WORDS MAISIE JANE DANIELS - OPENING IMAGE DAVE HOGAN - SPECIAL THANKS THE OUTSIDE ORGANISATION
This year's BST Hyde Park featured Robbie Williams, aka "the bloke from Stoke," captivating the audience with a monumental two-hour set. Supporting acts included stellar performances by Seal, Gaz Coombes, Shaun Ryder's Black Grape, Kate Nash, Soft Play, James Smith, Ryan Gibb, Ellur, Davina Michelle, and Ben Kidson.
Williams performed in front of a sold-out crowd of 65,000 fans, shortly after England's thrilling Euros victory over Switzerland. The atmosphere was electric, with both Robbie and the crowd buzzing with excitement. He took us on a nostalgic journey back to the early '90s, where his career began with Take That. A saucy video of "Do What U Like" (featuring bare bums and jelly) played on the big screens, eliciting laughter from the audience. Robbie recounted how quitting the band in 1995 and partying at Glastonbury Festival changed his life, transitioning him from a boy band member to Brit pop-star. Donning a red sequinned version of the iconic Adidas zip-up he wore at Glastonbury, Robbie shared stories of meeting the Gallagher brothers and how that encounter transformed his career. This anecdote was followed by a crowd-pleasing rendition of "Don’t Look Back in Anger."
Image credit: Brian Rasic
During the show, Robbie revealed that it was at Glastonbury where he first met Gaz Coombes. Coombes joined him on stage for a playful performance of "Alright." Just when the audience thought it couldn't get more Britpop, Robbie surprised everyone by bringing Danny Dyer on stage to perform Phil Daniels' part in "Parklife," telling the crowd, “It’s the double act you didn’t know you needed in your life.” The performance was complete with an incredible 44-strong brass band of Beefeaters, creating a quintessential "Cool Britannia" moment.
Image credit: Dave Hogan
Robbie also spoke as candidly about his mental health as he did in his recent documentary (if you haven't seen it, where were you!?). It was heartwarming to see a healthy, happy Robbie expressing gratitude to his fans and family for their support: “At 50, I’m still here and I’m extremely grateful… Tonight I was the happiest and most chilled I have ever been coming on stage. Maybe it was England [winning], maybe it was you guys, but I’m really f****** happy… Thank you for helping me remain on the planet. I love you guys.”
With the Tories officially out, an England win in the Euros, and Robbie Williams at his finest, it was a beautiful day, and British Summer Time Hyde Park once again proved its reputation as a day festival to remember.
