Words by Reagan Denning // Photos by Daniel Dorta
No one shows up for their fans quite like mgk. Ahead of the release of his forthcoming album lost americana, out tomorrow on August 8th, mgk has kicked off the rollout with free surprise pop-up shows in New York City, Toronto, and soon Los Angeles, Columbus, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis. The secret shows and album release coincide with MGK Day weekend—a celebration filled with events, surprises, and meaningful ways to give back to the Cleveland community that raised him.
August 6, 2025 was a great day to be Canadian and EST. The day began in Mississauga, Ontario at Sunrise Records for a meet & greet with mgk, before taking the party to the heart of Toronto at Horseshoe Tavern, where he lit up the stage with a free show for 300 lucky fans. The GRAMMY-nominated artist performed a few songs from lost americana including “vampire diaries,” “cliché,” “miss sunshine,” and “don’t wait run fast,” a song that has been deemed as ESPN’s anthem for the 2025-2026 college football season.
There’s something healing about seeing mgk onstage—happy, healthy, and fully present. These pop-up shows feel like a love letter to his fans who’ve been with him through every era. He didn’t just stick to the hits, though he does perform classics like “I Think I’m OKAY” and “forget me too, he also gives the crowd songs that don’t always make the official tour setlist. From a medley of “love race,” “Rehab,” and “27” to his beautiful cover of “Come Pick Me Up,” and the criminally underrated “why are you here,” which deserves a spot in every setlist.
To find out more details about lost xx road trip dates, head to machinegunkelly.com.
lost xx road trip Dates:
8/11 – Columbus, OH
8/12 – Indianapolis, IN
8/13 – Milwaukee, WI
8/14 – Minneapolis, MN
8/15 – Los Angeles, CA
Keep up with mgk: Website // Instagram // Spotify // Apple Music // X // Facebook
