BST Hyde Park cancel Sunday performances after Jeff Lynne's ELO pull out
A post shared by BST Hyde Park (@bsthydepark)
A statement from organisers said: 'Following the news that Jeff Lynne's ELO will not be able to perform at BST Hyde Park due to medical reasons, Sunday 13 July's event will sadly be cancelled.
'Ticket holders will be refunded and contacted directly by their ticket agent with further details.'
It added: 'Tonight's performance marks the final night of an incredible edition of BST Hyde Park and we look forward to seeing everyone next year.'
Veteran musician Stevie Wonder will be taking to the London stage on Saturday evening in what will now be the festival's final event of 2025.
US rock band The Doobie Brothers, blues rock singer Steve Winwood, singer-songwriter Dhani Harrison and rock band Cats In Space were among those slated to perform on Sunday ahead of the rock band's headline performance.
An earlier statement from BST said: 'Jeff Lynne is heartbroken to report that he will not be able to perform at tomorrow's BST Hyde Park show.
'Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time nor will he be able to reschedule.
'The legacy of the band and his longtime fans are foremost in Jeff's mind today – and while he is so sorry that he cannot perform, he knows that he must focus on his health and rehabilitation at this time.'
It comes after the rock band, best known for their hit song Mr Blue Sky, pulled out of a performance at Manchester's Co-Op Live, due to take place on July 10.
The band was formed in Birmingham in 1970 by Lynne, multi-instrumentalist Roy Wood and drummer Bev Bevan, and first split in 1986.
They are known for fusing classical music, Beatles-style pop and futuristic rock visuals, and were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017.
They are behind the 1970s hits Livin' Thing, Mr Blue Sky, Telephone Line and Evil Woman.
Singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer Lynne resurrected the band in 2014.
On September 14 that year, he teamed up with the BBC Concert Orchestra to play some of the band's greatest hits at a comeback concert at BST Hyde Park.
In 2019 the band released the album From Out Of Nowhere which soared to number one on the UK albums charts, joining Discovery (1979), Time (1981) and their compilation album, All Over the World: The Very Best Of Electric Light Orchestra (2005).
ELO also had a number of top 10 songs in the UK singles charts, including Don't Bring Me Down, Hold On Tight and Shine A Little Love.
Lynne was made an OBE in the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours list for services to music, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2015.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
4 hours ago
- Metro
Stevie Wonder called London to say he loves us last night – and it is mutual
It was a very, very warm night in July, and music legend Stevie Wonder dropped by BST Hyde Park last night to tell 65,000 people he loved them. Well we certainly loved him back. At 75 years old, the music icon has not lost a single bit of his vocal power. He can still nail the high notes, still deliver his most famous lyrics with charm and charisma, but all the while even after six-decades of singing his voice sounds amazing. But then again he has sold over 100,000,000 records, so why do I sound surprised. On what would turn out to be the final gig of British Summer Time – after Jeff Lynne pulled out tonight – Stevie put on a show that had us boogying long into the night and at times felt like it could quite easily have been a headline set on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. Somewhere he was rumoured to be this year – but it never quite came through. Speaking of surprise guests, Stevie wasn't the only music legend in Hyde Park last night as I spotted Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood watching on from a music tower. As they say, game recognises game, just as much as icons recognise icons. Stevie actually contributed to the Stones last album in 2023, but it just shows how irresistible the charm to see Stevie live in person really is. Making his return to Hyde Park for the first time since 2019, Stevie was brought on stage in the blistering sun by his daughter and son, who would both join him again throughout the night, completing the family affair feel of the evening. The crowd of mums, dads, grandmas, and grandads, dads and their daughters, boyfriends and girlfriends, all just showed how eclectic Stevie's music is, and how we all can't get enough of it. Wearing a white jacket with the faces of John Lennon and Marvin Gaye, he welcomed Hyde Park with his very own funny, fake English-accented 'hello'. He told the crowd just how much he loved playing in London and made what felt like a poignant message to everyone there, thanking the forefathers of technology for creating what allows blind people to see. He said 'every single person who is blind should be able to see in their own way' and told anyone who didn't agree with him, 'if you don't believe me, let's meet in the dark and let's see what happens.' With the sun still beaming down and the third heatwave of the summer coming to an end, Stevie started the last night of his Love, Light and Song UK tour with Love's In Need of Love Today, followed by an emotional tribute to John Lennon's Imagine – maybe the one cover we didn't see coming. After soloing on the harmonica, Wonder launched into Master Blaster (Jammin') and Higher Ground, before You Are My Sunshine got the crowd swooning. Another of his big-hitters got the crowd jigging and jiving in the park, as he got the men to sing one half, and the women in the audience the other half, of the chorus to Signed, Sealed, Delivered. The crowd (myself included) allowed themselves to get wrapped up in the emotion of the evening, with some of us worried that these might be some of Stevie's final shows. There was a family in front of me, and the dad (who looked like he was in his 70s) was recording almost every blink of the show on his phone. He was a sweet-looking man, but it was the point where his son started to poke fun at him about recording too much, his wife then stepped in and basically told him to enjoy it and not on his phone. I think that was the feeling, that again these are the nights that we should enjoy, London in the sun, singing to Stevie Wonder. I'm not sure it gets any better than that, and we don't know how many more times we will get to share these Stevie moments together. His soul-filled setlist lit up the baking Hyde Park, and everyone sang along to 'Isn't She Lovely' and swayed in the heat. While a picturesque sunset lit up the sky, Stevie brought his daughter, Sophia, on stage, telling