Lewis Capaldi brought heart and humour to BST Hyde Park with an unforgettable night of music
The Scottish treasure proved why he’s one of the UK's most beloved performers, blending beautiful blue-eyed soul and pop while keeping the crowd laughing with his trademark sarcasm.
Photo: @elliekoepke
It was my second time returning to BST Hyde Park after attending for the first time last year to see the legendary Stevie Wonder. My friend is a huge Lewis Capaldi fan, so we were both excited to see him perform. It turned out to be one of the best festival days I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing this year.
Lewis opened his set with Hollywood from his 2019 debut album Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent. As soon as he walked onto the stage, the crowd erupted into cheers, clapping and singing every word back to him. It’s a beautiful song that explores distance, separation and regret as Lewis tries to move on from a past relationship while still longing for the person he lost.
He followed with one of his biggest hits, Grace. What I loved most about hearing it live is how timeless it feels. Although the song is now around seven years old, it sounded just as fresh as when it was first released. Lewis delivered every lyric with such honesty and emotion that you couldn’t help but believe every word.
“I’m not ready to be just another of your mistakes /
Don’t wanna let the pieces fall out of place /
I was only just a breath removed from going to waste /
‘Til I found salvation in the form of your grace.”
Another standout moment came from Wish You the Best. This was one of the songs that moved me the most. Lewis has a way of making you feel every lyric in real time. His voice was powerful and soulful, yet soft and delicate when it needed to be.
“Right now you’re probably by the ocean /
While I’m still out here in the rain /
With every day that passes by since we’ve spoken /
It’s like Glasgow gets further from LA.”
There was a girl standing next to me singing every single word with tears in her eyes. Moments like that are what I love most about live music, watching people completely lose themselves in a song and connect with it without worrying about who’s watching.
One of the sweetest moments of the evening came midway through the set when Lewis spotted a young boy in the crowd holding a sign that read, ‘This is my first concert. Can I have a selfie?’ Lewis invited him onto the stage, shared a laugh with him and happily posed for a photo. It was such a heartwarming moment that perfectly summed up the kind of artist he is.
Other songs throughout the night included Love the Hell Out of Me, Almost and Survive. Lewis then decided it was time for a break from — as he jokingly called them — the ‘sad songs’ and welcomed British music legend Luke Pritchard of The Kooks to the stage. Together they performed the iconic British band’s 2006 classic Naïve. It was one of the clear highlights of the evening; seeing people of all ages smiling, dancing and singing together.
Lewis returned to his own music with the 2019 hit Before You Go, followed by The Day That I Die, which was my favourite performance of the night. It’s an incredibly honest and vulnerable song that confronts mortality, regret and the people we leave behind.
“On the day that I die
Tell my mother I was smiling
‘Cause I know that she’ll be crying rivers wide
Tell my friends that it’s alright
And say I’m sorry that I never
Text or called or wrote more letters, shoulda tried.”
He closed the night with Someone You Loved. By then the sun had set, and thousands of people swayed together with their hands in the air, singing every word in unison. Earlier in the set, Lewis joked that although we were all strangers, he loved us anyway. It felt like the perfect way to end the evening because music really does have the power to bring complete strangers together, even if it’s only for a few minutes.
Reflecting on his return to the stage, Lewis told the crowd, “There was a time when I never thought this would be possible, but we’re here... There was a time when things were really bad.”
It wasn’t just a throwaway comment. Knowing everything he’s overcome over the past few years gave the performance an extra layer of emotion. You could see how grateful he was to be back doing what he loves, and the crowd seemed just as grateful to have him back.
For most of the night it was simply Lewis, his guitar or piano, his incredible band and, most importantly, his voice. Remarkably, he sounded just like he does on his records, effortlessly recreating every note live while allowing the emotion behind each song to take centre stage.
Despite selling out huge shows and becoming one of the UK’s biggest artists, Lewis still comes across as genuinely down-to-earth and relatable. Whether he was making the audience laugh with his dry humour, inviting a young fan on stage for a selfie, or delivering some of the most heartfelt vocals I’ve heard live, he made BST Hyde Park feel surprisingly intimate. It wasn’t just a concert full of hit songs; it was a reminder that authenticity, gratitude and a truly exceptional voice can create one of the most memorable live performances of the year.
