On Friday, May 8, Phoebe Bridgers made a highly anticipated return to the stage, performing her first live solo show in three years. The event took place at the Liberty, an intimate 400-capacity venue in Roswell, New Mexico. The performance was strictly invite-only and enforced a no-phones-allowed policy, creating a rare, focused environment for the artist and her audience.

During the set, Bridgers performed fan favorites such as “Motion Sickness,” “Kyoto,” and “Garden Song.” Beyond her established catalog, the singer-songwriter debuted multiple new tracks and presented a video short that offered a glimpse into her forthcoming, yet-to-be-titled third studio album.

A Test Run for New Material

Bridgers reportedly addressed the crowd, describing the small-scale performance as a “test” for upcoming shows. She was accompanied by frequent collaborator Christian Lee Hutson, who provided instrumental support on guitar, harmonica, and percussion. Among the new songs debuted, one reportedly addressed the 2023 passing of her father.

The buzz surrounding the show has been amplified by recent activity in the artist’s circle. On May 9, flyers for a potential follow-up show appeared in Lubbock, Texas. This coincided with the circulation of a series of photos showing Bridgers in the studio with a high-profile group of collaborators, including Matty Healy, (Sandy) Alex G, Jack Antonoff, and her partner, Bo Burnham, all presumably working on her new record.

Fan Speculation and Merch

The secrecy surrounding the event extended to the venue’s security measures. Attendees were required to keep their phones in lockable pouches, and each guest received a fragment of a painting. Fans have since speculated that these pieces, when assembled, may reveal the cover art for her next album. Additionally, new merchandise sold at the venue featured what appear to be lyrics from an unreleased song: “Now I can’t see any stars in the sky. When a dreams comes true, a fantasy dies…but we’re gonna be alright, me and you.”

Bridgers’ last solo album, Punisher, was released in 2020. Since then, she has remained prolific, releasing the 2022 single “Sidelines” and collaborating with a wide array of artists, including Rob Moose, the National, Arlo Parks, SZA, and Andrew Bird. She has also found massive success as a member of boygenius alongside Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus, with the trio winning three Grammys in 2024 for their debut album, The Record.