Live Review: James Taylor @ Wolf Trap — 8/23/25

August 26, 2025

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When you’re down and troubled and in need of a helping hand, there’s nothing quite like a James Taylor summer concert to lift your spirits. As the opening chords of “You’ve Got a Friend” — the Carole King–penned classic that Taylor made his own — recently rang out at Wolf Trap, the crowd was instantly transported.

For many, the song rekindled memories of friendships that had shaped their lives. For me, it carried me back to childhood summers at a sleep-away camp in northeastern Pennsylvania, where each August farewell was softened by the promise of seeing friends again — a promise sealed by this very song.

James Taylor has become a perennial late-summer presence at Wolf Trap. His name on the calendar is as much a part of the Filene Center’s August rhythm as cicadas humming in the trees. This year, Taylor brought a three-show run to Vienna, Virginia, filling the hillside with fans eager for familiar tunes and warm storytelling. I caught the middle performance on August 23, where the sold-out venue welcomed him like an old friend.

Watch James Taylor perform “You’ve Got a Friend” live on the Howard Stern Show in 2015:

At 77, Taylor remains a master at creating intimacy on a grand stage. His easy charm, gentle humor, and reflective nature transform Wolf Trap’s 7,000 seats into something that feels personal. He speaks and sings with the cadence of someone who has lived the stories he’s telling, and the audience leans in as though hearing them for the first time.

If you’ve attended a James Taylor concert before, you’ll recognize many of the anecdotes he shares between songs. He revisits tales about his early days in music, his collaborations with Carole King, and the inspirations behind his most cherished compositions. These stories rarely change, but that’s precisely their appeal. They carry the same comfort as rewatching a beloved movie — familiar lines delivered with just enough freshness to remind you why you loved them in the first place.

Taylor’s concerts are less about surprise and more about ritual. You come for the same stories, the same songs, and the same feelings that have accompanied his music for decades. The joy lies in reliving them alongside thousands of others who feel exactly the same way.

One memorable moment came when James introduced “Up on the Roof” as a Carole King song. He paused, flashed a mischievous grin, and quipped, “I know, no kings…” The line drew warm applause from the Northern Virginia/DC audience, who clearly caught the wink and shared in the unspoken political camaraderie between performer and crowd.

The first eight songs of the night carried a theme of travel and wandering, underscored by a backdrop of road trip images and videos projected on a larger-than life 4K digital stage screen. From “Wandering” and “Walking Man” to “Mexico” and “My Traveling Star,” the visuals amplified Taylor’s songs of journey and reflection, giving the set an added layer of narrative cohesion.

Stream Sweet Baby James (2019 Remaster) by James Taylor on Spotify:

The evening’s setlist spanned Taylor’s catalog and sprinkled in well-chosen covers. By the time he reached “Carolina in My Mind,” sighs of recognition rippled through the audience, many of whom softly sang along.

The heart of the show came in the middle stretch: “Sweet Baby James,” “Fire and Rain,” and “You’ve Got a Friend” landed with the kind of emotional weight that only decades of connection can give. Later, “Shed a Little Light” featured a powerful solo from Henry Taylor — James’s 24-year-old son — while “Shower the People” brought an equally moving vocal spotlight for Dorian Holley. “Your Smiling Face” lifted the crowd to its feet, reminding everyone just how many of Taylor’s songs have been woven into life’s soundtrack.

The encore was pure joy. “Steamroller” brought out Taylor’s playful side, “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)” had the pavilion dancing, and “You Can Close Your Eyes” provided a tender, quiet closing moment.

While James Taylor is unquestionably the center of attention, his road band deserves praise for shaping the sound. These are not just sidemen — they’re collaborators who bring depth, texture, and polish to every number.

Kate Markowitz, Dorian Holley, Henry Taylor, Andrea Zonn (who also shone on fiddle), and Kim Taylor (James’s wife) provided rich harmonies. Michael Landau’s guitar work added color and bite, Jimmy Johnson anchored the bass lines, and Larry Goldings filled the space with warm keys and piano. On drums, the legendary Steve Gadd brought precision and groove, while Luis Conte supplied nuanced percussion. Horns from Lou Marini (aka “Blue Lou” from The Blues Brothers) and Max Darché added bursts of energy that brightened the arrangements.

Their musicianship elevated the show beyond nostalgia. Together, they created a sound that felt alive and contemporary, even as the songs themselves carried decades of history.

By the end of the night, James Taylor had once again delivered what fans come to Wolf Trap to experience: comfort, reflection, and joy. His concerts aren’t about reinvention or spectacle; they’re about connection. The stories may repeat, the setlists may look familiar, but the feelings remain timeless.

As “You Can Close Your Eyes” brought the evening to a quiet close, the audience lingered in the moment, reluctant to let go. That’s the power of James Taylor — to make thousands of people feel like they’re sharing a personal memory with an old friend. At Wolf Trap in late August, nobody lifts spirits quite like him.

Setlist