New BFFs Cher & Trey Anastasio Help Bring Celebrity-Filled Love Rocks NYC Benefit Concert To ‘Higher Ground’

The ninth annual Love Rocks NYC benefit concert on Thursday night at The Beacon Theatre spanned over four hours and contained one memorable moment after another. Many of the evening’s participants including Cher, Trey Anastasio (Phish), Beck, Michael McDonald, Bill Murray, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Dave Stewart, Eric Burton (Black Pumas), Grace Bowers and Jesse Malin contributed to the rousing rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” that closed the show

Over $4 million was raised from the event for God’s Love We Deliver and sister organization Project Angel Food. God’s Love We Deliver prepares and delivers nutritious, medically customized meals directly to the homes of individuals suffering from serious and long-term illnesses, while Project Angel Food has a similar mission in the wildfire-ravaged city of Los Angeles.

“Higher Ground” was the 29th song played last night with the format of the concert devoted to each of those on the otherworldly lineup performing backed by the supremely talented house band. Bassist Will Lee served as musical director for the ninth year in a row and was joined in the house band by Love Rocks NYC veterans guitarist Eric Krasno, multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell, keyboardists Jeff Babko and Michael Bearden, percussionist Pedrito Martínez and drummer Shawn Pelton. The six-piece God’s Love Horn section and six We Deliver Singers contributed to “Higher Ground” and many other nunbers on Thursday.

Cher and Trey Anastasio bonding was on full display throughout the “Higher Ground” finale. The Phish guitarist previously hailed Cher as one of “the coolest women on Earth” while bantering at his February 13, 2018 solo concert in Wilmington, Delaware. The pair spent their time during the Stevie Wonder cover exchanging knowing glances, hugs and sharing a vocal mic.

Anastasio’s Love Rocks NYC debut saw him team with Peter Frampton and Grace Bowers for the Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” lead his own “Everything’s Right” and slay the Led Zeeppelin classic “Good Times Bad Times” with vocal assistance from Luke Spiller. Cher wowed last night with a riveting run of “Walking In Memphis” (Marc Cohn), “Song For The Lonely” and “Believe” featuring auxiliary dancers, musicians and costume changes.

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Trey Anastasio and Grace Bowers each let the fretboard fireworks fly on “Higher Ground.” Watch audience-captured video of the Love Rocks NYC 2025 finale and the evening’s setlist below:

Setlist

Alicia Keys: Killing Me Softly, No One > Empire State Of Mind, CEO Remarks, Eric Burton: Colors, Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay, Susie Essman Remarks, Kate Hudson: Gonna Find Out, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram with Ivan Neville & Danny Clinch: Red House, Bill Murray: Love The One You’re With, Jesse Malin: She Don’t Love Me Now, Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker), Amy Schumer Remarks, Mavis Staples & Michael McDonald: I’ll Take You There, Michael McDonald: What A Fool Believes, Takin’ It To The Streets, Peter Frampton: Georgia On My Mind, Do You Feel Like We Do, Peter Frampton with Trey Anastasio & Grace Bowers: While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Steve Guttenberg Remarks, Grace Bowers: Soul Sacrifice, Luke Spiller: Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes And Wine, Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting, Dave Stewart Eurythmics featuring Vanessa Amorosi: Here Comes The Rain, Sweet Dreams, Whoopi Goldberg Remarks, Cher: Walking In Memphis, Song For The Lonely, Believe, Alex Edelman Remarks, Beck: Loser, 1999, Trey Anastasio: Everything’s Right, Trey Anastasio with Luke Spiller: Good Times Bad Times, Executive Producers (Greg Williamson, John Varvatos & Nicole Rechter) Remarks, Finale: Higher Ground