Live Review: Stevie Nicks – 12th July 2024 – BST Hyde Park, London, UK
5 min read
It’s been a few days since our last venture into Hyde Park with Shania Twain and The Corrs capping of a truly PHENOMENAL weekend of iconic artists performing at Hyde Parks Great Oak Stage as part of the BST Hyde Park series on Sunday. But that wasn’t a signal of things coming to a close as we have this weekend’s final trio of megastar acts bringing the outdoor music calendar staple series to an end for 2024 including shows by Princess of Pop Kylie and K-Pop collective, Stray Kids set to entertain the crowds.
Last night it was a heavy dose of Americana with Fleetwood Mac icon, Stevie Nicks returning to the BST stage as part of her current solo tour, and as long time Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks fans, we were absolutely LIVING FOR IT. And so were the fans who crammed Hyde Park well ahead of the Gypsy hitmakers arrival in their Coachella-meets-witch attire or merchandise t-shirts.
After a remarkable performance by fellow American singer Brandi Carlile, the thumping of opening Outside the Rain from the singers 1981 album, Bella Donna before announcing to the crowd, “Let’s Get this Hyde Park party started”, and that’s just what she did, swinging straight into set rich in both Nicks and Fleetwood Mac notables and tribute covers to friends lost over the last few years with a perfect rendition of Nicks-led Fleetwood Mac hit, Dreams being offered up to a crowd who were more than prepared to belt back every word of the songs catchy chorus back to the superstar who was dressed in head to toe black with fingerless gloves and clutched a mic stand that was dressed in trademark fabric flowing in the wind.
Further Fleetwood Mac numbers found their rightful way into the mighty set with a beautiful performance of Gypsy, which Nicks detailed in an anecdote about being “a song is about when you’re really, really poor”, finding an early spot in the night while Rhiannon helped cap the night as it opened the evening encore section of the show and both encouraged fans across the park to raise their phones and record the superstars nod to her iconic band and sing through the infectious down-tempo classic.
A swaying performance of Bella Donna saw the singer revisit some of her famous capes and shawls, arriving back on stage dressed in the same cape worn during her famous Bella Donna album era while one of the singers more mainstream hits, Stand Back – where the singer changed capes again, this time for the famous shawl worn from the hits era – had the crowd jumping along to the catchy beat of one of the sets most vibrant and energetic highlights. At this point in the night, as the sun disappears behind us and the stage lights burn brighter, it really does hit you that you are not just at any regular concert. You are at an event – something truly big and remarkable.
A duet for Leather and Lace with vocal coach Steve Real was a touching moment nearing the end of the set as the two bounced off each other’s seasoned and individually unique vocals but it was main set closer, Edge of Seventeen that brought the metaphorical house down an was the crown taker of the night. As the iconic guitar riff washed over the park, every voice in the crowd let out a cheer as Nicks delivered a truly astounding and rhythmically punch performance of her staple solo hit for 65,000 attendees who sang and danced and cheered the headliner on as images of white doves flew across the now-brightly lit up stage of Hyde Park.
A lot has happened in the time between Nick’s last appearance on a London stage back in 2017 when she shared a duet with longtime friend and collaborator, Tom Petty during their BST Hyde Park headlining show, including the death of Petty himself and the more recent passing of Fleetwood Mac band mate, Christine McVie whose 81st birthday would have fallen on the same day as last night’s show. Tributes to the fallen icons were plenty within the set last night as Nicks offered a gorgeous cover of Petty hit, Free Fallen, which displayed images of Petty and Nicks on the giant Hyde Park screens during the sentimental nod to her friend. But it was the encore of the show that really packed a punch and also revealed a special guest in the form of Harry Styles who joined the megastar on stage with a guitar in hand for a momentous run through Petty/Nick collaboration, Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around. Dressed sharply in a suit with hair slicked back, and with a deafening volume of screaming projected from the crowd who really did not expect to be treated to such a big guest appearance, the singer then helped Nicks through a beautiful, acoustic performance of Landslide and helped bring the set to a spectacular and emotionally charged close as giant images of Nicks and McVie were displayed overhead and lit up the park.
While our two favourite Nicks hits (Rooms on Fire and Talk To Me) were omitted from the set, it was an otherwise solid gold run through the career of one of music’s most iconic songwriters, storytellers and entertainers and delivered by a voice that rings as pristine and distinctive as it did when the star first started to shine in the mainstream music industry back in 1975 when she joined the musical juggernaut that is Fleetwood Mac and even at 76 years old, there was no indication that she intends to slow down any time soon.
Setlist:
Outside the Rain
Dreams (Fleetwood Mac song)
If Anyone Falls
Gypsy (Fleetwood Mac song)
Free Fallin’ (Tom Petty cover)
Wild Heart
Bella Donna
Stand Back
Leather and Lace (with Steve Real)
Gold Dust Woman (Fleetwood Mac song)
Edge of Seventeen
Encore:
Rhiannon (Fleetwood Mac song)
Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around (with Harry Styles)
Landslide (Fleetwood Mac song) (with Harry Styles)
::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder –
Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion.
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