Empire of the Sun brings Ask That God: Afterlife to Columbia
Empire of the Sun arrives at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, in the U.S. state of Maryland, at a time when their current concert story has developed far beyond a nostalgic return to the hits from the beginning of their career. Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore have strongly reactivated the project in recent years, released the album "Ask That God", returned to major stages and then continued with a new phase of the tour called "Ask That God: Afterlife".
The concert in Columbia is part of the North American continuation of that story. The current Merriweather Post Pavilion schedule lists doors opening at 18:00 and the program beginning at 19:30. Alongside Empire of the Sun, Polo & Pan and Midnight Generation have been announced, giving the evening a very clear electronic, disco and synth-pop direction.
It is a combination that makes sense beyond the tour logistics themselves. The headliner has been connecting electronic pop with highly visual performances for almost two decades, while the evening's additional performers come from different parts of dance music. The result should be a program that gradually moves from funk and disco toward the more lavish, anthemic sound of Empire of the Sun.
Tickets for this event are currently on sale.
From "Walking on a Dream" to a new phase of the career
Empire of the Sun was founded by Australian musicians Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore, and their international breakthrough came with the debut album "Walking on a Dream". The title track and "We Are the People" remained their most recognizable recordings for years after their original release, partly because their combination of synth-pop, psychedelic elements and melodic electronica did not remain tied only to the period in which the album was created.
Later albums "Ice on the Dune" and "Two Vines" expanded that sound. Songs such as "Alive", "DNA", "High and Low" and "Way to Go" gave the band a broad enough catalog that today's concert does not have to function as a presentation of only one album.
The key change happened in 2024. The album "Ask That God" was released on July 26 of that year and brought 12 songs, including "Changes", "Cherry Blossom", "Music on the Radio", "The Feeling You Get", "Television", "Wild World" and the title track "Ask That God". It was the project's fourth studio album and the first completely new album chapter after a longer recording hiatus.
The expanded version "Ask That God (Deluxe)" arrived on January 24, 2025 and further connected the band's new phase with their broader musical circle. Among the added material is "Somebody's Son" with Lindsey Buckingham, as well as "Dark Secrets".
Activity also continued throughout 2026. The release "Alive (Reimagined)", issued on January 16, reopened one of Empire of the Sun's biggest hits through a series of new electronic interpretations. The versions include remixes by Alok, SG Lewis, DJ HEARTSTRING, Zedd and David Guetta. Such a project clearly shows where Empire of the Sun stands today: new material has not replaced the older catalog, but the band is actively connecting it with the current electronic scene.
What "Ask That God: Afterlife" means for the live performance
The 2026 tour has been presented as a continuation of the successful concert series from the previous year and as the final phase of the story connected with "Ask That God". The tour announcement describes the new production as a modified version of the concert performance, rather than simply a repetition of the 2025 program.
That is an important detail with Empire of the Sun. Their concerts traditionally are not conceived as a band simply walking out in front of the audience and playing a sequence of songs. The project's visual identity - Luke Steele's costumes, futuristic stage design, choreographed transitions, lighting and large screens - is an integral part of the way this music is presented live.
Still, the exact setlist for the Columbia concert should not be assumed in advance. A more useful indicator comes from recorded performances from the tour during 2025. At multiple concerts, a combination of newer songs and material from earlier phases of the career appeared. Among the frequently performed newer titles were "Changes", "The Feeling You Get", "Cherry Blossom", "Television", "Music on the Radio", "Ask That God" and "Happy Like You", while the older part of the program was represented by songs such as "We Are the People", "DNA", "High and Low", "Walking on a Dream" and "Alive".
This is not an announcement of the setlist for Merriweather Post Pavilion, but it shows how the previous tour was structured. Audiences who discovered the band through "Walking on a Dream" were not neglected, while at the same time the concert was not turned into a retrospective. The new album received significant space.
For longtime fans, that balance is precisely one of the main reasons for the current tour. For audiences who know only a few of the biggest singles, the concert is an opportunity to hear how much the catalog has expanded beyond the songs that made the band famous.
