A look back at the most iconic concerts in Hyde Park
Hyde Park has been hosting legendary music artists since the 1960s when thousands of fans gathered in the park to watch Pink Floyd and The Rolling Stones.
For nearly seventy years, Hyde Park has been the backdrop to some of the world's most incredible concerts, from Pavarotti to Live 8. Millions of people have gathered together to witness once-in-a-lifetime performances that stand the test of time. This summer, BST Hyde Park once again takes centre stage, welcoming icons like Stevie Wonder and Jeff Lynne's ELO.
The concert series not only brings fans together, but it also helps to support The Royal Parks charity. Money raised from the event is invested back into the parks so dedicated teams can continue to protect and maintain 5,000 acres of beautiful, natural and historic parkland for all to enjoy.
Below we take a look at some of the most memorable musical moments in Hyde Park. Were you lucky enough to see any in person?
1. The Rolling Stones – July 1969
Arguably the most famous show ever to be held in Hyde Park, the Rolling Stones played a free concert for an estimated 500,000 people. Scenes from the day are incredible, with fans spread out throughout the whole of Hyde Park. The band returned in 2013, nearly 50 years after their historic concert. It was quite the homecoming with the band selling out two shows and performing their biggest hits in the summer sunshine. They came back again in 2022 for their 60th anniversary tour and played to a packed house.
2. Live 8 – July 2005
To honour the 20th anniversary of the founding of the G8, Hyde Park hosted one of ten simultaneous Live 8 concerts, aiming to raise awareness of global poverty. It was a who's who of entertainment, with musical acts like Coldplay, Snoop Dogg, Mariah Carey and Pink Floyd and A-list presenters including Brad Pitt, Ricky Gervais and Dawn French. Following the event, the G8 committed £50 billion to fighting poverty in Africa.
3. Luciano Pavarotti – July 1991
To celebrate 30 years in opera, Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti gave a concert to a crowd of 100,000 people, including Royalty. Believed to be the largest attendance since the Rolling Stones in 1969, spirits were not dampened by the torrential downpour of rain. The concert raised money for a campaign to plant trees following the Great Storm of 1987.
4. Proms in the Park 1996-2019
The Royal Parks have a long tradition of hosting music across the parks. Famously George Frederick Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks was premiered in The Green Park in April 1749. Hyde Park itself has a rich history of hosting classical music with it being an important part of the Great Exhibition in 1851. More recently the park has hosted ‘Proms in the Park’ from 1996 to 2019. Given the demand for tickets to the concerts at the Royal Albert Hall the park first hosted video relay of performances before moving into live events within their own right.
5. Bruce Springsteen – July 2012
Known for his stamina, Bruce Springsteen played over three hours in an incredible set that left fans energised and ecstatic. To close the show, Sir Paul McCartney came on stage to sing two Beatles classics with The Boss, and their sound was cut for breaking curfew.
In his epic return in 2023, Springsteen and the E-Street Band managed to play another three-hour plus set and joked during ‘Glory Days’ that ‘the plug will be pulled again.’ He closed the show with a second encore, performing an acoustic solo of ‘I’ll See You In My Dreams’ - this time finishing before curfew.
6. Black Sabbath – July 2014
Black Sabbath's first ever Hyde Park performance didn’t disappoint. Headlined by Ozzy Osbourne whose opening words, ‘Let Me Hear You!’ set the scene for the night ahead. The Birmingham rockers were joined by support acts Soundgarden and Faith no More – a heavy rock masterclass for their fans.
7. Taylor Swift – June 2015
Part of the pop sensation’s 1989 world tour, Taylor Swift’s 2015 performance was full of chart-topping hits, which she sang whilst suspended on a revolving platform above the crowd. During Bad Blood, her troupe of friends including Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid and Cara Delevingne strutted onto stage to a huge reception from her young audience.
8. Carole King – July 2016
In her first performance in London for almost three decades, Carole King made history by performing her 1971 classic Tapestry, in full, for the first time ever. She was even introduced on stage by celebrity fans Sir Elton John and Tom Hanks.
9. Stevie Wonder – July 2016
One of the best-selling music artists of all time, Stevie Wonder took the BST stage for the first time back in 2016. He delighted fans with performances of ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ and ‘For Once in my Life’ and also took a moment to speak about Black Lives Matter, urging the crowd to choose 'love over hate'. He will return to BST this summer on July 12 with his Love, Light and Song concert.
10. Adele – July 2022
In her much-awaited return to the stage, Adele came home to stun two sold-out crowds with a flawless performance. She treated fans to all her greatest hits, including ‘Someone Like You’ in which the emotional star shed a tear as the crowd join along singing every word, and ‘Set Fire To The Rain’ which was accompanied by astonishing pyrotechnics.
Related Articles
-
ListenParties in the Park
In this summer special, Learning Manager and music fan Richard Pering looks at the amazing concerts which have taken place in Hyde Park over the years.
-
ReadTop things to do in the Royal Parks this summer
From guided walks, citizen science projects, or just some good music, the Royal Parks has you covered this summer.
-
ReadThe Royal Parks in Literature
From Samuel Pepys to J.M. Barrie, discover the classic authors whose connections to London’s Royal Parks inspired and featured in their stories
