Shawn Mendes made an unexpected appearance at Ed Sheeran’s Toronto concert on Saturday, marking the Canadian singer-songwriter’s first performance in front of a live audience in more than a year.
Mendes took the stage at Rogers Center just as Sheeran began performing 2011’s single “Lego House.” The two musicians then played a rollicking rendition of Mendes’ 2017 hit “There’s Nothin’ Holding Me Back” as a duet.
Sheeran is currently touring in support of his latest album, Subtract, which was released last month. He captured the moment for posterity with a short video on Instagram.
“Wish I could bottle the feeling and keep opening it to feel that buzz again so much fun,” he wrote in the caption. “Thanks for singing with me man, nice to have you back.”
In the footage, Mendes revealed that Saturday’s performance with Sheeran marked his first time on stage in “a year and a half.”
“To be honest, I’m a bit speechless about it at the moment,” he said. “Dude, I feel crazy. I feel crazy.”
Watch a clip of Shawn Mendes and Ed Sheeran performing in Toronto below.
The performance was particularly notable since last year Mendes abandoned his 2022 Wonder: The World Tour after just seven performances, citing the need for a mental break.
“I started this tour with the excitement of finally being able to play live again after a long hiatus due to the pandemic, but the reality is that I was completely unprepared for how difficult touring would be after this period of absence,” he wrote on Instagram at that time. “After speaking more with my team and working with an incredible group of healthcare professionals, I have come to realize that I need to take the time, which I personally have never taken, to ground myself and come back stronger.”
In an interview in February with the Wall Street JournalMendes spoke about how after taking a break from road traffic, he will continue to work on “helping and healing myself.”
“I think the last year and a half has been the most eye-opening, growing, beautiful and just healing process of my life,” he said. “I am also very grateful to all the people who have been so accommodating, loving, kind and understanding.”
Mendes has largely kept a low profile so far in 2023, despite appearance To briefly revive his relationship with ex-girlfriend Camila Cabello.
However, it seems that his return to full-time music is imminent. Earlier this month he introduced a new single: “What the hell are we dying for?“, inspired by the wildfires that have devastated parts of his native Canada.