Legendary British band Duran Duran headlined a stellar line-up of musicians playing to a huge crowd in Hyde Park on a sunny Sunday. Duran Duran’s hit-filled performance followed rousing sets from Scissor Sisters and Nile Rodgers & CHIC.
Nile Rodgers & CHIC returned to BST Hyde Park to perform some of the biggest tunes in songwriting history, including Le Freak, Dance, Everyone Dance, Dance, Dance, I Want Your Love and Greatest Dancer.
Duran Duran – Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, Roger Taylor and John Taylor – showcased their biggest hits including their first UK Number One single, Is There Something I Should Know, A View To A Kill and Girls On Film, with Nile Rodgers returning to the stage to performNotorious, a hit record he co-wrote with the band in 1986. The band’s setlist spanned over four decades and was full of crowd-pleasers such as The Reflex, Come Undone and White Lines, keeping everyone dancing under the blue skies above Hyde Park.
Lead singer Simon Le Bon gave a shout out to the England Football team ahead of winning their epic match against Mexico 3-2, before launching into a rendition of Ordinary World.
“…we’re going to dedicate it to the England football team. I have faith in this team. I believe in them. I think they’re gonna do us proud. They can overcome the cauldron that is the Azteca (Stadium). They can overcome the altitude. They can overcome the team that is Mexico. I believe.” Simon Le Bon
“Hi London… Do you reckon it’s time for Bond?” Le Bon proposed as they teased the intro to A View To A Kill. “We’ve had some fantastic acts on. Nile Rodgers and CHIC, the amazing Scissor Sisters. Now, I think it’s time for a little howling…”
Before bringing Nile Rodgers on stage for a rendition of Notorious with Rodgers on his Fender Stratocaster, Le Bon said: “We are very lucky to have a relationship with one of the greatest artists that the world has ever known. I’m talking about Nile Rodgers. We’ve recorded some of our best songs with Nile and we are so proud of our relationship with him.”
As dusk fell, the momentum was building, a Girls On Film/Psycho Killer medley had Hyde Park dancing against a soft-purple sky. The encore brought the show to a fiery climax with London Calling, Wild Boys and Save A Prayer. After two hours on stage, there was only one way Duran Duran could end the show and that was with the flamboyant Rio. As Taylor’s drum rolled one final time, the audience screamed and cheered.
Following their triumphant performance, Duran Duran announced a very special Halloween show at The O2, London on 31 October, as part of their 2026 UK arena tour.
With a giant inflatable pair of scissors as their stage backdrop (because, why not?), Scissor Sisters brought chaos and fun to the BST Hyde Park party this weekend — putting on a 12-song setlist that set the crowd alight.
Kicking off with Don’t Feel Like Dancing, Jake Shears, Babydaddy and Del Marquis made sure no one was standing still for their show. “How you doing, London?” asked Shears, as they launched straight into Laura. “Now we’re cooking. Now we’re cooking with grease,”
Appropriately clad in signature blue and gold sequin dungarees, Shears led the (now, seven-piece) band zipped through Get Your Tits Out and I Can’t Decide before introducing the band’s star guest, Melanie C, to perform a mash-up of Take Your Mama Out and George Michael’s Freedom.
“Alright, we have something very special for you tonight,” Shears announced. “Joining us to sing this next song, the one and only Ms Melanie C.”
As their time on stage came to an end, the band admitted London always has a special place in their heart and dedicated Only The Horses to the UK capital. Shears said: “This is really special for us because London is really the Scissor Sisters’ hometown… it always has been. So, thank you for your support. This is for you.”
Nile Rodgers & CHIC’s portfolio that includes some of the biggest names in pop, they went onto play hits released byDiana Ross (I’m Coming Out), Sister Sledge (We Are Family), Madonna (Like A Virgin and Material Girl) andDaft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams (Get Lucky). The performance came to an end with CHIC’s Good Times, which was performed with Duran Duran’s John Taylor. Rodgers co-founded CHIC and has written, produced and performed on tracks that have sold over 100 million copies globally.
There could be no better to start an afternoon of legendary music performances than with a set from Groove Armada. The electronic music duo — Tom Findlay and Andy Cato — took to the decks for back-to-back tunes, filling up the Royal Park in minutes.
The pair, who are preparing to mark 30 years in the music industry in 2027, were in great spirits – sharing that they continue to play “wicked DJ gigs all over the world” to a “larger younger audience” thanks to social media platforms such as TikTok.
It was DJ Melanie C headlining the Rainbow Stage presented by British Airways this evening. The former Spice Girl celebrated 30 years since the release of the group’s debut album SPICE by playing Who Do You Think You Are? early on in the set before launching into a poptastic array of tunes for the excited crowd. Wearing scorching-summer-appropriate hot pink shorts and a turquoise and white bra, she took the stage by storm. She closed the set with 2 Become 1, serenading the crowd with a singalong.
Wearing a glittery purple two-piece, which oozed futuristic vibes, Sophie Grey. impressed early (festival) birds with her eclectic electro-pop sound. The California and Kansas-raised singer accompanied her set with a keytar – playing tracks from her recent EP, Just Another Sonic Monday. Maybe, Baby and On Hold were highlights.
Harrison opened the Rainbow Stage early in the afternoon with an injection of high-energy electro-dance beats. His viral cover of t.A.T.u’s All The Things She Said went down a storm with the crowd.
Find more information on BST Hyde Park here.
