Sabrina Carpenter Delivers Pop Perfection at BST Hyde Park
Saturday night at BST Hyde Park witnessed a first evening of two in contemporary pop entertainment as Sabrina Carpenter brought her signature blend of polished performance and authentic charm to 65,000 fans in London. The 26-year-old artist, who has become one of 2024’s most successful pop stars, delivered an 18-song spectacle that showcased exactly why she has captured global attention.
Opening Acts Set the Stage
The evening began with performances from six emerging artists across multiple stages at Hyde Park. DellaXOZ opened proceedings on the Birdcage stage with tracks from her recent EPs “The Della Variant” and “Dellairium”, while South London alt-R&B artist Sola kicked off festivities on The Rainbow Stage with melodic keyboards and jazzy vocals during “Standing Ovation”. SOFY brought laid-back energy mixed with powerful vocals, playfully noting her 5’1″ height as her only similarity to Carpenter before delivering rhythmic tracks like “Floating Forever” and “togethertogether” that drew increasing crowds as the afternoon progressed.
Luvcat impressed audiences with her smoky, mysterious vocals while maintaining her trademark leopard print aesthetic. The Liverpool-via-London artist successfully transported jazz club intimacy to the vast Hyde Park setting, drawing from diverse musical influences spanning from her grandfather’s Sinatra records to her father’s Leonard Cohen collection. Grammy-nominated Amber Mark, whom Carpenter later praised as ‘one of my dearest friends,’ delivered a compelling set that included “Won’t Cry”, “Lose My Cool”, and her newest release “Sink In”, which samples The Adventures of Stevie V’s “Dirty Cash (Money Talks)”. The 31-year-old artist’s engaging stage presence ensured audience participation from the opening song.
The final two supporting acts demonstrated significant stage experience and musical versatility. Beabadoobee, the 25-year-old Philippines-born, London-based artist, delivered 15 celebrated tracks including “Charlie Brown”, “Real Man”, and “Perfect Pair”. Having supported major acts like The 1975 and Taylor Swift, her performance demonstrated growing confidence on massive stages, with her playful acknowledgement of her ‘SEX’ emblazoned pink top, worn ‘especially for Sabrina,’ adding personality to her technically solid set. The enigmatic Clairo performed with her band for her BST debut, encompassing an array of instruments from flute and saxophone to organs and drums. Her 15-song set featured highlights including “Glasses”, “Softly”, and “Flaming Hot”, with “Amoeba” and “June” receiving the loudest audience responses, while notable attendees included Beabadoobee, Abby Clancy, and Dylan Mulvaney.
Sabrina Carpenter
Carpenter, whose 2024 album “Short n’ Sweet” spent multiple weeks atop the Billboard 200, has achieved unprecedented success with singles “Espresso”, “Please Please Please” and “Taste” topping charts worldwide. Her journey from Disney Channel’s “Girl Meets World” to becoming a global pop phenomenon was evident in her commanding stage presence.
The show opened with “Busy Woman” as Carpenter emerged in a glittery red leotard bearing her name, paired with calf-high white boots. Her sleek white stage design, complete with an illuminated ‘SC’ at centre stage, created an intimate nightclub atmosphere within the massive park setting.
Carpenter’s 12-strong dance crew provided dynamic choreography throughout the performance. Between “Good Graces” and “Slim Pickins”, she even accepted a shot delivered on a tray by a crew member, drinking it with only a slight wince. The production incorporated 1950s-style advertisements on big screens, adding vintage charm to the modern pop spectacle.
Songs like “Coincidence”, “Taste”, and “Feather” balanced emotional depth with party energy. Carpenter’s introduction of “Sharpest Tool” as “a song that is very important to me” provided intimate moments within the grand production.
Carpenter’s weather commentary proved perfectly timed: “When I heard I was going to play Hyde Park, the first thing I did was look at the weather app. Because you guys are shady here.” This led to the evening’s only cover song, The Weather Girls’ “It’s Raining Men”, complete with theatrical thunder effects and audience participation.
The second half featured Carpenter in a slinky black glittery dress and matching bra. “Bed Chem” unfolded on a circular bed with white sheets, while “Juno” included a playful dedication of pink handcuffs to a fan. “Please, Please, Please” maintained the momentum before the evening’s climactic moments.
The show’s highlight came as Carpenter was lifted on a crane-operated platform above the crowd. “OK, London, smile! You’re on camera!” she declared, singing “Don’t Smile” to individual fans below while blowing kisses from her moving aerial stage.
The evening culminated with “Espresso”, the track that became the second-most played song in the UK and most-streamed worldwide in 2024. Carpenter’s playful challenge to the crowd. ‘The louder you scream, the more I drink,’ while holding an espresso glass, created the perfect finale. As she downed the coffee, fireworks filled the London sky, providing a spectacular ending to her performance.
With her seventh studio album “Man’s Best Friend” set for release on August 29, 2025, Carpenter’s BST Hyde Park performance demonstrated her evolution from teen actress to accomplished pop performer. The show successfully balanced intimate connection with grand spectacle, proving her ability to command massive venues while maintaining personal authenticity.
Her simple closing, ‘My name is Sabrina. Thanks for coming,’ underscored the unpretentious charm that has made her one of pop music’s most compelling new voices. The performance confirmed that Carpenter’s meteoric rise represents more than viral success; it reflects genuine artistry and stagecraft that positions her among contemporary pop’s leading performers.
Photos (c) Jordan Hughes / Alfredo Flores
