STEVIE NICKS - BRITISH SUMMER TIME // HYDE PARK, LONDON
A triumph from one of
rocks biggest icons
★★★★★ (5/5)
STEVIE NICKS PERFORMING AT LONDON’S BRITISH SUMMER TIME AT HYDE PARK
PHOTOCREDIT: JRCMCCORD
It was touch and go for a second. After cancelling her dates in Manchester and Glasgow, fans waited with bated breath to see if Fleetwood Mac megastar Stevie Nicks would take to the stage in Hyde Park, London.
Thankfully for all in attendance, Nicks’ was raring to get on stage and emerged precisely on time to a chorus of cheers.
Starting with “Outside the Rain” and “Dreams” set a strong pace from out of the gate. Nonstop impeccable performances from Nicks and her band maintained this momentum throughout.
Her vocals delivered a distinctive smokey quality to each performance as she made her way through a set which covered both her iconic solo career and choice cuts from Fleetwood Mac.
In between songs, Nicks would talk about the stories behind the tracks and the musicians she had performed with. This made the vast expanse of Hyde Park feel intimate. During one such soliloquy, Nicks talked about her dusting off her iconic collection of capes and shawls for her onstage attire, much to the delight of the crowd.
An emotive cover of “Free Falling” by Nicks’ long-time friend Tom Petty captured the crowd and proved a moving tribute, many on and off stage were visibly moved.
The unmistakable riff to “Edge of Seventeen” heralded the end of the main set. A mammoth guitar solo accompanied by a lightning storm of stage lights helped to add to the crescendo of the evening.
Luckily fans did not have long to wait for more, as Fleetwood Mac's classic “Rhiannon” started the encore. Again Nicks displayed her vocal prowess delivering a mystical performance of the timeless track.
As the crowd chanted for more there was a shuffle of the members on stage, and as the band launched into an electrifying rendition of “Stop Dragging My Heart Around” the crowd was ecstatic to see that Harry Styles had joined the band for the encore. Nicks’ and Styles’ voices complimented each other well, with both leaning into their natural grit during the performance.
The performance was received with deafening applause, which reached a fever pitch as the pair went into an achingly beautiful version of “Landslide”.
Bidding farewell to her audience, Nicks lined up alongside her band as the crowd offered their appreciation through cheers, chanting and tears.
The evening's performance further cemented Nicks’ iconic status. Showing how she retains her place as one of rock’s flag-bearers and does so with aplomb.