Neil Young and Bob Dylan took to the stage last night in Hyde Park, with each performing a hit-filled set.
Whilst the two didn’t take to the stage together as many anticipated, each delivered a set of fan-favourites, with Young performing faithful renditions of classics like ‘Heart of Gold’ and ‘Like A Hurricane.’
Dylan, meanwhile, largely re-worked most of his classic songs including ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ and ‘Highway 61 Revisited’. Whilst there were mixed reactions to some of the covers, many fans enjoyed the versions.
“I’ve never played in daylight before,” Young joked, who appeared on stage ahead of Dylan, adding: “it’s great to see everybody.”
Famous fans watching the two included Noel Gallagher and Jarvis Cocker. You can see footage and fan reaction of both Young and Dylan’s sets below.
Bob Dylan seemed to be enjoying himself last night at Hyde Park with new arrangements for old favourites pic.twitter.com/A1TfdNpwNy
— Peter Brook ?? (@PeterBrook4) July 13, 2019
Bob Dylan Live Hyde Park 12 July 2019 Highway 61 https://t.co/Ki2FX9eqgf
— smz (@smz) July 13, 2019
Bob Dylan: Like a Rolling Stone – Live at Hyde Park, London 2019.07.12.
https://t.co/oEMtCKKc0I— smz (@smz) July 13, 2019
Awesome sets by Bob Dylan and Neil Young in #HydePark yesterday. Dylan always makes each of his own songs his own, to the extent of unrecognisable lyrics! Huge shout-out to the 3 signers. Can’t be far of mastering to sign #grime at Stormzy set at Glastonbury! #inclusivity pic.twitter.com/THbUBlisU8
— Kate Lindsay (@KTDigital) July 13, 2019
Bob Dylan – Girl From the North Country – Hyde Park, London – 12 July 2019 https://t.co/PiSfIk5VSb
— Johnny Borgan (@JohnnyBorgan) July 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/GaryOliverSmith/status/1149952410200301568
If there’s one tune I wanted to hear live it’s this one. Job done ✅ #NeilYoung #HydePark #London #rocknroll pic.twitter.com/hWgLlC6JwF
— Adam Plumb ? (@adambomb2mk) July 12, 2019
Great set from #NeilYoung at #HydePark pic.twitter.com/NKuDcwbz6v
— Livvy and Chrissie (@LivvyChrissie) July 12, 2019
And there it is:
“We got department stores
and toilet paper
Got styrofoam boxes
for the ozone layer
Got a man of the people,
says keep hope alive
Got fuel to burn,
got roads to drive” #NeilYoung #HydePark #RockinintheFreeWorld pic.twitter.com/XmRbYSdT7X— Jonathan Bartley (@jon_bartley) July 12, 2019
From Rockin’ in the Free World to Alabama, #NeilYoung is just as relevant as ever ?#HydePark pic.twitter.com/gwGMgF3KBr
— Mary Cruse (@maryevacruse) July 12, 2019
Immortal.
Neil Young, I love you.@BSTHydePark #london #hydePark #britishsummertime pic.twitter.com/8YuMgcErKe
— Antonello Guerrera (@antoguerrera) July 12, 2019
There were fears last year that the gig wouldn’t be going ahead after Young criticised BST’s sponsors, Barclays, for being a “fossil fuel entity.” He later added that “this doesn’t work for me.”
“I believe in Science. I worry about the Climate Crisis and am deeply concerned about its massive global ramifications and my beautiful grandchildren’s future.” Young later said it was “a massive fuck up.”
Young eventually revealed that the event would be going ahead after Barclays were removed as a sponsor. “NYA is happy to announce that the Hyde park show will proceed without Barclays as a sponsor. We are overjoyed, so happy to be playing the show!”
A BST Hyde Park spokesman told NME at the time: “Neil Young has made the decision to move away from the Barclaycard presents British Summer Time concert series. Neil Young and Bob Dylan will play a stand-alone concert in Hyde Park on the same date, 12th July. The Barclaycard presents British Summer Time concert series remains unaffected and will continue as normal.”
In other news, on Tuesday (July 9) Young gave a rare outing of his 1974 track ‘On The Beach’ during a live show in Belgium.
It was the first time Young had performed the track live in over 16 years, and the first time since the ’70s that he performed it while backed by a full band. You can see both Young and Dylan’s Hyde Park set lists below.
Neil Young’s Hyde Park Set List
Mansion on the Hill
Over and Over
Country Home
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Alabama
Walk On
Winterlong
Words (Between the Lines of Age)
Heart of Gold
From Hank to Hendrix
Old Man
Throw Your Hatred Down
Love and Only Love
Rockin’ in the Free World
Encore:
Like a Hurricane
I’ve Been Waiting for You
Roll Another Number (For the Road)
Piece of Crap
Bob Dylan’s Hyde Park Set List
Ballad of a Thin Man
It Ain’t Me, Babe
Highway 61 Revisited
Simple Twist of Fate
Can’t Wait
When I Paint My Masterpiece
Honest With Me
Tryin’ to Get to Heaven
Make You Feel My Love
Pay in Blood
Like a Rolling Stone
Early Roman Kings
Girl From the North Country
Love Sick
Thunder on the Mountain
Soon After Midnight
Gotta Serve Somebody
Encore:
Blowin’ in the Wind
It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry