Stevie Nicks made an iconic comeback to the stage at BST Hyde Park in London after cancelling a couple of shows due to minor surgery. The excitement was palpable on Friday, 12 July, as she kicked off the festival’s final weekend.

Why does Stevie Nicks still carry so much cultural weight?

Nicks continues to be a significant cultural figure. She recently contributed a poem to Taylor Swift’s latest album, and Fleetwood Mac’s greatest hits collection has been a UK top 20 staple since 2018. Last autumn, Mattel released a Stevie Nicks Barbie doll.

The crowd’s fashion, with many women in layered skirts, shawls and wide-brimmed hats, reflected her enduring influence.

How did the songs hold up in Hyde Park?

Nicks was at ease on stage, sharing anecdotes and performing with her mystical voice. She adapted “Dreams” to avoid the highest notes, but did so in a way that suited the song. Her signature capes, including the one from her 1981 album Bella Donna cover, made a return.

She paid tribute to Tom Petty, recalling that her last appearance at BST Hyde Park in 2017 was the last time she saw him before his death. She felt his presence during her performance, saying, “I know he’s with us, and I know he is happy we’re here.”

Nicks’s set moved through solo material and Fleetwood Mac classics, including “Wild Heart”, “Bella Donna”, “Stand Back”, “Gold Dust Woman”, “Edge of Seventeen” and “Rhiannon”.

What happened when Harry Styles appeared?

The moment Harry Styles joined Nicks on stage felt legendary. The audience’s screams announced his arrival before he was even seen. Though unannounced, the forest of raised phones made it obvious something unusual was happening.

The duet was not entirely unexpected given their long-standing friendship. Nicks has called Styles “the son I never had”. He inducted her into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019, and she joined him in Los Angeles that year to perform “Landslide”.

Why did the ending hit so hard?

At Hyde Park, the pair performed “Landslide” as images of the late Christine McVie appeared behind them. Styles also filled Tom Petty’s role in “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”, respectfully playing his part before making a light-hearted “we’re not worthy” gesture.

After the performance, Styles stood by Nicks as she spoke emotionally about McVie on what would have been her 81st birthday, sharing how her mother’s advice to turn to the stage in times of hurt has guided her since McVie’s death.

As the concert ended and the crowds dispersed, the whole thing felt slightly surreal.

Cover photo credit: Anthony Pham