Having been awarded every major honour from the Polar Music Prize to the Wolf Prize, Stevie Wonder needs no introduction. Less known, however, is his warm relationship with main support act Ezra Collective. Back in 2018, Ezra Collective were simply fans paying to see Stevie live — now, they were personally invited to “get London dancing” ahead of his headlining set.
Dressed in vibrant, solid-coloured outfits that looked like a joyful row of seaside houses, Ezra Collective captivated Hyde Park with their infectious blend of Afrobeat, calypso, reggae, hip-hop, soul, and jazz. The “temple of joy” they created was so powerful that bandleader and drummer Femi Koleoso even managed to get Londoners — notoriously reserved — to say hello to strangers and crouch down en masse, before erupting into euphoric dance circles.
When Stevie Wonder finally appeared, escorted by his children Aisha and Kailand Morris (who would also join him onstage), he was greeted like musical royalty. Dressed in a bright white jacket adorned with glittering images of John Lennon and Marvin Gaye, Stevie received a rapturous welcome. Would he risk unravelling the unity so carefully built by Ezra Collective with political commentary? No. Instead, he built on it, stressing accessibility for all and the power of love over hate — all delivered with warmth and the occasional cheeky attempt at a British accent.
Appropriately, Wonder opened with “Love’s in Need of Love Today” before weaving his harmonica magic into Lennon’s “Imagine.” Euphoric blends of Afrobeat grooves, jazz runs, and soaring brass solos filled the park during “As If You Read My Mind.” Love and connection were further celebrated through a tender cover of Jimmie Davis’ “You Are My Sunshine,” and an emotional tribute to the late Sly Stone, joined by Corinne Bailey Rae for a soulful rendition of “Everybody Is a Star.”
Demonstrating his sense of occasion, Wonder sang “Happy Birthday” to celebrate his daughter Zaiah turning 13 — a moment of pure joy shared by 65,000 fans. Familiar sing-along hits soon followed, each reimagined with subtle twists. Before launching into “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” he teased the crowd with a piano-led instrumental of “Golden Lady.” Latin rhythms transformed “Don’t You Worry ’bout a Thing” into a vibrant celebration.
Despite a generous set time (7:30 pm to 10:30 pm), it was impossible to include all of Wonder’s timeless classics in full. Still, abridged versions of “As” and “Living for the City” delivered pure joy. It was difficult to pick a single song that stood above the rest: “Sir Duke” and “Superstition” closed the main set triumphantly, but early highlights like “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” and “Master Blaster (Jammin’)” ignited just as much collective euphoria.
For the finale, Wonder — like Zach Bryan and Neil Young before him at BST — closed with a long, sprawling performance. But unlike others, “Another Star” didn’t need extension; in its original form, it already felt expansive and celebratory, a pure expression of soul.
At 75, Stevie Wonder’s voice remains as rich and powerful as ever, his piano and harmonica playing undiminished. While his songbook alone would have been enough to leave a mark, it was his ability to connect so deeply with a diverse crowd — to unite 65,000 people under a message of love and joy — that made this evening truly unforgettable.
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