As London sweltered under a 32-degree summer solstice sun, a different kind of illumination awaited inside The O2 Arena. Carlos Santana—guitar deity, Woodstock survivor, and spiritual messenger—brought his legendary band and transcendental energy to the capital with his Oneness Tour, proving once again that music, when played with heart and soul, can truly heal.
Santana @ The O2 Arena
Inside the vast arena, the air was thick with anticipation, not sweat — the audience, an impressively diverse mix of generations, were here to experience more than a setlist. They came for an encounter with the transcendental. From Woodstock to Wembley, Carlos Santana has spent over five decades channelling the sacred through sound. And on this midsummer evening in London, he proved that his fire burns as fiercely as ever.
The opening rumble of Soul Sacrifice hit like a spiritual flare, igniting the arena with its fierce percussive heartbeat. Paoli Mejías, Karl Perazzo, and Cindy Blackman Santana — a holy trinity of percussionists — locked in with laser precision, laying down a rhythmic foundation that was less “supporting band” and more a ceremonial engine. Santana’s guitar soared above them, his trademark tone — clean, searing, infinitely expressive — sounding as vital as it did in 1969.
From there, the band segued effortlessly into Jin-go-lo-ba, the infectious Afrobeat groove made famous on Santana’s debut album but originally composed by Babatunde Olatunji. It served as a rhythmic bridge between continents and cultures — just as Santana has always intended. With each track, the band shifted styles with chameleon-like grace: the jazz-inflected Evil Ways, the smoky drama of Black Magic Woman melting seamlessly into the cascading Gypsy Queen, and the universal celebratory pulse of Oye Cómo Va.
Andy Vargas and Ray Greene, Santana’s dynamic frontmen, traded vocals with ease and charisma, never overshadowing Carlos’s presence, but adding flavour and soul. Maria Maria from 1999’s world-dominating LP Supernatural injected a contemporary, hip-hop-tinged sway into the set, while Samba Pa Ti silenced the crowd in reverence — a masterclass in emotional storytelling through melody.
Before closing the first half with a thundering Foo Foo and the hard-rocking Hope You’re Feeling Better, Santana paused to deliver one of several spiritual monologues that would become emotional pillars of the night. “We continue to believe in the frequency that we emanated in Woodstock,” he said, eyes closed, as if transported. “I believe with all my heart that unity, harmony and oneness is the medicine… There’s no conflict in here because we are one.” And in that moment, with his hand on his chest and a room of 20,000 unified in silence, The O2 felt more like a sanctuary than a stadium.
Santana @ The O2 Arena
After a brief intermission, the second half kicked off with an irresistible one-two punch: Batuka into No One to Depend On, two vintage cuts from Santana III that reminded the crowd just how rhythm-forward this band has always been. Then came the unexpected: a storming cover of The Zombies’ She’s Not There, given a full Latin-rock makeover. It was both nostalgic and startlingly fresh. The Game Of Love, with its pop-rock shimmer, brought the energy back into modern territory before (Da le) Yaleo returned us to Latin fire. Then came a moment of solo brilliance — bassist Benny Rietveld, a Santana band mainstay since 1990, delivered a shape-shifting solo that slinked from jazz fusion to funk to deep dub groove, allowing the 77-year-old band lead a brief offstage respite.
The Jalisco, Mexico-hailing band lead returned to the mic, this time not to shred, but to share. What followed was a heartfelt, winding, and deeply human reflection on worth, spirit, and self-recognition: “You are a beam of light. You are divine,” he said, gesturing toward the sprawling O2 Arena audience. “So when you look in the mirror, you take time to validate yourself… Because you are worthy of God’s grace. If you can do this after you smoke some marijuana and drink some tequila”—he closed his eyes, index fingers pointed outward, touching his nose in slow motion—“then you should be able to create blessings and miracles.”
Santana, ever the cosmic elder, ended with a message that resonated deeply: “When you come to a Santana concert — I just need to remind you, ‘cause I’m a hippy — we can change this planet so we can enjoy peace in our lifetime… So I invite you to put your lights on”, his audience obliging with a slowly-building sea of phone torches. The band lit into Put Your Lights On with guitarist Tommy Anthony taking over lead vocal duties, lending the moody Everlast-penned tune a smoky, earnest weight. Corazón Espinado and Everybody’s Everything brought the energy back up — horns, percussion, and sheer joy bouncing across the venue.
No Santana show would be complete without a grand finale. The encore opened with Toussaint L’Ouverture, a ferocious jam that allowed each band member to showcase their mastery. The climactic moment came when Cindy Blackman Santana took center stage for a jaw-dropping drum solo that was less performance, more athletic transcendence. Her husband watched, smiling, and then spoke again — this time with a chuckle. “She makes it look easy… but if you try to play like that without discipline, dedication, devotion… and diet, you will fuckin’ pass out!”, the room erupting with laughter.
Cindy Blackman Santana with Santana @ The O2 Arena
Finally, they brought it home with smash hit Smooth. That riff. That groove. That chorus. It remains one of the most undeniable hits of the last 30 years, and live, it still lands like a summer anthem. Andy Vargas making the vocals made famous by Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas his own. The entire crowd was on its feet, singing, dancing, smiling — proof that Santana’s appeal stretches beyond genre, beyond era, beyond ego. Sure, Santana isn’t record-perfect tonight — missing his place mid-riff, allowing the music to continue and picking it up again — but that’s fine, we’re screaming along with the signature part for him.
Carlos Santana doesn’t just play shows. He performs invocations. At a time when so much in the world feels chaotic, his message remains astonishingly consistent — light over darkness, unity over division, rhythm over rigidity. He is, still, the rare artist who plays with both fire and grace. Who can bring a room together without a single note of irony. Who believes, truly and fiercely, in the healing power of music. And on this sweltering June night in London, he didn’t just make us believe. He made us feel it.
Live review & photography of Santana @ The O2 Arena, London by Kalpesh Patel on 21st June 2025.
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