Polo & Pan and Midnight Generation expand the evening
The program in Columbia does not end with the headliner. Polo & Pan and Midnight Generation have also been announced, performers who fit stylistically into the evening without simply imitating Empire of the Sun.
Polo & Pan is a Parisian electronic duo consisting of Paul Armand-Delille and Alexandre Grynszpan. Their music combines house, disco, psychedelia and pop, often with a highly cinematic approach to arrangement. The 2017 album "Caravelle" was crucial to their international breakthrough, while the later "Cyclorama" further expanded their sound toward disco, club music and psychedelic textures.
Midnight Generation comes from northern Mexico and builds its music around funk, disco and electronic pop. The project is led by Fernando Mares, and over the years the band has grown from a studio project into a live performance lineup. Their dance-oriented, rhythmically emphasized approach gives the opening part of the program a different energy from the more visually monumental sound of the headliner.
For audiences who enjoy artists at the intersection of Parcels, Chromeo, French electronica, synth-pop and modern disco, the additional names are not merely a secondary part of the schedule. They make the entire program a stylistically connected evening.
Merriweather Post Pavilion as part of the concert experience
Merriweather Post Pavilion is not a standard indoor arena. The amphitheater is located within approximately 40 acres of parkland in Symphony Woods in Columbia and was designed by architect Frank Gehry. It opened back in 1967, but the venue has been significantly changed and renovated over the decades.
Today's capacity is approximately 19,300 visitors, depending on the event configuration. The combination of a covered pavilion, lawn areas and different seating levels means that the concert experience can vary significantly depending on the viewer's position.
For Empire of the Sun, several characteristics of the venue are particularly interesting. The stage is relatively low compared with many large amphitheaters, while large video screens help audiences in more distant areas. During the renovation, the roof was raised by 20 feet, which improved sightlines and acoustic conditions and enabled larger concert productions. Elevated SkyLawn areas were also added.
Such a venue suits an artist whose performance depends equally on sound and image. Audiences closer to the stage get a more immediate view of the costumes, musicians and stage design, while the lawn areas provide a broader view of the overall production and lighting.
- Location: 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Maryland 21044
- Venue type: outdoor concert amphitheater within Symphony Woods
- Capacity: approximately 19,300 visitors, depending on configuration
- Doors opening for this concert: 18:00
- Program start: 19:30
- Announced performers alongside Empire of the Sun: Polo & Pan and Midnight Generation
It is worth securing tickets in time.
Arriving by car and parking
Merriweather Post Pavilion is located in Columbia, between the greater Washington and Baltimore areas. For visitors arriving by car, the venue is connected to the main roads Route 29, Route 32 and I-95.
For concerts in 2026, visitor parking is included at no additional charge. During events, Merriweather uses more than ten parking lots distributed around central Columbia. Advance parking reservations are not required - drivers are directed toward currently available parking lots.
Parking lots generally open one hour before doors open, with additional restrictions on weekdays. Since the concert takes place on a Friday, it is useful to check current traffic information before departure.
There is also an important traffic change for 2026. The ramp from Broken Land Parkway East toward US-29 South has been closed since July 7, so alternative routes toward US-29 South and I-95 are planned after concerts. Visitors traveling south after the performance should account for this change rather than relying on a route they may know from previous visits.
Accessible parking spaces are located in parking lots 2 and 4 and are available to vehicles with the appropriate permit. Transportation from parking lot 2 to the entrances is also available when needed.
Arriving from the wider area and via BWI
Columbia is a planned city in central Maryland, so Merriweather is not surrounded by the traditional downtown area of a large city such as can be found around many concert arenas. The immediate area includes Columbia Town Center, shopping, dining and hotel facilities, as well as green spaces around Symphony Woods.
For international and other travelers arriving by air, the most relevant airport is Baltimore/Washington International. Merriweather states that the BWI area can be connected with Columbia by regional public transportation, including a connection toward the Mall in Columbia area, from where it is possible to continue on foot toward the amphitheater.
