Just over a year since Lewis Capaldi made his surprise onstage comeback at Glastonbury, his BST Hyde Park show is a testament to how far he’s come. The 29-year-old singer-songwriter's career has been defined by his emotional honesty in his lyrics, infused with a lovelorn melancholy, and his no-filter attitude when it comes to talking about the struggles he’s faced.
The atmosphere at the show was electric, with 65,000 people in attendance. Lewis kicked off his set with his three most upbeat songs to get people into the groove and soak in the dying light of the sun with a boogie to their step. He then paused to speak with the baying crowds, and it was immediately clear how Lewis had charmed the masses and secured two sold-out headline nights at one of London’s biggest festivals.
Despite the nerves and often self-deprecating humour, Lewis is up on that stage for a reason. He’s armed with powerhouse vocals that sound even better live. Whether belting, running a scale or hitting every note of the melody, it’s obvious to me that Lewis is one of the greatest vocalists in Britain today and hearing his voice in the flesh is the cherry on top of a sweet discography.
The show was a masterclass in emotional connection, with Lewis getting a crowd to belt out a heartfelt ballad rivalled only by Adele herself. Later in the concert, after another winding ramble, he brought on his industry pal, Sam Fender, who is celebrating making UK music chart history with his song, Rein Me In, which they sang as a duet. They lit up the park with their high-energy rendition (a nice break from the more soulful tunes).
But the emotional highlight of the show came when Lewis found himself lost for words as the tens of thousands in the crowd started chanting his name. In fact, the moment was so powerful that as he started one of the most tear-jerking songs in his set, The Day I Die, he couldn’t get through it. Lewis was visibly moved, taking a moment to compose himself before continuing with the show.
One thing is for sure: whether it was Lewis or the members of the crowd who had a lot of love in their hearts for the man, this had to be one of the most tear-filled concerts I’ve ever been to, and it was genuinely touching to see how much this impacted him. It’s one of the most moving displays I’ve seen at a concert.
The show ended on a high note, with Lewis performing his biggest hit of all, Someone You Loved, which we all dutifully sang along to before leaving the stage with the promise of a new album on the way. The entire evening felt like a warm hug on a cold December day, my cup filled with a mutual love.
