RECAP: The Weeknd / Playboi Carti / Mike Dean @ Gillette Stadium, 6/10/2025

By Joshua Scarselli on June 14, 2025

Words and Photography by Joshua Scarselli.

The Weeknd really rocked the house at Gillette Stadium for his After Hours Until Dawn tour on Tuesday! The evening kicked off with a truly unique atmosphere, thanks to Mike Dean. He got things rolling by playing a bunch of instruments live on stage, all drenched in that signature synth sound he’s become famous for. His music was a fascinating blend, striking a balance between being both beautiful and haunting. Now, if you’re not already clued into his incredible and extensive list of musical collaborations, his set might have seemed a little out of place, but for those in the know, it was a cool way to start the night.

Next up, the energy shifted when Playboi Carti hit the stage. The younger crowd in the stadium absolutely went wild for him, screaming along with every beat and hanging on his every word – or at least, every sound. Honestly, the stadium’s acoustics made it pretty tough to make out what he was actually rapping. I even overheard one person in the crowd jokingly whisper, “I think that man just came out here to yell at us for 20 minutes!” It was clear he had a dedicated following, even if the sound system wasn’t doing him any favors.

But then, the moment everyone was waiting for. The headliner, The Weeknd, took the stage just after 9 PM and blew away the packed stadium. He first appeared in a mask and robe surrounded by red-hooded figures reminiscent of the Emperor’s Imperial Guards in “Star Wars”. I was intrigued to see how long he wore the mask with all of the plastic surgery stuff that’s been in the media. The crowd went nuts when he revealed his face. He had a youthful, energetic look that Madonna would envy.

Speaking of elevating the experience, the visual spectacle was incredible. The pyrotechnics were mind-blowing, adding a huge punch to the already powerful music. He sang all his biggest hits that everyone knows and loves, along with some fresh tracks from his new album, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” which sounded fantastic live. His singing was absolutely top-notch. He even came back out for a two-song encore that apparently wasn’t planned.

The show overall was really captivating, largely thanks to those impressive special effects. The way the pyrotechnics flared and the set pieces flashed in sync with the music made it incredibly engaging. And as a cool bonus, everyone in attendance got a light-up bracelet that changed colors right along with The Weeknd’s music – that was a really neat interactive touch that made you feel even more a part of the show. All in all, for the pure spectacle and musical performance, I’d give the show a solid 7.5 out of 10.