London’s iconic festival brought over 65,000 fans to witness a day of stellar music
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY JORDAN HUGHES/ALFREDO FLORES
Across London the sound of ridiculously high heels clacking, cowboy hats swinging and lipstick being generously applied could be heard everywhere. As thousands descended on central London, there was no question who was headlining BST Hyde Park (5–6 July): it was, of course, Sabrina Carpenter.Â
From snogging Jenna Ortega in her music video for the hit song Taste to raising money for LGBTQIA+ charities, Sabrina is beloved by the queer community. The American singer-songwriter initially made waves on screen in the show Girl Meets World. In 2022, Sabrina reached new heights in her career after she released her album Emails I Can’t Send. To keep things short (and sweet): Sabrina is a megastar.
65,000 fans flocked to Hyde Park to watch the star perform on the infamous stage. Given that her first night coincided with Pride in London (5 July), it was exciting to see that LGBTQIA+ artists like beabadoobee and Clairo were opening for the icon.
Beabadoobee kicked off the afternoon the only way she knew how: pumping guitars, electric stage presence and (of course) banging tracks like She Plays Bass. The queer singer-songwriter has been a firm fixture in our playlists ever since her hit song Coffee went viral in 2017. There’s something incredibly nostalgic about the indie rock twang that carries through beabadoobee’s music, making you feel like you’re back in the early noughties. With pink blossom trees blowing in the wind behind her, beabadoobee rocked out on stage like a seasoned pro. The crowd got especially excited when the star wished everyone a “Happy Pride”.
It wasn’t long before the stage was transformed into a late-night recording studio for Clairo’s highly anticipated performance. The queer icon is a beloved figure in the LGBTQIA+ community, and has openly spoken about how “being queer is a huge part” of her identity. Donning a pair of headphones and a glass of red wine, Clairo’s ethereal, sultry voice floated over the Hyde Park crowd. Playing hit songs like Bags, Juna and Sexy To Someone, it was hard not to be utterly entranced with both her voice and presence on stage.
As the iconic Sabrina Carpenter set was brought out, anticipation was thick in the air. Children clambered onto parents’ shoulders just to get a glimpse of the staging. Before the show began, the screens played a video of Sabrina acting as a 1950s newsreader, setting the tone for a playful, tongue-in-cheek set. Starting off with one of her latest tracks, Busy Women, the crowd immediately fell into a frenzy.
Known for her raunchy songs and on-the-nose innuendos, it was interesting to see Sabrina interpret her iconic songs through the lens of this 1950s television channel concept. Songs like Bed Chem were prefixed with “informercials” for new mattresses, and her latest hit Manchild was opened with an advert selling sprays to get rid of men who are no good. Moving effortlessly between her many, many hits, Sabrina dazzled and shone with all the confidence of an industry expert.
The show also offered quieter moments where Sabrina’s sheer vocal talent could truly be appreciated. The star performed an acoustic version of her song Slim Pickins and even got into a crane to sing her song Don’t Smile.
While some fans were shocked that she didn’t bring out any special guests – especially as the second BST night got a wild performance with Duran Duran – the show felt completely full of awe-worthy moments. From belting vocals to dance breaks, the performance was sleek, seamless and utterly joyful. The crowd even got to boogie along with Sabrina to a rendition of the hit song It’s Raining Men by The Weather Girls as an homage to the UK’s notoriously changeable weather.
Aside from the glitz and glamour of the production, it was striking to see just how much Sabrina interacted with the crowd. It was evident from the start of the show, when the star revealed this was her biggest show ever, how much the evening meant to her. Wishing the crowd a “Happy Pride”, it was a joy to see the genuine nature of Sabrina’s appreciation for the evening.
As she says it herself, Sabrina leaves quite an impression.
You can find out more about BST Hyde Park here: bst-hydepark.com/
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