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Eric Clapton: New York City 2025
19 Sep 25
Exactly three years after his last performance at the “World’s Most Famous Arena,” Eric Clapton returned to Madison Square Garden on Friday night, September 19, for another sold-out appearance. He has performed at the New York City venue more than any other in the United States, gracing its stage 54 times for benefit concerts, guest appearances, the 39th Annual Grammy Awards, and his own shows. Like London’s Royal Albert Hall and Tokyo’s Budokan, the Garden has become a cornerstone of Eric’s touring life and a destination for his global fan base.
Cream was the first band to headline the “new” Madison Square Garden on November 2, 1968, beginning Eric’s long history with the venue. His next visit came with Blind Faith for their North American debut on July 12, 1969. Since then, he has taken part in many now-historic benefit concerts including The Concert for Bangladesh, ARMS, The Concert for New York City, 12.12.12 The Concert for Sandy Relief, and events supporting his own Crossroads Centre Antigua Foundation in 1999 and 2013.
Eric has also appeared as a guest with Lionel Richie, Elton John, and the Rolling Stones, and performed a memorable two-song set during the Bob Dylan tribute concert in 1992. Joint tours with Phil Collins, Steve Winwood, and Jeff Beck all stopped at the Garden, as did three Cream reunion shows in 2005. On top of it all are the 28 solo concerts he has played at the venue since 1974.
What this list does not capture is the more than 80 other appearances he has made at venues large and small across Manhattan and the five boroughs—including television performances, stadium shows, club gigs, and jam sessions with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, and Carl Perkins.
Taken together, these moments form an unparalleled New York story for a musician who grew up in England’s Surrey countryside. That history set the stage for Friday night, when Eric delivered a blend of fan favorites, radio hits, and guitar-driven blues with the nuance and musicianship that have defined his live performances for decades.
The set list was:
01. White Room
02. Key To The Highway
03. Hoochie Coochie Man
04. Sunshine Of Your Love
05.Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
06.Kind Hearted Woman
07. The Call
08. Layla
09.Can’t Find My Way Home (Nathan East – vocals)
10. Tears In Heaven
11. Badge
12. Old Love
13 Crossroads
14. Little Queen Of Spades
15. Got To Get Better In A Little While
16. Cocaine
Eric’s band featured Nathan East (bass/vocals), Doyle Bramhall II (guitar/vocals), Sonny Emory (drums), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Tim Carmon (Hammond organ/keyboards), and backing vocalists Sharon White and Katie Kissoon.
The 2025 Tour concludes tomorrow night with another sold-out show at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Opening the evening were The Wallflowers. Eric went on promptly at 830pm
Eric Clapton’s Madison Square Garden Performance History
Cream: 11/2/68, 10/24/05, 10/25/05, 10/26/05
Blind Faith: 7/12/69
Clapton Collins Phillinganes East: 4/27/87
Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood: 2/25/08, 2/26/08, 2/28/08
Eric Clapton & Jeff Beck: 2/18/10, 2/19/10
Solo Concerts: 7/13/74, 4/2/90, 10/8/94, 10/9/94, 9/17/95, 9/18/95, 4/18/98, 4/19/98, 4/20/98, 6/21/01, 6/22/01, 6/23/01, 6/28/04, 6/29/04, 6/30/04, 9/28/06, 9/29/06, 9/30/06, 5/1/15, 5/3/15, 3/19/17, 3/20/17, 9/7/17, 9/8/17, 9/18/22, 9/19/22, 9/19/25
39th Annual Grammy Awards (with Babyface): 2/26/97
Benefit Concerts:
8/1/71 (Concert for Bangladesh, 2 shows)
12/8/83 & 12/9/83 (A.R.M.S.)
6/30/99 (Eric Clapton & Friends For Crossroads Antigua)
10/20/01 (The Concert for New York City)
12/12/12 (The Concert for Sandy Relief)
4/12/13 & 4/13/13 (Crossroads Guitar Festival)
Guest Appearances:
6/22/75 (Rolling Stones)
10/27/86 (Lionel Richie)
10/7/89 (Elton John)
10/16/92 (Columbia Records Celebrates the Music of Bob Dylan)
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Visit the Eric Clapton Tour Archive to learn more about past concerts.