SZA Shows London What She’s Made Of At BST Hyde Park 2024

by | Jul 5, 2024

Rockshot Magazine went along to BST Hyde Park 2024 for the SZA headlining day and were welcomed with impressive infrastructure, including numerous food court options and entertainment areas spread throughout the park. On one of London’s rare sunny days so far this summer, the crowd was slowly gathering, bringing a mix of young SZA fans wearing her baseball jerseys, to families and older attendees, reflecting the event’s wide appeal. The main attraction was SZA, supported by a brilliant lineup including Elmiene, Sekou, Fabiana Palladino, Hope Tala, Nia Smith, No Guidnce, Jessy Blakemore, Sampha, and Snoh Aalegra.

BST Hyde Park 2024

BST Hyde Park 2024 (Daniel Caceiro)
BST Hyde Park 2024 (Daniel Caceiro)

Elmiene opened the festival’s main Great Oak Stage with a perfect blend of emotional songs and light-hearted banter, welcoming the increasing number of festival-goers. His neo-soul sound, merging 1990s influences with raw, heartfelt lyrics, started catching the audience’s attention, creating a unique and memorable performance combined with the visuals of the stage that blended naturally with the huge tree on its left side.

Later came Sekou, a promising 19-year-old from Leicester, who played at The Rainbow Stage. Showing why he’s such an upcoming artist with his excitement and great voice (and dance moves), Sekou got some members of the crowd incredibly excited, highlighted by his hit single Better Man.

Fabiana Palladino performed at The Birdcage Stage bringing an emotional and soulful storytelling to the audience, adding a fresh and different set of emotions to the event, combined with the cozy and fresh stage under some trees in a calm area of the festival. Palladino was a standout artist, bringing a wide range of audience members to emotional reactions and her tunes are still in my head after that, deserving a much bigger stage.

London-hailing Sampha changed the vibe of the Great Oak Stage, bringing his unique sound and energy. His stage setup, featuring an all-white LED backdrop and matching outfit, created an incredibly compelling visual experience, making it pleasant to see and listen. He performed tracks from his acclaimed albums Process and Lahai and his mix of R&B, soul, and electronic music, combined with his distinctive voice was in perfect balance.

Snoh Aalegra added her signature R&B style to the festival. The Swedish/Iranian GRAMMY®-nominated singer played a wide range of songs exploring different stages of relationships. From early hits like Nothing Burns Like The Cold to the emotional Nothing To Me, Aalegra’s clear vocals and deep emotion made her performance one of the best in the evening, and a great preparation for SZA.

Snoha Aalegra

Snoha Aalegra (Sharon Lopez)
Snoha Aalegra (Sharon Lopez)

Solána Imani Rowe – AKA SZA – delivered an unforgettable show. She started her set with a dramatic entrance on a high platform. Her performance was a visual and auditory spectacle, featuring hits from Ctrl and SOS, and giving a glimpse of her upcoming nature-themed album. The stage design, complete with giant insects, trees, and a cave environment, perfectly complemented her choreography and vocals. A standout moment was her performance of Kill Bill, where she wielded katana swords. SZA’s setlist included fan favourites such as All The Stars, Kiss Me More and Good Days, seamlessly transitioning between emotional ballads and energetic tracks. The climax of her show had SZA singing atop a giant beetle and tree trunk, impressing everyone with her talent combined with the visuals. Despite a 15-minute delay, her stage presence and interaction with the crowd made it more than worth the waiting. SZA’s performance at BST Hyde Park not only solidified her status as a leading R&B artist but also hinted at her future projects.

Live review & photography of BST Hyde Park 2024 featuring SZA at Hyde Park, London on 29th June 2024 by Daniel Caceiro. Photography of SZA by Mr Not Blue & Cassidy Meyers. Photography of Snoha Aalegra by Sharon Lopez.

How To Survive The British Summertime At BST Hyde Park

Sabrina Carpenter (Press)

Sabrina Carpenter Unveils Full Star-Packed Line-Up For Sold-Out BST Hyde Park 2025 Shows

American Express presents BST Hyde Park has announced the full supporting line-up for pop superstar Sabrina Carpenter’s sold-out headline debut on Saturday 5th July, as well as her follow-up performance on Sunday 6th July. The eagerly anticipated shows mark a major milestone in Carpenter’s meteoric rise, as she joins a coveted roster of BST Hyde Park headliners for 2025.

Taylor Swift @ Wembley Stadium (Kalpesh Patel)

Taylor Swift Triumphs: Pop Icon Buys Back Rights To Her Original Master Recordings

In a landmark move sending shockwaves through the music industry, Taylor Swift has officially bought back the rights to her original master recordings, marking a triumphant and deeply personal victory in her years-long battle for artistic ownership. The deal closes a turbulent chapter that has fuelled global conversations around creative control, artist rights, and the power dynamics of the modern music business.

Santana (Press)

Carlos Santana Teams Up With Grupo Frontera For Norteño-Rock Fusion ‘Me Retiro’ — Ahead Of UK Tour Dates

Rock legend Carlos Santana has surprised fans yet again—this time by merging his iconic guitar-driven rock sound with...
Blink-182 @ Reading Festival 2024 (Nick Allan)

Reading Festival 2025 Preview: Glitter, Guitars & Glorious Chaos Incoming

Hold on to your bucket hats – Reading Festival 2025 is about to blow the roof off Richfield Avenue from August...

Iggy Pop’s Raw Power Hits Ally Pally

There’s some shows you just can’t miss in good conscience. Iggy Pop, the godfather of punk, last hit the UK for Dog Day Afternoon with Blondie two years ago, and he’s back for a short run of dates. When other punks from the same era are slowing down, settling into nostalgic anniversary shows or stately home summer shows, Pop is sticking to what he knows best: his iconic back catalogue, spread out across a full band, tied together with hypnotic charisma.

Chesney Hawkes (Press)

Chesney Hawkes Announces 2026 ‘Smash It To Pieces’ UK Headline Tour Following A Triumphant Year

Chesney Hawkes, once dubbed the quintessential British pop prince of the early ‘90s, has proved he’s more than just The One And Only. With a creative fire that burns brighter than ever, Hawkes is celebrating a year of musical and personal triumphs as he announces his 2026 Smash It To Pieces UK headline tour — a bold new chapter in a career that continues to evolve far beyond its nostalgic beginnings.

James Morrison (Tom Oxley)

James Morrison Announces Long-Awaited New Album ‘Fight Another Day’, UK Headline Tour This September

BRIT Award-winning singer-songwriter James Morrison returns this autumn with his most personal, soul-stirring work to date. His sixth studio album, Fight Another Day, lands on 3rd October 2025, marking his first full-length release in six years — and with it comes a UK headline tour this September, including dates in Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and London.

Calva Louise (Henry Calvert)

Calva Louise Walk The Edge Of The Abyss With Cinematic New Single ‘Impeccable’

If the edge of reality had a soundtrack, Calva Louise just wrote it. With new single Impeccable, the genre-fluid...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing