Stevie Nicks at Hyde Park

Stevie Nicks

Brandi Carlile

Anna Calvi

Hyde Park, 12 July 2024

It seems the only way you can see Stevie Nicks live in London these days is to take a trip to Hyde Park in the summer, as this is now her third time playing here, only this time she has made her way up the bill to headliner finally. So, once again, was it worth standing all day in a crowded park for?

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.

Neil Young & Crazy Horse at Hyde Park

Neil Young & Crazy Horse
The National
Tom Odell
Hyde Park, 12 July 2014

It's always interesting listening to people's reactions after a Neil Young show and his latest headline slot at Hyde Park was no different. "Neil was clearly phoning it in! It felt like the opening night where the band were finding their feet!" one fan moaned to his friend. "That was incredible, his guitar-work is mind-blowing!" enthused another. "I wandered off before the end, it was so dull: so many tedious guitar solos," I hear another complain as he rejoins a friend, while someone else in front of me exclaims "He was so inspired tonight, even better than last time he was in London!"

Bruce Springsteen at Hyde Park

 
Hard Rock Calling 2012:
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band 
John Fogerty
Lady Antebellum
Hyde Park, 14 July 2012

I have such sore feet from standing two days in the mud and the rain! But it was completely and utterly worth it and it was certainly a unique experience seeing the Boss playing Waitin' On A Sunny Day as the rain poured from the sky.

Soundgarden at Hyde Park

 
Hard Rock Calling 2012:
Soundgarden
Iggy & The Stooges
Cold Chisel
Hyde Park, 13 July 2012

There was mud galore and it rained heavy into the night but this was a glorious show and I cannot even tell you the thrill to see and hear Soundgarden back together. And of course Iggy Pop was as wild and entertaining as ever. All in all it was completely worth standing in the pouring rain for.

Rod Stewart & Stevie Nicks at Hyde Park

Hard Rock Calling 2011:

Rod Stewart

Stevie Nicks

Adam Ant

Rumer

Hyde Park, 26 June 2011

I seem to be becoming a Hard Rock Calling regular, this is now my third year in a row. That said I certainly didn't imagine being back with Rod Stewart as the headliner, but when it was announced that Stevie Nicks would be playing her first solo show in the UK for 22 years at this festival of course I couldn't not go. Aside from Stevie, the whole line-up was really not my kind of thing but some I wanted to catch for curiosity's sake and some, such as Train and The Lighthouse Family, I wanted to plain avoid.

Pearl Jam at Hyde Park

Hard Rock Calling 2010:
Pearl Jam
Ben Harper & The Relentless 7
The Hives
The Gaslight Anthem
Hyde Park, 25 June 2010

For my annual summer festival experience I returned to the scene of one of my favourite gigs of last year (Neil Young), Hard Rock Calling at Hyde Park aka the festival for people who don’t like festivals (camping out and being stuck in mud for a weekend doesn’t appeal much to me these days and getting to go home at the end of the night is a big bonus).

Neil Young at Hyde Park

Hard Rock Calling 2009:
Neil Young
Fleet Foxes
Seasick Steve
Ben Harper & Relentless 7
The Pretenders
Hyde Park, 27 June 2009
So the promise of seeing Neil Young live for the ninth time brought me out for (sadly) my one and only festival-style experience this summer. But it was a great day that seemed to encompass the best and worst of the British weather, starting out sunny and uncomfortably hot and halfway through dark clouds suddenly gathering over the crowds in Hyde park and drenching us all in rain.