Jesse Welles and Margo Price, photo by Ari Cummings

Jesse Welles set up in Washington Square Park on Tuesday afternoon for a surprise public performance. Before returning to the stage after a few months away with a headline engagement at the Hudson River Music Festival on June 21, the celebrated folk-rock singer-songwriter stood out under the Washington Arch at golden hour and delivered an impromptu 11-track set for a circle of fans and passersby. Towards the end of the pop-up, he was joined by Margo Price for a duet on John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery.”

Welles flagged his busking with an Instagram post just a few hours before the event. Fortunately for his eagle-eyed followers in the city, Price quickly commented, “I’m literally sitting in Washington Square Park right now.” The regular collaborators delivered their duet after Welles cycled through a mix of old favorites like “United Health,” “Join ICE” and “War Isn’t Murder,” alongside cuts from his imminent sixth studio album, Masks Off,  like “Red” and the title track.

Masks Off will arrive on June 12; find more information on the album and Welles’ complete summer tour itinerary at wellesmusic.com.