11 July 2025 (gig)
13 July 2025
Day six of eight (if you don’t count the darts championship) of the annual British Summer Time Hyde Park concerts and boy was it hot. Blue skies, barely a breath of wind, and temperatures touching the 30s. We arrived late afternoon, hoping to avoid peak heat from a scorching sun, but in time for Van Morrison – the first of a trio of legendary troubadours scheduled to grace the Great Oak Stage.
Dressed the part in a blue patterned shirt, brimmed hat and shades, Morrison stepped out into the hot sun as the band broke out into first number Into the Mystic. Morrison, a man of few words, is not one to pander to the wants of the crowd. At almost 80 his depth of experience and musicianship is well accomplished, and over the next hour brass, double bass, guitar and backing singers together moved through a mix of genres; from soul to jazz to folk to R&B. Together they succeed in delivering a showcase of songs from across ten albums, plus a few covers thrown in for good measure. Including Gloria from way back when, which closed the set.
The sun had fallen a little lower in the July sky when Yusuf Islam aka Cat Stevens took to the stage to Tea for the Tillerman; animated colourful graphics languidly playing across the big screens. Sporting his customary beard, round-rimmed glasses, a white shirt and waist coat, where Van Morrison can feel a little aloof, Yusuf makes every effort to connect with his audience.
His almost idealistic philosophy of love, peace and hope is weaved into every song. He didn’t hold back on the classics which prompted a few emotional singalongs. The First Cut is the Deepest came early on, followed by a suite of early Cat Steven’s classics before an emotional Father and Son. Nostalgic at times for sure, but he also took the moment to speak out firmly against the recent violence and injustices across Palestine before introducing the simple and heartrending ballad The Little Ones. Wild World and Peace Train closed the set with that familiar determined hope for a better world.
It was still an hour or so before dusk when legendary troubadour number three took to the stage with the Chrome Hearts. Young was rocking out right from the get-go with Ambulance Blues and Cowgirl in the Sand. The much younger Chrome Hearts bring a fresh energy and a resurrected youthfulness to Young who chose a set of classics. The instrumental interludes had the other guitarists collecting around him as he ground out the riffs on his guitar. Wearing a t-shirt with an anatomical heart illustrated on the front, Young remained at the helm of all the action. Another man of few words, he thanked ‘you folks’ for being out to see him, otherwise was head down in the music. Lyrics as pertinent as ever, and unfortunately, it’s become a cliché to say that it’s a sad indictment of humanity that Young (and Yusuf) perform songs from over 4 decades past that still ring true today.
The acoustic moments were nostalgic as we all sang along. The years rolled back for The Needle and the Damage Done, with Young’s vocals sounding as youthful as ever. Whilst couples embraced and gently swayed to Harvest Moon. Hey Hey, My My picked things up before the set closed with another beautiful acoustic moment with Old Man.
As expected, the encore ended with Rockin’ in the Free World. Political, iconic, with its biting snipe at American/Western society, we let loose to the chorus with all its irony. Shame that in truth we all still remain as helplessly complicit as the next man to all these goings on. But in the man’s own words, ‘Hey hey, my my… rock and roll can never die’.
