Cat Stevens was the artist we were most excited to see at BST Hyde Park. Growing up with his music and him meaning a lot to my Dad, this was very special.

Stevens was introduced on the stage with an animated back drop playing The Wind. Walking on stage, the love in the park for Stevens was clear as the chorus of cheers were so loud it was moving. Nostalgia was in the air already and for many of us, this was our first time seeing him live despite decades of following his career. Sitting was next and the atmosphere at this point felt so incredible because each and every one of us shared the same passion for his music, it’s almost indescribable, how do you explain how it feels to see a legend such as Cat Stevens live? Although there were loud cheers for Stevens, the majority of the set saw the crowd fall silent – purely just to appreciate every moment. How could we not? this was something I for one am unlikely to experience ever again so I wanted to soak it all up. A rare thing these days, there were a lack of phones in the air as this crowd wanted to enjoy it with their own eyes and it truly felt like a celebration throughout. Dedicating a song to Van Morrison who was on stage before him Yusuf said “I love that man” and explained this song was like a Van Morrison song before playing Midday.

First Cut Is The Deepest was, as one would expect, one of the moments where the crowd couldn’t resist a sing-a-long. A cover of Jimmy Reed’s Big Boss Man filled the air with a bit of American Blues which was very well received and showcased the true talent of his band who I must say, were exceptional throughout and an absolute delight to hear. Plugging his up and coming book titled Cat On The Road To Find Out, he then performed the song that inspired the book. Moonshadow was a highlight. