Zach Bryan went the extra mile to connect with his British fans at BST Hyde Park, setting the tone from the very start by choosing Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London” as his walk-on music. Rather than sporting traditional cowboy attire like many of the 65,000 in attendance, Bryan opted for an Ozzy Osbourne black tank top — a subtle nod to the UK’s rock heritage and a hint at his rebellious spirit.
Opening with “Overtime,” Bryan immediately fused Marcus Mumford-esque earnestness with the anthemic energy of Springsteen’s “Born to Run.” “Open the Gate” then burst into life, driven by exuberant fiddle, zither, and saxophone, transforming Hyde Park into a roaring dance floor. By the time he reached “28,” a touching ode to feeling loved on his birthday, the entire crowd was singing along word for word.
“Fifth of May” followed with its melodic, melancholy warmth, as Bryan reminisced on childhood memories and the pain of his mother’s passing. “Oklahoma Smokeshow” offered bittersweet reflections on his hometown, recasting it as a country-blues take on Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me.” Later, “Dawns” deepened the emotional connection, its lines — “Love’s just another drug I have grown a victim to” — resonating powerfully against the backdrop of his mother’s final days.
The mood lifted with “Heavy Eyes,” its frantic, Charlie Daniels-style fiddle solos electrifying the park. The momentum continued with “Motorcycle Drive By,” which Bryan cleverly localised, swapping its original lyrics to sing, “I will be in Hyde Park tonight,” earning roars of approval. The connection strengthened further when he debuted his forthcoming single “Streets of London,” a song about homesickness that instantly felt like an anthem.
Later, he cleverly replaced “Paris” with “Hyde Park” in “Burn, Burn, Burn,” adding a reflective layer: “I see God in everything… so why do I still long for a home?” “East Side of Sorrow” opened somberly, recalling his Navy service anxieties, before transforming into a jubilant, horn-led celebration, paying tribute to Turnpike Troubadours.
Two-thirds into the set, a harmonica made its first appearance during “Pink Skies,” followed by the crowd favourite “Something in the Orange,” which turned the park into a sea of phone lights and communal voices. Just when it seemed the night had peaked, Bryan introduced Ollie Hawkins for a rousing “Heading South,” then Dermot Kennedy for a moving “Hey Driver,” which mourned the loss of a more innocent, less cynical world.
After 24 songs, Bryan and his band took a brief break, leaving the crowd unexpectedly singing “Hey Baby” in unison. They returned for an explosive encore with an extended “Revival,” featuring fireworks, playful banjo theatrics (including a staged collapse by Read Connolly), and irreverent humour: “Baptise me in a bottle of Beam,” a fitting tribute to Johnny Cash’s outlaw spirit.
On stage, Bryan described himself as “one of the luckiest men in the world,” and it’s hard to disagree. Few artists can go from playing two nights at London’s intimate Islington Assembly Hall to selling out two consecutive 65,000-capacity Hyde Park shows in just over two years. Bryan has earned this rise not through hype alone but through raw honesty, grit, and a deep, authentic connection with fans worldwide. Judging by this first Hyde Park show, UK demand for Zach Bryan is only just beginning its ascent.
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