The House That Soul Built had the privilege of attending the British Summer Time festival at Hyde Park to watch the iconic Stevie Wonder, with support from Lionel Richie, Lianne La Havas, and Corinne Bailey Rae. Read some thoughts below!

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1. Operationally smooth

Getting into the venue was stress-free: logical but efficient security measures, friendly staff, and plenty of useful communication in advance. I was also pleasantly surprised at the reasonable (for London) food and drink prices.

2. Sound = Barbecue?

Being a regular patron of London’s premier music venues (with the Hideaway and Pizza Express High Holborn as particular favourites), I have taken clear, immaculate sound for granted. In their defence, the music engineers at Hyde Park had the unenviable task of achieving a sound mix to satisfy a paying crowd of 65,000. Perhaps sound in a festival is like barbecue: no one actually knows how to do it right, but they power through with a combination of machismo and guesswork. Corinne Bailey Rae, though sweet and tuneful, was particularly let down by dodgy sound during her support set in the afternoon. The sound where this writer was initially standing on the far left of the stage was particularly patchy, with the sound engineers facing a barrage of complaints once Stevie Wonder began his set. And fair enough. With the average ticket around the £90 mark, audiences deserved better.

3. Corinne Bailey Rae and Lianne La Havas

Two singer-songwriters gifted with beautiful, lilting vocals, both held back somewhat by sound problems (La Havas to a lesser extent). Both also had the difficult task of engaging audiences who, with the exception of those near the front of the stage, were not the most invested in sitting quietly and appreciating music. For many, they seemed to be the backdrop to mid-afternoon snacking, napping, and boozing. I also wondered whether these two artists were too subtle for the occasion. I’m sure Bailey Rae’s show at the Southbank Centre later this year will be a much more compelling showcase of her talents.

4. Lionel Richie

Armed with a plethora of brightly coloured jackets, the charismatic Lionel Richie confidently warmed up the crowd, gauging their appetites for some 1980s soul balladry. While it was a shame he did not have a female vocalist to duet with him on ‘Endless Love’, the likes of ‘Hello’, ‘Say You, Say Me’, and ‘Three Times a Lady’ were certainly well-sung.

5. Stevie Wonder

Guided onto the stage by his army of brilliant backing singers, Stevie Wonder looked overwhelmed with emotion as the crowd roared with excitement. While sound was a problem depending on where you were standing (this writer had to move to a more central position), Wonder was in fine voice. Duetting with Bailey Rae on ‘Creepin” and British singer-songwriter Daley on ‘You and I’, he exhibited his characteristic phrasing and warmth of tone. The momentum was interrupted somewhat by a DJ interlude whereby Wonder sat on stage as hits by other soul stars (Marvin Gaye, Prince, Aretha Franklin) were piped through the speakers. But given Wonder’s later remarks about his upcoming kidney transplant, one assumes he needed to rest mid-set. Still, with his storming band behind him (full marks for the horns), soul-quenching hits like ‘Sir Duke’, ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’, and ‘I Wish’ were delivered with aplomb.

Overall Verdict:

A great day out if an imperfect musical experience

(Image copyright: BST Hyde Park)