Duran Duran performed to a packed-out American Express presents BST Hyde Park on Sunday night, showcasing hits such as “Ordinary World”, “Girls On Film”, and “Notorious” with Nile Rodgers.
Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, Roger Taylor and John Taylor wasted no time in getting to the hits, beginning with their first UK # 1 single, “Is There Something I Should Know”.
“Hi London… Do you reckon it’s time for Bond?” Simon proposed as they teased the intro to “A View To A Kill” and “Hungry Like The Wolf”. “We’ve had some fantastic acts on. Nile Rodgers and CHIC, the amazing Scissor Sisters. Now, I think it’s time for a little howling…” The setlist spanned more than 40 years: “The Reflex”, “Come Undone” and “White “Lines featured in the first half of the show.
“How many of you plan on staying up all night? Are you going down the pub? Football, lads?” questioned Simon, referring to England’s Round of 16 World Cup match against Mexico that was due to take place at 1am and was delayed to a 2am kick off (and that England won, 3-2).
Introducing one of the band’s most loved singles,” Ordinary World”, he continued: “Usually we dedicate this to people less fortunate than us. But this time, we’re going to dedicate it to the England football team. I have faith in this team. I believe in them. I think they’re gonna do us proud. They can overcome the cauldron that is the Azteca [Stadium]. They can overcome the altitude. They can overcome the team that is Mexico. I believe.” He was spot on.
“We are very lucky to have a relationship with one of the greatest artists that the world has ever known,” Simon gushed. “I’m talking about Nile Rodgers. We’ve recorded some of our best songs with Nile and we are so proud of our relationship with him.” With Rodgers on his Fender Strat’, the band played “Notorious”, followed by the more recent, “Free To Love”. “You lovely, lovely man,” he added, as he greeted his dear friend.
As dusk fell, the momentum was building, a “Girls On Film”/”Psycho Killer” medley had Hyde Park dancing against a soft-purple sky. The encore brought the show to a fiery climax with “London Calling”, “Wild Boys” and “Save A Prayer”. After two hours on stage, there was only one way Duran Duran could end the show and that was with the flamboyant “Rio”. As Taylor’s drum rolled one final time, the audience screamed and cheered.
Following their triumphant performance, Duran Duran announced a very special Halloween show at The O2, London on 31st October, as part of their 2026 UK arena tour.
Duran Duran setlist:
Is There Something I Should Know?
A View To A Kill
Hungry Like The Wolf
Invisible
Evil Woman
Super Lonely Freak
The Reflex
Ordinary World
Come Undone
New Moon
Chauffeur
Notorious (with Nile Rodgers)
Free To Love (with Nile Rodgers)
White Lines
Careless
Planet Earth
Reach Up For The Sunrise
Girls On Film/Psycho Killer
London Calling
Wild Boys
Save A Prayer
Rio
With a giant inflatable pair of scissors as their stage backdrop, Scissor Sisters brought fun to the BST Hyde Park party, delivering putting a 12-song setlist. Kicking off with “Don’t Feel Like Dancing”, Jake Shears, Babydaddy and Del Marquis made sure no one was standing still for their show. “How you doing, London?” he asked, as they launched straight into “Laura”, commenting:”Now we’re cooking. Now we’re cooking with grease,”
Clad in signature blue and gold sequin dungarees, Shears led the seven-piece band through “Get Your T*ts Out” and 2I Can’t Decide” before introducing the band’s star guest, Melanie C, to perform a mash-up of “Take Your Mama Out” and George Michael’s “Freedom”. “Alright, we have something very special for you tonight,” Shears announced. “Joining us to sing this next song, the one and only Ms Melanie C.”
As their time on stage came to an end, the band admitted London always has a special place in their heart and dedicated “Only The Horses” to the UK capital. Shears said: “This is really special for us because London is really the Scissor Sisters’ hometown… it always has been. So, thank you for your support. This is for you.”
Nile Rodgers & CHIC returned to BST Hyde Park to perform some of the biggest tunes in songwriting history. Rodgers, who co-founded CHIC and has written, produced and performed on tracks that have sold more than 100 million copies globally, bounced through CHIC classics including “Le Freak”, “Dance”, “Everyone Dance, Dance, Dance”, “I Want Your Love “and “Greatest Dancer”, much to the crowd’s delight.
Unleashing a portfolio that includes some of the biggest names in pop, they went onto play hits released by Diana Ross (“I’m Coming Out”), Sister Sledge (“We Are Family”), Madonna (“Like A Virgin” and “Material Girl”) and Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams (“Get Lucky”). The performance came to an end with CHIC’s “Good Times”, which was performed with Duran Duran’s John Taylor.
There could be no better to start an afternoon of legendary music performances than with a set from Groove Armada. The electronic music duo — Tom Findlay and Andy Cato — took to the decks for back-to-back tunes, filling up the Royal Park in minutes.
The pair, who are preparing to mark 30 years in the music industry in 2027, were in great spirits – sharing that they continue to play “wicked DJ gigs all over the world” to a “larger younger audience” thanks to social media platforms such as TikTok.
And it was a particularly special day for Findlay to be playing BST Hyde Park as he celebrated his 53rd birthday. “It was great,” Findlay shared later. “That’s the first time we’ve had that early party starter vibe and the scale of it was amazing.”
It was DJ Melanie C headlining the Rainbow Stage presented by British Airways. The former Spice Girl celebrated 30 years since the release of the group’s debut album “SPICE” by playing “Who Do You Think You Are?” early on in the set, before launching into a poptastic array of tunes for the excited crowd. Wearing scorching-summer-appropriate hot pink shorts and a turquoise and white bra, she closed the set with “2 Become 1”, serenading the crowd with a singalong.
Wearing a glittery purple two-piece, which oozed futuristic vibes, Sophie Grey. impressed early birds with her eclectic electro-pop sound. The California and Kansas-raised singer accompanied her set with a ‘keytar’ – playing tracks from her recent EP, “Just Another Sonic Monday”. “Maybe”, “Baby” and “On Hold “were highlights.
Harrison opened the Rainbow Stage early in the afternoon with an injection of high-energy electro-dance beats. His viral cover of t.A.T.u’s “All The Things She Said” went down a storm with the crowd.
Over on Birdcage, Sistra’s ’emotionally-charged’ alt-pop sound pulled in the dance crowd, just two weeks after performing at Harry Styles’ Meltdown shows. Performing tracks from her forthcoming album, British musician Wendy Bevan entertained with vocals and electric-violin, while South Yorkshire singer, Sam Scherdel, impressed with the anthemic “Somewhere In the Middle”.
- BST Hyde Park 2026 headliners so far have been Garth Brooks, ATEEZ, Maroon 5, Mumford & Sons and Duran Duran. Next up is Pitbull (10th July) and Lewis Capaldi closes the season on 11th and 12th July.
Photos by:
Bethan Miller and Sienna Lorraine Grey
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