Returning to Hyde Park BST seven years after their last appearance, Kings Of Leon delivered a marathon show that proved why they are still a hot ticket for their die-hard fans worldwide.
Taking to the stage 10 minutes earlier than billed, the Tennessee family band delivered a 29-song set that spanned their vast 21-year-long discography, taking in singles and deeper cuts from across their nine-album career.
Surprisingly, they had already dispensed some of their most popular anthems - ‘The Bucket’, ‘Revelry’ and a shout-along ‘Sex On Fire’ - by less than halfway into the set.
It was a brave move that, while pleasing those hoping to bag a seat on the train home, resulted in a comedown of energy for more casual fans, especially during the set's slower songs.
Nonetheless, they picked it back up with singalongs of 'Pyro' and 'Fans', before sending everyone away happy with an impressive encore run of 'Waste A Moment', new song 'Cold Desert,' and soaring set closer ‘Use Somebody’.
The latter proved to be - as expected - the night's second biggest highlight, with a field of 60,000 belting out the chorus together.
Earlier in the day, Paulo Nutini took to the huge Hyde Park stage 12 years since his last appearance there (as part of the 2012 Olympic Games).
It was a triumphant return as he veered between new material (darker in sound and paired with trippy, spiralling visuals) and old classics from his 2006 debut album, which were given a heavier edge.
Vocally, he sounded as strong as ever. And, even better, England scored two goals during his performance, including one during ‘New Shoes’, which sent everyone into a state of hysteria.
An acoustic rendition of ‘Candy’, meanwhile, had everyone swaying along before the Scotsman - who looked genuinely taken aback by the size of the crowd - took a well-deserved bow.
Similarly successful were The Vaccines who rattled through an hour-long set of short and snappy rock n roll - including ‘Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)’ and ‘Post Break-Up Sex’ - and just like that, it was 2011 again.
With the sun beaming down during ‘Wetsuit’, it couldn’t have been a more fitting setting. Fresh from storming Glastonbury on Saturday, and now 13 years into their career, the London band were on great form, and made light work of such a huge stage.
Elsewhere, on the festival’s smallest stage, upcoming band Daydreamers catchy indie-pop proved a treat in the sun, stopping passing traffic with the unreleased ‘Don’t Delete My Number’ and viral track ‘Call Me Up’, both of which will likely prove a hit with fans of The 1975.
BST Hyde Park continues this weekend with Robbie Williams and Shania Twain. Stevie Nicks and Kylie Minogue bring things to a close on July 13 and 14 respectively.
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