Review + Photos: The Weeknd Puts On a Spectacle Despite Rain Showers

Matt Bishop
Aug 1, 2025
3 min read

The Grammy winner's After Hours Til Dawn Tour might be the show of the summer

Last night in South Philly, The Weeknd closed out a two-show stand at Lincoln Financial Field. The stadium into a cinematic spectacle, delivering one of the most ambitious stadium concerts Philadelphia has seen in recent years. Fans were a bit nervous ahead of time, with dark storm clouds and rain threatening to derail the gig before it even started - but clear skies eventually prevailed. Performing the second of two sold-out nights at the home of the Eagles, The Weeknd - aka Abel Tesfaye - brought his After Hours Til Dawn Tour back to the city in support of his latest album, Hurry Up Tomorrow.

Before he even stepped on stage, the atmosphere felt more like the premiere of a blockbuster film than a traditional concert, with producer Mike Dean warming up the crowd through soaring synthesizer instrumentals before Playboi Carti injected the stadium with chaotic energy. By the time the lights dropped shortly after 9:20 p.m., nearly 70,000 fans erupted as a massive dystopian-inspired stage came to life with towering video screens, dramatic lighting, pyrotechnics, and the giant golden statue that had become one of the defining visual centerpieces of the tour.

Opening with "The Abyss" and "Wake Me Up," The Weeknd immediately immersed the audience in the dark, futuristic world of Hurry Up Tomorrow before seamlessly transitioning into career-defining hits like "After Hours," "Starboy," "Heartless," and "Faith." The production remained breathtaking throughout the nearly two-and-a-half-hour performance, with every song accompanied by carefully choreographed lighting, lasers, flames, and cinematic visuals that elevated the concert far beyond a standard pop show.

Rather than relying solely on his newest material, Tesfaye expertly balanced fresh songs such as "Open Hearts," "Cry for Me," and "Given Up on Me" with beloved classics spanning nearly every era of his career. The emotional centerpiece arrived during performances of "Out of Time," where he encouraged thousands of fans to sing the chorus back to him, followed by crowd favorites including "I Feel It Coming," "Die for You," "Call Out My Name," and "The Morning." Playboi Carti later returned to join him for "Timeless" and "RATHER LIE," adding another burst of excitement before The Weeknd shifted back into a string of emotionally charged solo performances.

The concert reached another level during its closing stretch as "Save Your Tears," "Less Than Zero," and the inevitable "Blinding Lights" turned Lincoln Financial Field into a sea of dancing lights and voices. Just when it seemed the show had reached its conclusion, The Weeknd returned for an extended encore featuring "Without a Warning," "Reflections Laughing," "High for This," "House of Balloons," and a thunderous finale of "Moth to a Flame," complete with a spectacular fireworks display that lit up the Philadelphia skyline.

Fans left calling it one of the best concerts of the year, praising not only the flawless vocals and enormous production but also the emotional connection Tesfaye maintained with the audience despite the scale of the venue. While the show emphasized his current artistic vision, it never lost sight of the songs that made him one of the biggest stars in modern music, resulting in a performance that felt both like a celebration of his career and the beginning of its next chapter. It was an unforgettable night that demonstrated why the After Hours Til Dawn Tour has become one of the defining stadium productions of the decade.