BST Hyde Park 2025: Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts
Hyde Park, London - 11/07/25
Photo Credit: Isha Shah
BST Hyde Park
With two stellar weekends of pop and country already in the books, BST Hyde Park traded polished pop hooks for raw guitars and weathered wisdom, as Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts thundered onto the Great Oak Stage to kick off the final run of the 2025 festival, and they brought with them one of the best line-ups you will find anywhere this summer.
The night's main special guest was Yusuf/Cat Stevens, who played his first extended-length set for over 2 years, being met with a headliner-level response from a capacity Hyde Park. This emotionally charged set highlighted everything so brilliant about the music of Yusuf/Cat Stevens. It was lyrically profound, vocally moving, and politically outspoken. From dedicating songs like 'The Little Ones' to the people of Palestine, the first time this song has been played live in two decades, to overrunning his set in order to play 'Peace Train', Yusuf made sure that he used his platform to maximum effect. Being on second last meant there was also pressure on Yusuf/Cat Stevens to ensure the crowd were well and truly warmed up for the night's headliner; not that the audience, who had baked in 32 degrees heat, needed much more warming. Huge singalongs to classics like 'Father and Son' and 'Wild World' meant the crowd more than found their voice, turning the park into a chorus of nostalgia and joy.
Neil Young and Yusuf/Cat Stevens were joined on the Great Oak Stage lineup by a crooner-style set from Van Marrison and a dazzling opening performance from folk hotshots Amble. Some of the most exciting names in pop, rock and country would take over the Rainbow and Birdcage stage, with upbeat hits from the likes of Alice Merton, Everyone Says Hi and Naima Bock going down perfectly in the summer sun.
Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts
Neil Young is no stranger to Hyde Park, with last night marking his fourth performance in the iconic setting, three of which have come as part of BST Hyde Park. What made this show different, however, was that it was his first time taking to The Great Oak Stage with his new live band, The Chrome Hearts. Since debuting at Farm Aid last September, Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts have been winning over audiences around the world with a slightly cleaner, more focused take on Young’s timeless sound. That’s not to say the grit is gone, they still deliver the raw, guitar-driven intensity that his music demands.
Last night, that legendary discography was on full display, as Young and the band delivered a sprawling, career-spanning set that stretched over two hours. Some fan favourites like "Heart of Gold" were noticeably absent, although a major surprise, given Young’s slight distancing from the song over the years. What was perhaps the bigger surprise to me was the lack of any material from his debut release with The Chrome Hearts, Talkin’ to the Trees, which dropped just last month. However, with 47 other studio albums to draw from, there was no shortage of beloved tracks for casual fans, as well as deeper cuts to satisfy the more devoted followers. It was a bold and emotionally charged performance that proved, even at 79 years of age, Neil Young is still as restless and relevant as ever.
Photo Credit: Jennifer McCord
It was 'Ambulance Blues', a gentle, haunting deep cut from 1974’s On the Beach, which opened the night, and really set the tone of what was to come. Unlike the other headliners I've review at BST Hyde Park this summer, there were no grand thrills and spills to the introduction, no atmosphere building instrumentals, or great screen shows. In fact, the central screen remained off for the duration of Young's performance. Instead, the folk-rock legend would simply walk out in his signature black top and white cap, holding his guitar, and kick straight into the opener. The near 10-minute epic allowed not only Young to showcase his distinctive vocals and guitar-backed brilliance, but also the rest of The Chrome Hearts to flex their high-level musicality.
Micah Nelson's guitarwork masterfully pairs with the rustic tones of Young, backed up by the striking basslines of Corey McCormick. The strings are then well guided by the cool drumming of Anthony LoGerfo. These three musicians are also alumni of another of Young's touring bands, Promise of the Real, meaning each received their deserving share of the fanfare. However it was the keys of The Chrome Hearts' final member, and Neil Young's long-term collaborator, Spooner Oldham, who understandably received the most adoration from the capacity crowd.
With minimal stage production and an almost defiant lack of fanfare, the music took absolute center stage, making much of Young's already poignant and often poetic lyricism stand out even stronger. Likewise, the way Neily Young moved effortlessly between acoustic and electric perfectly enhanced the impact of each song, channeling both tenderness and fury. Riotous performances of 'Cinnamon Girl' and 'F**kin’ Up' rang out across Hyde Park, being sang back as a declaration by the 65,000 strong audience. Meanwhile the tender acoustic led tracks like 'Harvest Moon' bringing a reverent hush throughout the Hyde Park faithful. It was one of these poignant acoustic-backed songs, 'Old Man', which brought an end to a stellar main set, but there was still (just about...) time left for the fiery encore that would follow.
Photo Credit: Jennifer McCord
The anti-war anthem 'Throw Your Hatred Down' kicked off the encore, a song that is unfortunately as relevant now as it arguably ever has been. However it was the inevitable, explosive “Rockin’ in the Free World” that brought the night to it's close, as all in attendance chanted the title in unison using all the power left in their bodies. Whilst the outro to this song was cut short due to the curfew resulting in a PA cut, the audience would bring the songs energy out of the park with them, as the chorus continued to be sang as everyone exited.
This celebratory sing-along turned into a defiant moment that provided an unexpectedly perfect end to a night that was unashamedly authentic, and almost rebellious in nature against the production heavy approach most modern music has taken. Such an approach may not be for everyone, but for the 65,000 people in Hyde Park last night, it was everything.