Bruno Mars at BST Hyde Park, 14/07/18

Last night (July 14) saw international superstar Bruno Mars bring his world class 24K Magic show to a sold out BST Hyde Park and we went along to check out the action for ourselves.

Prior to Bruno’s show-stopping set, a string of emerging artists and established acts performed on the three stages which were located across the park. Our first stop was the Summer Stage, where we were treated to a stunning performance from ARK, who wowed the audience with her striking vocals.

We then swiftly hopped over to the Great Oak Stage to catch Alex Hepburn’s soul-drenched set, which included tracks from her brand new EP If You Stay. Armed with her distinctive vocals and captivating stage presence, there is no doubt that Alex is one to watch in the future.

After a quick ice-cream pit stop, we headed back to the chilled Summer Stage to watch singer-songwriter Etham in action. We were really impressed with his set, which included his most recent single, the powerful ‘Future’.

In between the action on the main stage, we also caught the final act on the Summer Stage, Belle Mt. Fronted by Matt Belmont, the group showcased material from their Volume 1 EP, and ended proceedings on this stage on a high.

Sadly, we didn’t make it over to the Barclaycard Stage, however, with performances from the likes of Liv Dawson, Tom Walker, Sofi Tukker, and Yungen, we have no doubt that the lucky audience members who caught the action over there would have been left enthralled by the array of talent on offer.

The largest crowd was located in front of the Great Oak Stage, and in their wait for the evening’s main man, they were treated to some incredible acts. Known for their electric performances, we made it a priority to catch DNCE’s set and it was well worth our sprint across the park.

From the off, it was clear to see that Joe Jonas, Cole Whittle, JinJoo Lee and Jack Lawless were determined to put on a performance to remember. Kicking off with ‘Kissing Strangers’, complete with Cole delivering Nicki Minaj’s rap verse, DNCE delivered a set full of bops. Singles such as ‘Toothbrush’ and ‘Body Moves’ got the crowd moving, whilst DNCE also performed a number of album tracks including ‘Doctor You’ and ‘Naked’. It was also great to hear them perform some tracks taken from their new EP People To People, with ‘Man On Fire’ being a particular favourite of ours.

Dressed in a snazzy patterned suit, frontman Joe worked every inch of the stage throughout the performance and even gave a shoutout to his brothers Nick and Kevin, who were watching from the side of the stage. JinJoo and Cole delivered some crazy moves with their guitars, whilst Jack ensured that the energy levels remained high with every drum beat. Finishing with their global smash ‘Cake By The Ocean’, DNCE made sure that they left a positive impact on the Hyde Park crowd.

The night’s penultimate act was Khalid, who performed a fantastic set made up of singles and album tracks. Having never seen him perform before, we didn’t really know what to expect however, he left us pleasantly surprised by bringing out dancers for a lot of the set and showcasing some of his own moves in the process.

Khalid’s best known singles such as ‘Young Dumb & Broke’ and ‘Silence’ were huge hits with the audience, whilst tracks like ‘Winter’, ‘OTW’, and ‘Angel’ were also well received. He definitely proved himself to be a versatile talent, as he switched from an uptempo offering with dancers, to a sitting-on-a-stool ballad with ease. Whether you’re a fan of Khalid or not, there was something for everyone within his set and he showcased why he is currently one of the most exciting new artists of our generation.

Finally, it was time for Mr Bruno Mars himself. Hyping up the crowd with on-screen visuals, Bruno and his band The Hooligans appeared from behind a white curtain and dazzled us immediately with ‘Finesse’ before leading in to ’24K Magic’. It was clear that Bruno was going to end the European leg of his tour with a bang, with the artist stating “We saved London for last. I want you to know that.”

Mixing in some of his 24K Magic album tracks with back to back hits, Bruno and his Hooligans kept the energy alive throughout every second of the show. Some of the set’s highlights included ‘Treasure’, ‘Chunky’, ‘Marry You’ and the ever infectious ‘Runaway Baby’. The audience, which was filled with both young and old, sang along word for word, getting louder with each track, which is testament to Bruno’s universal appeal and popularity.

We must also mention the eye-catching staging throughout. From the pyrotechnics, to the lighting and on screen visuals, everything was perfectly balanced, and suited the vibe of each song. On that note, considering how energetic Bruno’s set was, it was nice to see a more stripped back production during ballads such as ‘Nothin’ On You’ and ‘When I Was Your Man’ as it allowed Bruno’s flawless vocals to take centre stage.

Towards the end of his set, Bruno performed the anthemic ‘Locked Out Of Heaven’, complete with ticker tape which covered the audience. The memory of everyone singing and dancing around in that flurry of ticker tape is a moment which will stay with us for a long time to come, as it reminded us of the power of music and how it brings people together.

Sadly it was almost time for Bruno’s set to come to an end, but he saved the best until last. An extended version of ‘Just The Way You Are’ allowed Bruno and his Hooligans to show off their talents once more, before they rounded up the evening with arguably one of the artist’s biggest hits yet – ‘Uptown Funk’. The atmosphere was electrifying and it’s safe to say that every audience member went away with a tune in their heart and the biggest smile on their face.

Delivering silky smooth vocals and slick choreography throughout, Bruno Mars proved to be the ultimate showman. The energy levels did not falter once, and his whole set flowed seamlessly from one track to the next. We already knew that Bruno is one of the most phenomenal artists in the world however, his live performance just cemented the fact that he truly is a global superstar.

For more BST Hyde Park content, head to our Instagram Story Highlights. Also keep an eye out on CelebMix.com for interviews with Alex Hepburn, ARK, Etham, Belle MT and more coming very soon.

Did you go and see Bruno Mars at BST Hyde Park? Let us know on Twitter @CelebMix

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