Spanning two weekends in July and offering plenty of entertainment in between, 2020 is set to be another star-studded year for the festival, with Taylor Swift, Little Mix, Duran Duran, Post Malone and Pearl Jam announced as headliners – and more names on the way.
Here’s what to expect from the festival’s six days of music this summer…
Thursday 2 July 2020
Grammy-nominated, triple platinum rapper Post Malone is making his British Summer Time debut in 2020. Malone shot to fame with his debut album Stoney and has gone on to collaborate with the likes of Kayne West and Justin Beiber. Kicking off the festival on 2 July, Malone is expected to perform a mixture of his newer hits (‘Goodbyes’ and ‘Circles’ among them), as well as firm favourites off his Beerbongs & Bentleys album, and yet-to-be-released material. The star will be joined on the night by special guests.
Saturday 4 July 2020
Since becoming the first group to win X Factor in 2011, girl band Little Mix have gone from strength to strength. This summer, they’re back in the city where it all began to headline BST Hyde Park on Saturday 4 July. The foursome – consisting of Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirwall – previously performed at the festival in 2014 as a support act for Welsh music legend Tom Jones.
The band is reportedly thrilled to be stepping up into the prime slot this year. They say: ‘We're so excited to perform at BST Hyde Park. It's such a massive gig with a huge crowd, so it's definitely going to be one of our 2020 highlights.’ Book soon to secure a chance to sing along to their greatest hits, including ‘Wings’, ‘Black Magic’ and ‘Shout Out to My Ex’.
For many, the support acts on 4 July will be just as exciting as the main event. The one and only Rita Ora will ‘Carry On’ the party with the likes of ‘Ritual’, ‘Let You Love Me’ and ‘Anywhere’. And Scandi pop princess Zara Larsson is also performing. The 22-year-old Swedish singer achieved national fame at just 10 years old after appearing on the Swedish version of Britain’s Got Talent, and has gone on to earn international fame with hits including ‘Lush Life’ and ‘Never Forget You’.
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Sunday 5 July 2020
Grammy Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper/poet Kendrick Lamar brings his potent beats and profound lyrics to Hyde Park to close the first weekend of British Summer Time Festival. As the world's most decorated recording artist (with 173 awards and 390 nominations), Lamar is bonafide hip hop royalty. And as the first non-jazz or non-classical musician to win the Pulitzer, he is also a true innovator.
He has an arson spanning To Pimp A Butterfly to DAMN and a reputation for electrifying showmanship, which are sure to set Hyde Park alight. Plus as Kendrick Lamar is hotly tipped to headline the long-sold-out 2020 Glastonbury, this London gig is set to be even more hyped.
He will be joined by Mercury Prize winner and homegrown hip hop star James Blake and Brittany Howard, former singer and guitarist of Alabama Shakes who has carved out an impressive solo career.
Tickets go on general sale at 9:30am on Friday 24 January 2020
Friday 10 July 2020
Remember Pearl Jam? Of course you do. Led by superstar frontman Eddie Vedder, the Seattle-formed band were among the pioneers of the alternative rock movement back in the 90s and have since built up a reputation for their incredible live performances. 2020 is a very special year for the band. Not only does it mark 30 years since they first came together, but the group is headlining the second Friday of BST Hyde Park. The gig will be a chance to belt out the lyrics to ‘Black’, ‘Jeremy’ and ‘Alive’ among other hits.
Joining Pearl Jam are fellow US rock group, Pixies. Since forming in 1986, the group, who gave us hits like ‘Where Is My Mind’, have been inspirational to a number of the greatest bands in the genre: Nirvana, Radiohead, The Strokes and even headliners Pearl Jam among them.
Also performing on the night is Louisville group White Reaper, who will be bringing their personal brand of ‘psychedelic weirdness’ to their garage punk songs.
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Saturday 11 July 2020
On Saturday 11 July, it’s none other than chart topping sensation Taylor Swift who will be headlining BST Hyde Park. The country star-turned-pop queen will draw on seven albums' worth of hits that span cutesy Love Story to the more mature musings of Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince. Having never played a UK festival, this summer sees Swift headline two: BST Hyde Park and Glastonbury, no doubt spurred on by her real London Boy.
Having just released her latest album Lover to critical and commercial success, Taylor is quite possibly the hottest artist on the planet. The album was her fourth UK Number 1, making her the female star with the most chart toppers this decade. The Hyde Park gig is a chance to hear her scream 'ME!' while telling us all we 'Need to Calm Down' as we lose our cool watching her 'Shake It (Off)' on stage.
More special guests are to be announced soon – stay tuned!
Sunday 12 July 2020
Last but not least, new wave dance-rock group Duran Duran are closing the festival on Sunday 12 July. The group – comprising of singer Simon Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, bassist John Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor – have sold over 100 million records and reaped 21 UK Top 20 hits since their inception in 1978. With classic hits including ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’, ‘Rio’ and ‘Ordinary World’, the group were, for many, the defining sound of the 80s. Duran Duran’s performance at British Summer Time marks the group’s only London show for 2020.
Joining Duran Duran on the final day of the festival is multi-Grammy Award-winner Gwen Stefani. After achieving fame as the vocalist of American rock group No Doubt, Stefani has gone on to enjoy a hugely successful solo career, releasing her four-times-platinum debut solo album Love.Angel.Music.Baby in 2004, followed by 2006 album The Sweet Escape, and later This Is What The Truth Feels Like in 2016.
Also performing on the Sunday is the legendary Nile Rodgers, who is bringing CHIC back to Hyde Park for first time in five years. The Grammy-winning star – who with CHIC brought us hits including ‘Le Freak’ and ‘Good Times’ – played a formative role in Duran Duran’s career, adding his production touch to seminal songs including ‘The Reflex’, ‘Wild Boys’ and ‘Notorious’.
In between the two weekends of music, Hyde Park plays home to a midweek programme of free arts activities, Open House. Drop by to enjoy street acts, circus workshops, family entertainment and more.
| What | British Summer Time Festival 2020, Hyde Park |
| Where | Hyde Park | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Hyde Park Corner (underground) |
| When |
02 Jul 20 – 12 Jul 20, Performance times vary depending on act |
| Price | £200 |
| Website | Click here for more information |
