“nyyyyyyy i want to play you my new album 🙂 shall we go upstate?”
That’s the text that was on Charli XCX’s Instagram story on Tuesday afternoon. Below it, she included an RSVP link to a special event happening at Storm King Art Center on Thursday, October 10. Those interested in attending the still-elusive event were prompted to RSVP with their names, email addresses, phone numbers, zip codes, and birthdays. The sign-up form included artwork for the album Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat, which was released on October 11.
The Show
Charli XCX played 45 minutes of her brand-new album for fans on Thursday afternoon. The event, which was live-streamed on Twitch, went all-out. Attendees received a Brat green pass upon check-in, but it was just the start of an all-inclusive day. Everyone in attendance received free merch in the form of a t-shirt that said “art” in the Charli XCX font, with “Storm King Art Center” on the back. There were three food trucks serving up pizza, bao buns, and sliders, and Captain Lawrence was onsite with a full open bar.
But the sight to see was Charli XCX’s installation, which the artist herself posed in front of after hopping out of her black Escalade.
“I basically just wanted to get you in this really convenient location to play you some songs from the album,” she told fans.
Later on in the set, she gave a special thanks to Storm King for making it happen.
How It Happened
Emails began going out to confirmed guests for the 18-and-over-only event midday on Wednesday. Lucky fans received an email that read “confirmed” in Brat font, alerting them that they were on the guest list and could bring a plus one.
The email outlined specifics about how to get to the event, even including an itinerary of a suggested train time from Grand Central to Beacon, the closest Metro-North stop, to be there for the start time at 3 p.m. Charli XCX’s team provided free shuttles from the station to Storm King. According to the email, the event would conclude by 6 p.m. sharp.
Collaborating With Storm King Art Center
Fans quickly took to the internet to make their guesses at what it could be, but a spokesperson from Storm King confirmed it would be an album listening party with Charli XCX in attendance. So how did Storm King get so lucky to host this event? Charli XCX and her team were familiar with Storm King and reached out about a month ago for planning.
“It was a natural yes for us,” says a spokesperson from Storm King. “Storm King is one of the only places in the region that this could happen on this scale. We work with artists all the time to allow jumps in artistic practice, but this is new. Charli is approaching Storm King with the same energy.”
The event, which had a 1,000-person capacity, was an immersive album experience that utilized the landscape there.
“We’re trying to bring the album to life for fans,” says the spokesperson. “It’s a fully outdoor experience where people can hear tracks from the album, have space to dance, and experience with all of the senses. It will be a joyous gathering for the launch.”
For local fans, this event represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“She’s a 365-party girl,” says Sarah Bale, a local resident. She registered within minutes of the event announcement and received tickets to the event. Bale saw Charli XCX perform live on tour in New York City just a couple of weeks before, but seeing her in her own backyard provides a different, can’t-miss experience.
“This is one of the most exciting things to happen in the Hudson Valley,” she says.
Charli XCX had a huge breakout earlier this year with her album Brat, which is recognizable by its lime-green cover art.
One user on TikTok posted a video from Storm King of a crew erecting a backdrop with the remix album’s artwork. The Storm King website has noted an early close on October 10, with the final entry for all visitors at 1 p.m. to accommodate the “private event.”
Storm King Art Center isn’t necessarily known as being a hub for these kinds of events in the area. However, it is a beloved attraction to locals and tourists alike as an open-air museum with several sculptures and is located by the nearby Storm King Mountain. Its events calendar is largely made up of walking tours, informational sessions, and children and families events.
The installation will be up at Storm King for other fans to experience until October 14.
Related: What to Do During a Day Trip to Storm King Art Center
