Northwell at Jones Beach in Wantagh, NY — July 23, 2025

Big Time Rush returned to New York with an unforgettable, sold-out performance at Northwell at Jones Beach Theater on their “In Real Life” worldwide nostalgia tour. After starring in 74 episodes of their hit Nickelodeon series, one full-length movie, releasing four albums and over 160 songs, the band made a point to perform “Every Song From Every Episode” on this tour—celebrating their exceptional run since 2009. With opening sets by Katelyn Tarver and Stephen Kramer Glickman, both former co-stars from the original show, the night was filled with countless full-circle moments.

Performing at the venue for the fifth time in sixteen years, the band is no stranger to this crowd. Hundreds of fans of all ages arrived in tree hats, purple bandana suits, and hockey jerseys—paying tribute to inside jokes and iconic motifs from the series. Under perfect summer skies, with ocean views framing the evening, the concert opened with a nostalgic montage of clips from the show, backed by the titular theme song. From party anthems like “Windows Down” to top-charting hits like “Music Sounds Better,” the setlist was packed with the classics we all know and love. Even after being performed countless times, these songs never miss.

The band also brought out lesser-known tracks that had never been performed live, such as “Blow Your Speakers” and “Count On You.” During individual solo moments, Stephen Kramer Glickman—who played the band’s eccentric producer Gustavo on the show—joined them on piano, taking the audience on a trip down memory lane while exchanging jokes with the boys. It was clear that the show and the band’s real-life music careers have forged genuine, lasting friendships, both on and off stage. Sixteen years later, the boys have never been better. A Big Time Rush concert today is a complete experience: an authentic post-Nickelodeon sound, modern twists on the boyband formula, live vocals and instruments, tight choreography, smooth transitions, dynamic visuals, multiple outfit changes, confetti explosions, mosh pits, and nonstop energy from the crowd for two full hours.

Midway through the show, the band traveled to a small elevated stage at the center of the amphitheater for an intimate acoustic set, giving fans farther from the main stage a close-up moment. And of course, four lucky “Worldwide” girls joined them on stage soon after—cementing a night full of nostalgia and joy. Intermissions featured montages of show clips and behind-the-scenes vlog footage, packed with inside jokes. During “City is Ours,” Carlos even donned a black helmet and crashed onto the stage riding a grocery cart—another hilarious nod to the band’s signature TV antics, showing how those goofy personalities still shine through today.

The epic night closed with fan-favorite “’Til I Forget About You” and a final reprise of “Boyfriend,” capped off with dazzling confetti showers as over 15,000 fans shouted every lyric in unison. Thousands of lives were changed on November 28, 2009, when the Big Time Rush pilot first aired. No one could have predicted how far the band would go. Now on their ninth tour, the “In Real Life” Tour continues to elevate Big Time Rush to new heights—and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Words & Photography: Katherine Hui