Lewis Capaldi BST Hyde Park Review: An Emotional Triumphant Return to London
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Review by LiveWithLP | Photos by Ray Hill
Some gigs are just concerts. Others feel like you're witnessing a moment you'll still be talking about years later. Lewis Capaldi's first night at BST Hyde Park had you experiencing every emotion from start to finish and understanding why he is the most loved Scottish artist on the scene.
It wasn't just another sold-out Hyde Park headline show. It was Lewis standing in front of 65,000 people in London after one hell of a journey. In fact, it's hard to believe his very first headline show in the capital was back in 2017, playing to just 150 people. Fast forward nine years and he's now sold out not one, but two nights at BST Hyde Park, with over 65,000 fans each night. That's the kind of full-circle story that deserves a standing ovation before he even sings a note.
But before Lewis had us all laughing one minute and crying the next, BST had already put together one of its strongest support line-ups of the summer.
Over on the Birdcage Stage, Kerr Mercer was an absolute star. I've said it before and I'll happily say it again - if he's not already on your playlist, fix that immediately. His confidence on stage just keeps growing every time I see him, and watching so many people stop in their tracks to discover his music felt really special.
Luke La Volpe followed later in the day and, honestly, what a performance. His songwriting has always had a way of pulling you in, but hearing it live in Hyde Park with the London sunshine finally making an appearance somehow made it hit even harder. I genuinely don't think it'll be long before he's making the jump onto the bigger stages.
Meanwhile over at the Great Oak Stage, Conan Gray reminded everyone exactly why he's become one of the biggest pop stars around. The screams started long before he even appeared, and somehow only got louder throughout his set. Every song felt like a headline performance in itself.
Then came The Vaccines.
If there was ever a band capable of getting Hyde Park bouncing before Lewis arrived, it was them. Hit after hit, singalong after singalong, they delivered exactly what the crowd needed and the atmosphere just kept building. We were also treated to new music which has me even more excited on whats next to come for the band.
By the time Lewis walked out, Hyde Park was more than ready.
I've seen a lot of artists command massive crowds, but there's something about Lewis Capaldi that feels completely effortless. One minute he's making 65,000 people laugh with stories that probably shouldn't be repeated, the next he's standing almost silently while the crowd sings every single word back to him.
And what a noise it was.
From Before You Go to Forget Me, it felt less like Lewis was performing to Hyde Park and more like Hyde Park was performing with him. Then, of course, came Someone You Loved, which somehow manages to get even more emotional every single time it's played live. Looking around, there genuinely wasn't a phone camera without someone behind it belting every lyric.
Just when you thought the night couldn't get any bigger, Lewis had one more surprise.
Out walked Sam Fender.
The roar around Hyde Park was instant as the pair launched into Rein Me In, giving the crowd one of those genuine "did that really just happen?" moments. Two of the UK's biggest artists sharing a stage together? Hyde Park absolutely loved it.
One thing I've always admired about Lewis is that he doesn't need fireworks every five minutes or huge theatrical moments to put on a brilliant show. His songs are enough. His personality is enough. And that's actually quite rare these days.
You could tell this show meant something to him too. After everything he's been through over the past few years, watching him back where he belongs, smiling, joking and doing what he clearly loves, made this headline slot feel bigger than just another festival booking.
From playing a tiny 150-capacity London venue back in 2017 to selling out two nights of 65,000 people at BST Hyde Park, Lewis Capaldi's rise has been extraordinary.
Saturday night wasn't just another concert, it was a reminder of why we've all missed him so much.
And judging by the reaction across Hyde Park, London was more than happy to welcome him back.