Stevie Wonder Delivers Timeless Soul at BST Hyde Park
The legendary Stevie Wonder returned to BST Hyde Park for his third appearance, after headlining the festival in 2016 and 2019. A sold-out evening of 65,000 devoted fans in Hyde Park visited the last day of the famous festival. The evening showcased six decades of musical excellence from one of the most celebrated artists in the history of popular music. Alas, because of the cancellation of Jeff Lynne’s ELO on Sunday, Stevie Wonder became the closing act.
The evening demonstrated why Wonder remains one of music’s most enduring and beloved figures. His ability to blend social consciousness with pure musical joy, combined with his genuine warmth and family-oriented approach, created an experience that transcended mere entertainment. The sold-out crowd received exactly what they hoped for, a master class in soul music from an artist who has shaped the sound of popular music for over six decades.
The evening began with guitar-wielding Corinne Bailey Rae, who has been supporting Wonder throughout his recent UK tour. She opened with favourites including “Trouble Sleeping” and “Closer”, before delivering the crowd-pleasing “Put Your Records On” with tambourine in hand. Her set concluded with the sweet melody of “Like A Star”, with Rae encouraging the audience to “drink loads of water” before hinting at a possible return later in the evening.
British-Sudanese soul singer-songwriter Elmiene followed, demonstrating why he has captured attention at the BBC Sounds of 2024 and earned a Brit Awards Rising Star 2025 nomination. The 24-year-old performer mixed his thoughtful tracks, including “Mama”, “Crystal Tears”, “Anyways” and “Someday” with Wonder classics like “Blame It On The Sun”. He spoke humbly about the significance of supporting his hero, calling Wonder “the greatest to ever do it”.
The American trio Thee Sacred Souls brought their uplifting energy to Hyde Park, with singer Josh Lane walking into the crowd during their performance. Their set featured “Lucid”, “Weak For Your Love” and “There For You”, perfectly priming the audience for the soul music to come.
Mercury Prize winners Ezra Collective, who became the first UK jazz band to win a BRIT Award for ‘Group of the Year’, delivered an energetic set of Afro-beat jazz. The London quintet had the crowd dancing from the opening with tracks including “Shaking Body”, “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” and “Femi Kuti Tune”. Drummer Femi Koleoso shared a personal connection to the evening, recalling how he attended Wonder’s 2018 show as a fan, calling it “the best gig I’ve seen in my life”. Their set appropriately concluded with “God Gave Me Feet”.
The day featured several other notable performances across multiple stages. Soul songstress Mica Miller headlined the Birdcage stage, sharing material from her upcoming “Heaven Knows” album. Southeast London’s Afro-soul singer LULU showcased her regional sound, while melody-maker Jon Poppii opened the day on the Birdcage Stage.
American singer-songwriter Durand Bernarr, who has provided vocals for neo-soul star Erykah Badu, headlined the Rainbow Stage for his first London performance. TAMZENE from the Scottish Highlands brought tracks including “Best of Me”, “Too Many Times” and “Called You Out” to the London audience.
Hajaj, who spent his early years in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where artistic expression was suppressed, performed songs from his album “Last Call For Coco” with producer Aidan Glover, expressing pure joy at sharing the stage with Wonder.
Blind from birth and raised in inner-city Detroit, Wonder was a skilled musician by age eight and made his recording debut at age 11. The 100 million records he has sold and his 30 Top 10 hits, Academy Award for Best Song and 22 Grammy Awards attest to his talent and skills.
Wonder took the stage dressed in a white tunic featuring stitched portraits of John Lennon and Marvin Gaye, immediately establishing the evening’s tone with “Love’s In Need of Love Today”. An unexpected and deeply moving cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine” followed, setting the stage for what would become an evening of pure musical magic. The setlist then exploded with classic Wonder material: “Master Blaster”, “Higher Ground” and “You Are The Sunshine of My Life” dominated the first half, with a sing-along cover of “You Are My Sunshine” thrown into the mix.
A particularly special moment came when Wonder brought Corinne Bailey Rae back on stage for a collaborative performance of “Everybody Is A Star”, a Sly and the Family Stone cover. “Tonight we want to acknowledge the life of Sly and the Family Stone,” Wonder explained to the crowd. The 75-year-old artist also celebrated family, bringing key musical family members on stage and dedicating a special “Happy Birthday” to his 13-year-old daughter, Zaiah. His son Kailand took the spotlight to perform “I Can Only Be Me”.
Against the backdrop of the setting sun, Wonder delivered “Sir Duke”, “Isn’t She Lovely” and “I Just Called To Say I Love You”, with the audience becoming increasingly animated as the evening progressed. The atmosphere grew more electric with each passing moment. The evening reached its crescendo with an incredible finale sequence. “Superstition”, complete with its big band production, led the way for “Always” and “Another Star” before the star of the show took his final bow. His works “Innervisions” (1973), “Fulfillingness’ First Finale” (1974) and “Songs in the Key of Life” (1976) all won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, making him the only artist to have won the award with three consecutive album releases.
Photo’s (c) BETHANMILLERCO, except closeup (c) ISHASHAHPHOTOGRAPHY
