo. This was a stand-alone show announced three years following his last tour, over five years since his last album release and a year out from his final bow at the Sphere in Las Vegas with Dead & Company. As such, even seasoned fans like myself and my husband — having seen six prior Mayer concerts between us — weren’t sure what to expect in Uncasville, CT.
The very morning of his October show, Mayer’s duet “Moon So High” on indie “it” girl Remi Wolf‘s latest album “Mud” debuted, delighting fans with not only guitar instrumentals but also his ever-recognizable vocals. Like his recent track with Lainey Wilson, this latest collab signaled Mayer’s continued delve beyond pop and acoustic rock and more notably towards country. To play on his early 2006 album, Mayer’s musical career is spread across a “Continuum” of genres. But with the current rise in popularity of American country and Mayer’s longtime post in Dead & Company, I anticipate some folksy Americana and maybe even some banjo vibes on his next album.
Speaking of new music, Mayer surprisingly did not play any unreleased songs at The Sun — which he is historically wont to do at his performances (I’m still waiting to hear one of his closing songs from his 2023 Madison Square Garden show to make it to Spotify). However, in an August interview with good friend Andy Cohen, Mayer confirmed he is recording and working on new music, which fans are hoping to have sooner rather than later as his 2027 Sphere dates are fast approaching.
In fact, just days after his October show, Mayer took to social media to tease a long-awaited song release date on October 23.
So, what did Mayer cover in his solo set at the Mohegan Sun Arena? I’ll call it a taste of the familiar classics, with a twist. We didn’t just listen to hits from his 2001 breakout record “Room for Squares” or last album “Sob Rock” (2021) — it felt like we were listening to him in his living room. The intimate crowd delighted in watching him fluidly changing instruments — from acoustic and double-neck acoustic guitar to harmonica and piano — and sharing a stream of consciousness ranging from Mayer’s favorite PopTart flavor (spoiler: it’s s’mores) to gambling advice (we were at a casino, after all) to some humble and playful self-deprecating jokes.
Mayer came on stage in a cozy, fuzzy sweater, once again reminding us just how comfortable he is under the bright lights, and even by himself. With the ease of someone who’s been doing this for decades, he got us underway crooning 2006 hit “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room.” He followed that up with his — dare I say better than the original (!) — cover of Beyonce’s “XO” and straight into that folksy, country-like feel of “Queen of California” complete with guitar solos that would make any deadhead sway. Upbeat crowd pleasers like “Neon,” “Love on the Weekend,” “Last Train Home” and Michael Scott’s favorite “Your Body is a Wonderland” brought Mohegan Sun Arena to its feet singing along to every word.
For those who had seen the Grammy-winner perform before, deep cuts like “Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967” and “Badge and Gun” added some wow-factor to the performance, tossed in among some requests from the interactive audience. Mayer’s iconic vocals and acoustic guitar playing never get old, but he spiced things up to the crowd’s delight and expertly wove covers like a-ha’s “Take on Me” and current MSG resident Harry Styles‘ “As It Was” into his own songs.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — hearing John Mayer perform live genuinely sounds better than listening to his recordings. This is no small feat in an age where technology and auto-tuning are not only so advanced but such a customary part of our musical experience. The 49-year-old Mayer remains one of the last true — and most gifted — singer-songwriters performing live. To my personal delight, he closed out the night with an encore cover performance of Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin'” — one of my favorite songs of all time that I never had the fortune of hearing Petty play live, so this was truly a treat.
When is John Mayer performing at the Las Vegas Sphere?
A complete calendar including all North American tour dates, venues and links to buy tickets can be found below.
| John Mayer Sphere dates |
|---|
| Thursday, April 8, 2027 8 p.m. |
| Saturday, April 10, 2027 8 p.m. |
| Sunday, April 11, 2027 8 p.m. |
| Thursday, April 15, 2027 8 p.m. |
| Saturday, April 17, 2027 8 p.m. |
| Sunday, April 18, 2027 8 p.m. |
| Wednesday, April 28, 2027 8 p.m. |
| Friday, April 30, 2027 8 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 1, 2027 8 p.m. |
| Wednesday, May 5, 2027 8 p.m. |
| Friday, May 7, 2027 8 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 8, 2027 8 p.m. |
| Wednesday, May 12, 2027 8 p.m. |
| Friday, May 14, 2027 8 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 15, 2027 8 p.m. |
| Wednesday, June 2, 2027 8 p.m. |
| Friday, June 4, 2027 8 p.m. |
| Saturday, June 5, 2027 8 p.m. |
| Wednesday, June 9 8 p.m. |
| Friday, June 11 8 p.m. |
| Saturday, June 12 8 p.m. |
What’s it like seeing a concert at Mohegan Sun Arena?
The show was part of Mohegan Sun’s 30th birthday celebration weekend, an unforgettable entertainment experience toasting three decades of the destination’s legendary resort, casino and arena. Across two weekends in October, the stars aligned to perform at Connecticut’s must-visit property. Not only does Mohegan Sun provide an intimate concert venue experience, but the hotel boasts breathtaking lake views, world-class dining and shopping plus a never-ending party in the casino. There’s always so much to celebrate, and always something to do at Mohegan Sun making it an absolute can’t miss weekend trip any time of year.
Is seeing John Mayer live worth it?
I give that question a resounding “YES!” to both John Mayer’s concerts and visiting Mohegan Sun Resort. Both are worth experiencing once or a hundred times — there’s always something new, and something for everyone.
What songs did John Mayer perform live?
Set List FM reported these were the songs John Mayer performed live Oct. 9 at Uncasville, CT’s Mohegan Sun Arena.
- Slow Dancing in a Burning Room
- XO
- Queen of California
- Love on the Weekend
- Last Train Home
- Who Says
- Neon
- In Your Atmosphere
- Changing
- New Light
- Take on Me
- As It Was
- Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967
- Your Body is a Wonderland
- Emoji of a Wave
- Badge and Gun
- Cattle Call
- Something Like Olivia
- If I Ever Get Around to Living
- Edge of Desire
- Gravity
- Free Fallin’
Who else is scheduled to perform at Mohegan Sun Arena?
A slew of exciting artists these next few months.
Here are just five of our favorites we can’t wait to see live.
• Rush (Oct. 30 and Nov. 1)
• Goose (Nov. 13-14)
• Metallica (Nov. 19 and 21)
• Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Nov. 29)
• Death Cab for Cutie (April 9, 2027)
Curious who else is headed to Uncasville? Take a look at this list of all the events at Mohegan Sun Arena this year and next to find the show for you.