Jon Batiste radiated joy at his Sept. 18 appearance at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup.

As a sun-drenched September day was overtaken by twilight, the brightest star of the night appeared on stage. True to his New Orleans roots, Batiste opened the night with “When the Saints Go Marching in” and purple, green, and gold lights. Suddenly, it felt like there was so much NOLA energy in the air that the sweet scent of cotton candy from the midway seemed like it had a hint of beignet.

Batiste is an eight-time Grammy Award-winning virtuoso — a singer, songwriter, composer, pianist, saxophonist, and melodica aficionado. He has been playing piano since age 11, leading to his career as a prolific artist and former bandleader of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” The Washington State Fair stop was part of his 2026 summer tour following the release of his 9th album, “Big Money.” Joining him onstage were Nêgah Santos, Max Townsley, DeSz, Joe Saylor, and Nick Clark.

In his cuffed Levi’s, patent leather shoes, and simple black tee, Batiste and his band brought the contagious spirit of joy that he’s known to exude. The crowd was not only immersed in Batiste’s genre improvising music, they were also given dance lessons. He taught concertgoers the proper moves for “Big Money” and gave a bonus refresher on proper soul clapping.

“I like to say, ‘I love you’ even if I don’t know you. … Thank you for shining your light and being who you are,” the artist told the crowd.

The inspiring melody and message of “Be Who You Are” were briefly interrupted for a journey into a cover of “Don’t Stop Believing.” Both young and old members of the audience sang along in agreement to “It’s All Right.” His nod to Mozart brought silence to the stadium, as the only sounds came from his fingers falling on keys — interrupted only as he laughed his way through a ragtime-inspired interlude.

Batiste led the band in a second-line-style parade through the fans and into the stands. As the crowd went wild with excitement, the music flowed into a rendition of “Killing Me Softly” by Lauryn Hill. While DeSz perfectly hit every note, an elderly couple made the aisle their dance floor, swaying cheek to cheek.

“This energy is goodness,” Batiste reflected. The evening was filled with laughter, smiles, and a few occasional tears. As Batiste wrapped up a beautiful solo of “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen, he asked everyone to hold up their flashlights and sent us off into the night with his lullaby, “Butterfly.”

Check out upcoming shows at the Washington State Fair like Ice Cube on Sept. 19, and Chicago on Sept. 26. Visit the state fair website for the full lineup.