THE RECAP: FKA twigs Enthralls at Sold Out Madison Square Garden Shows

FKA twigs’s long-awaited arena tour “Body High” made its way to New York City’s Madison Square Garden for two sold-out shows on March 21 and 22. The venue has long been considered a dream achievement for artists domestically and internationally, and the English singer-songwriter certainly left her mark as one of its most electric and memorable performances in recent years.

Just a few hours before the show started, twigs expressed her excitement through an Instagram post, giving fans a sneak peek of what to expect. Her infectious excitement was palpable in the thousands of fans streaming into the venue, vibing to a mix of house, dance, and EDM music that set the tone for the night.

As the lights dimmed, twigs’s opener Tokischa strolled on stage to “Amor & Droga,” a track from her highly-anticipated upcoming album by the same name.

Tokischa’s entrance was nothing short of iconic. Clad in a flowy white skirt with her arms tied behind her back with white ribbons, the Dominican rapper treated fans to beloved songs like “Ride or Die pt.2,” a 2024 collaboration with Sevdaliza and Villano Antillano, and “Chulo pt.2,” a 2023 collaboration with Bad Gyal and Young Miko. MSG echoed with screams from the floor all the way up to the 300s as the extremely hyped-up crowd sang and danced (read: twerked) along.

Then the 30-minute set then took a sharp turn. Tokischa pulled off her wig and changed into a pair of baggy pants before turning towards a floor-length mirror and shaving her head on stage, drawing gasps and loud cheers from the audience.

This cathartic moment was later re-shared by the artist on Instagram. She explained in the caption that she wanted to voice her vulnerability to her audience and usher in a new beginning. Tokischa’s set perfectly expressed the feeling of freeing herself from the restraints imposed on her as an unapologetically alternative artist. This theme continued on through twigs’s set over the next two hours.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES

Tokischa walked off stage to resounding applause, and it wasn’t long before the lights dimmed once again. While the 31-song setlist spanned projects across FKA twigs’s thirteen-year career, a few songs stood out for their beautiful visuals and vocal performances.

mirrored heart & meta angel

To begin her set, twigs appeared on a makeshift bed alongside a keyboard, singing “mirrored heart” with vocals that could only be described as melodic. Her intricate red braids stood out amidst the desaturated and monochrome stage, matching her dance troupe.

Two dancers, one sporting puffy black wings, joined her on the bed as she transitioned into “meta angel,” delivering powerful vocals while playing the keyboard. twigs and her dancers moved in fluid unison across the stage, with the heavy bass of the song serving as a stark contrast to her otherwise serene vocals.

honda & papi bones

twigs’s tour photographer Max Cookward, who was present throughout the two hour set in outfits matching the rest of the troupe, filmed the dancers and twigs on a hand-cam as the singer changed into a glittery number on stage. The outfit change accompanied the tone shifting from softer vocals to a dance track. twigs’s openness with her audience was a welcome surprise, creating a lively and fun atmosphere as she performed “honda” from her 2022 mixtape CAPRISONGS.

MSG filled with deafening screams as she whined her way across stage to personal standout “papi bones” from the same mixtape, skyrocketing the energy of the venue. twigs then stepped up onto a platform for a short but powerful solo, shedding her jacket to stand out against the flashing lights.

The night was filled with homages to twigs’s inspirations. As she changed into her next outfit backstage, her troupe and ballroom dancers took the stage. The ballroom and vogue intermission — MC-ed by acclaimed American DJ and ballroom icon MikeQ — clearly delighted fans, with the hand-cam footage adding to the inherently community-focused nature of the genre.

Eusexua

The mood shifted once again as twigs appeared alone on stage with a stark spotlight illuminating her glittery red mohawk. At long last, the audience was greeted with fan favorite title track “Eusexua” from her 2025 album of the same name. MSG was blanketed in a hushed silence as everyone strained to commit her vocals to memory. twigs’s performance was mainly accompanied by a soft piano before being joined by the familiar and addictive drum beat.

Another outfit change into a short glittery two-piece cemented twigs’s sartorial choices as stars of the show, second only to her  performance. The following tracks brought the crowd to  their feet as twigs made her way to one of two poles on stage. Throughout this section of the show, twigs spent time hanging — and singing — upside down with one of her dancers, performing a short but beautiful routine that highlighted her vocal stability and pole expertise.

Striptease

Eusexua’s “Striptease” was undoubtedly the most anticipated song of the evening. twigs graced the stage in yet another outfit, a dress covered in feathers. The hauntingly beautiful track had every audience member singing along, but twigs’s vocals still managed to stand out, perfectly mirroring her studio recordings.

cellophane

The shedding of twigs’s feathered dress reflected the melancholy of the second-to-last track “cellophane.” The moment was punctuated by a scene of “snow” falling as the singer returned to a simple outfit much like the one she started the show in two hours prior. Her vulnerable tone as she repeatedly asked “Didn’t I do it for you? / Why don’t I do it for you?” crescendoed with the audience’s thunderous applause.

Much like the music video for this song, twigs once again walked over to a pole, executing a complex choreography that matched the fluidity of the accompanying piano melody. Her mesmerizing routine ushered in the final moments of the show.

The show ended as it started: twigs on the bed by herself, delivering a powerful performance with a bittersweet message of “It’s gonna be a lonely but exciting road.”

ENERGY LEVELS

FKA twigs is a powerhouse performer, something she made abundantly clear throughout her energetic-yet-cathartic set. Whether upside-down on a pole, singing with little-to-no accompaniment, or running back and forth to make full use of the stage, twigs was committed to fully engaging her audience. In turn, the audience matched her energy perfectly by hyping up the ballroom crew, shouting their support after emotional performances, and cheering so loud, no one could possibly forget it was a sold out show.

HIGH NOTE

The highest point of the performance came in the form of twigs’s honesty and openness with her audience. While changing between performances, she took a moment to acknowledge her love for the city she was performing in. twigs maintained that while she is from London, New York City was the first place to understand her as she sought to break the norms of gender, class, race, and more. In her words, “you got me and always supported me, and the community here is incredible.” Based on her dance troupe and audience — both filled with people from all walks of life that visibly span age groups, race, and gender expression — one can certainly say that she has succeeded in embracing those who break the norms.

twigs went on to explain that her tour is named “Body High” to combat how she has felt “body-low” in recent years. Her decision to do many of her costume changes on stage reflected her resolve that she has nothing to hide, an admission that resonated deeply with the audience and earned her a standing ovation.

As she looked around the sold out arena, twigs recounted being told that she wasn’t big enough for the venue — “Oh it’s fine, you can just take half the floor and we can block off the top so no one will know.” Growing up as an alternative black woman, she struggled to find herself represented in alt spaces, and was determined to “create a community of heroes in sci-fis” who both looked and expressed themselves like her. Her two sold-out MSG appearances, filled with loving audiences cheering and applauding her at every turn, is a testament to her commitment to authenticity and diverse representation.

VERDICT

It’s simple: FKA twigs was born to be on stage. Selling out Madison Square Garden is no small feat. Yet, she managed to do that twice over as an alternative black woman in a time where  diverse identities continue to be villainized and diminished.

To close out the show, twigs brought all her dancers and supporting acts back on stage for a final bow, surrounding herself with the people of color and members of the queer community that she sought to represent in the first place. As she stood on stage with a satisfied smile, it was clear she had achieved what she set out to. Fans made their way out, their love for twigs and amazement over her performance echoed through the halls of MSG, out into the streets.

Follow FKA twigs as she continues her tour on Instagram, X, and TikTok. For more concert recaps, check out our review of Conan Gray’s show at UBS Arena!