As the official Closing Ceremony kicks off at the Olympic Stadium up the road, Hyde Park hosts a closing concert – and it is a best-of-British event in every sense.
Where the respective opening gig was a mish-mash of Brit bands – the less said about Duran Duran the better, other than to query whether they actually know it is no longer the Eighties, as their heavily sprayed barnets suggest otherwise – this show is all about the genuine heavyweights.
Blur, back at the scene of their triumphant 2009 reunion shows, headline. They’ve just released Blur 21, celebrating 21 years of a diverse career, and are bound to draw on their eclectic back catalogue. So expect, given the ceremony, a showboating, grandstanding greatest-hits set.
Think Song 2 (as featured in Boyle’s Opening Ceremony), Beetlebum, Country House, Popscene, Girls & Boys, but also bet on musical chameleon Damon and his boys to throw in a few shocks to keep everyone on their toes.
Support on the evening comes from reformed ska legends The Specials, Bombay Bicycle Club and the Hook-less New Order to remind everyone that some of the world’s greatest music originated here on these little islands. True world leaders, on a global stage – it’s the gig of the summer. Sorry Bruce.
Hyde Park, W2 4RU
August 12 | Doors at 2.30pm | £55+
Hyde Park | btlondonlive.com
