Lana Del Rey at Brixton Academy

Lana Del Rey
Dermot Kennedy
Brixton Academy, 24 July 2017

Before this concert Lana Del Rey didn't feel real to me. It's not a question of authenticity (plenty of great artists have changed their names and created stage personas) it's just that she's always seemed something dreamed up by David Lynch: a mysterious singer of torch songs with old Hollywood movie star looks and a string of doomed romances to sadly croon about. This show, announced just the week before to promote her new album Lust For Life, proved that she is indeed the real deal in every way.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers + Stevie Nicks at Hyde Park

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Stevie Nicks
The Lumineers
Hyde Park, 9 July 2017

After a couple of years away, I'm finally back to vast and beautiful Hyde Park, scene of many legendary concerts for me, some sun drenched and some rain soaked, but all filled with great memories. This year's has to have one of the best ever line-ups, even though it's just two artists I'm interested in, but those two - Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks - have been two of the most important in my life and I've dreamed for years of seeing them live together.