If the concert is combined with a visit to Washington or Baltimore, it should be taken into account that Columbia is not a neighborhood of either of those two cities. Transportation must be planned separately for arrival at the evening program, especially after the concert ends.
Entry rules worth checking before departure
Merriweather has precise rules regarding bags and items that may be brought inside. Backpacks and backpack-shaped bags are generally not permitted except for transparent versions. Permitted bags and clear backpacks may not be larger than 13 x 15 inches and are inspected upon entry.
Each visitor may bring one empty water bottle or one factory-sealed bottle, unless different instructions are published for a particular concert. Personal food is also allowed in one clear disposable container that is not made of glass.
Professional cameras with interchangeable lenses, recording devices, laser pointers, selfie sticks and certain other items are not permitted. The venue is non-smoking, including electronic cigarettes and vape devices.
Tickets on a mobile device are accepted in digital form, while printed QR codes are not intended for entry. After entering, re-entry into the venue is generally not allowed, except in certain situations related to extreme weather conditions.
Because this is an outdoor amphitheater, programs are held even in rain. Small purse-sized umbrellas are allowed, while large golf umbrellas are not. Rules for chairs and blankets on the lawn may vary from concert to concert, so it is worth checking them again immediately before the event.
Who will find this concert particularly interesting
The clearest audience is fans who have followed Empire of the Sun since the debut album. "Walking on a Dream", "We Are the People" and "Alive" belong to the period that created the project's recognizable identity, and current concerts show that this material still holds an important place in the performance.
A second group consists of listeners who returned to the band through "Ask That God". The new album did not attempt to discard the earlier sound, but modernized it through cleaner electronic production and a strong pop approach. That is precisely why newer songs can naturally sit alongside the older hits.
A third group may not be traditional Empire of the Sun fans at all, but rather audiences who follow contemporary disco, house, synth-pop and electro-funk. Polo & Pan and Midnight Generation make this program considerably more attractive to such visitors than a standalone concert by the headliner would be.
The visual aspect is also important. Empire of the Sun is one of those projects where knowing the entire discography is not a necessary prerequisite for understanding the concert concept. The costumes, stage design, lighting and the way the performance is shaped dramaturgically give it the character of a production that crosses the boundary of a standard pop concert.
What to check immediately before the concert
The schedule currently lists doors from 18:00 and the program beginning at 19:30. Since the timetable, lawn-area rules and individual organizational details may change, the most useful thing is to check the current Merriweather Post Pavilion schedule once more immediately before arrival.
Special attention should be paid to bag size, chair rules if the ticket is for the lawn area, traffic conditions around Broken Land Parkway and the weather forecast. For an outdoor amphitheater, precisely these practical details can have a greater impact on the evening than arriving a few minutes earlier or later.
For visitors who want to hear "Walking on a Dream" and "We Are the People" in the context of today's Empire of the Sun, this performance comes at an interesting phase in the band's career: behind them are a comeback album, an extensive 2025 tour, an expanded edition of the album and a new interpretation of the song "Alive", while the "Afterlife" tour continues to develop the concert production rather than simply repeating the previous one.
Sources:
- Merriweather Post Pavilion - concert schedule, doors opening time and program start, Polo & Pan and Midnight Generation, entry rules, parking, arrival information and venue details.
- Empire of the Sun / Universal Music Japan - the album "Ask That God", the expanded edition "Ask That God (Deluxe)" and the release "Alive (Reimagined)".
- 313 Presents - announcement of the "Ask That God: Afterlife" tour, context of the 2025 tour and description of the new concert production.
- Setlist.fm - recorded setlists from multiple concerts on the tour during 2025, used exclusively as context for previous performances.
- Pollstar - Merriweather Post Pavilion capacity and context of the venue's modernization.
- LA Phil - biographical and musical context of the duo Polo & Pan.
- BMI and the Midnight Generation profile - information about the band's origins and its combination of funk, disco and electronic pop.