October 27, 2025
Matisyahu brought his Ancient Child Tour to ThePonte Vedra Concert Hall October 27th, supporting his eighth full-length studio album, Ancient Child, which was released earlier in October. Before Matisyahu took the stage, longtime collaborator and special guest Aaron Dugan opened. His set consisted of atmospheric guitar work, looping effects, occasional vocals and served as a warm-up to prime the audience. The lighting during Dugan’s set was subdued, with a wash of blues and purples, creating a space of transition from daily life into musical ritual. By the time his set ended, the crowd—of mixed ages, including longtime fans and newer listeners—was ready for the main act.
During the concert Matisyahu took us on a journey through his past and present discography covering songs like "Son Come Up" and "Wake Up" from Ancient Child and then working in classic hits from the past like "King Without a Crown" and "One Day". Matisyahu’s presence was calm but engaged. He paced the stage with measured movement, often pausing to address the audience with quiet statements— iwhich gave it the feel of a spiritual gathering disguised as a rock/reggae concert.
Near the end of the show Matisyahu shared a personal anecdote about his children, the passage of time, and the idea of being “ancient and childlike at once”. That bridging of generations—his older work and his new mindset—which gave the show a layered meaning. There was nostalgia but also growth.The encore consisted of a stripped-down version of “One Day” (with minimal percussion) followed by a full-band version of “Sun Come Up” (a track from his new album) which closed the night on an uplifting note. The crowd left fading lights and background music playing, feeling both energized and reflective.