everyone it was her birthday today (July 13) and dedicated Happy Birthday to her. Surely, having Stevie sing Happy Birthday to you must never get old, and even after all these years, having thousands of people sing it back to you must also still be the best thing in the world. The real hip-swingers Stevie saved till last, as he closed the night, telling the crowd, 'I know we've got to go, but we're gonna keep this party going' and so he did. The mammoth three-hour set was closed with the funky riff that everyone knows, as he kicked off Superstition with whoops when the instantly recognisable doop, doop, doop hit the air. This was truly the highlight of the evening for me, a song that I have sung and danced at wedding after wedding to, and now to hear it front and centre and watch a true musical genius blast it out loud felt like a privilege. Before signing off himself, the living legend's last comment before leaving the stage was: 'I love you with my deepest heart and there's nothing you can do about it.' I think this was the point where we all had a little tear in our eyes Stevie has an incredible back catalogue spanning generation after generation, but he's not getting any younger, just like the rest of us, so how many more times will we get to see him perform like this? More Trending I think I counted at least eight times Stevie shouted back to cries of 'I love you', and 'I love you Stevie'. Each of these cries he clearly loved, and you could see he took them all in his stride. He said before the show started how much he loved London, and attempt after attempt, he just couldn't resist giving his British accent a whirl, which gave the crowd a giggle every time he did. But more than anything, it just showed how much he truly loves playing in the capital and that it was the signed, sealed, delivered love letter to us all that he called in to let us know. Got a story? Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Over 70 arrests at UK protests after Israel kills 59 Palestinians MORE: 'I watched my classmate tear down my Pride poster – so I made an LGBTQ+ club' MORE: Huge fire rips through warehouse with smoke seen for miles across south London
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Stevie Wonder, 75, cracks blind joke on stage during BST Hyde Park set as he pays tribute to John Lennon and Marvin Gaye
Stevie Wonder cracked a blind joke while paying tribute to John Lennon and Marvin Gaye on stage on Saturday. The legendary singer, 75, brought his joyful catalogue of music – spanning six decades – to BST Hyde Park for the second time. With over 100 million records sold all over the world, it's no surprise that Stevie's appearance sold out. Arriving on stage, Stevie was dressed in a white tunic with stitched portraits of John and Marvin on either side. Tapping one side, Stevie told fans, 'This is Marvin Gaye,' but quickly realised he was showcasing John's face. He corrected himself and playfully added: 'I'm sorry y'all I'm blind,' which had the large crowd laughing. Kicking off with Love's In Need of Love Today, he attributed the song to the fragility of the world today. He said: 'We've been through the hate, [but] love is far bigger. We need - in a time when this planet is too angry — light. So, I want to start off with a song off that you would by now know…' An extra special, and unexpected, cover of Imagine by John Lennon followed. The setlist also included Everybody Is A Star, Master Blaster (Jammin'), Higher Ground and You Are The Sunshine of My Life. Stevie ended with Superstition and Another Star before the American star took his final bow. AJ Odudu, Emily Atack, David Walliams and Vicky McClure were amongst those in the crowd. It comes as it was announced that BST's final day had been cancelled, after Jeff Lynne's Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) pulled out of the headline slot. A statement from organisers said: 'Following the news that Jeff Lynne's ELO will not be able to perform at BST Hyde Park due to medical reasons, Sunday 13 July's event will sadly be cancelled. AJ Odudu (left), Emily Atack (right), David Walliams and Vicky McClure were amongst those in the crowd 'Ticket holders will be refunded and contacted directly by their ticket agent with further details.' An earlier statement from BST said: 'Jeff Lynne is heartbroken to report that he will not be able to perform at tomorrow's BST Hyde Park show. 'Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time nor will he be able to reschedule- 'The legacy of the band and his longtime fans are foremost in Jeff's mind today - and while he is so sorry that he cannot perform, he knows that he must focus on his health and rehabilitation at this time.' The band were due to be joined at BST Hyde Park by Californian rockers The Doobie Brothers, English songwriter Steve Winwood and Dhani Harrison, the son of late Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison. Other acts on the bill included W.H. Lung, Cats in Space, High Fade, Neckbreakers, Bobbie Dazzle and Bec O'Malley. ELO's latest cancellation comes after the rock band, best known for their hit song Mr Blue Sky, pulled out of a performance at Manchester's Co-Op Live on July 10 at the last minute. The musician, best known for hit Mr Blue Sky, revealed on X that he was battling a 'systemic infection' and said that doctors 'have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time' The band cancelled less than an hour before they were due to take to the stage, with thousands of fans already seated in the vemue. They were told that the performance would not go ahead as planned due to 'illness.' The band posted on social media: 'Unfortunately due to illness tonight's (Thursday 10th July 2025) scheduled performance of Jeff Lynne's ELO at the Co-Op Live will not going ahead. 'Jeff is devastated he cannot perform this evening.' The band was formed in Birmingham in 1970 by Lynne, multi-instrumentalist Roy Wood and drummer Bev Bevan, and first split in 1986.
The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
London music festival cancels its final night due to illness
Jeff Lynne 's Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) has cancelled their planned farewell performance at BST Hyde Park on Sunday. This follows the last-minute cancellation of their Manchester Co-Op Live show on Thursday, also due to illness. The band confirmed that Jeff Lynne is battling a systemic infection and has been advised by doctors that performing is not possible. Lynne had appeared unwell during a previous Manchester performance and mentioned a recent hand injury. Fans who purchased tickets for the BST Hyde Park concert are encouraged to visit the festival's website for refund information.
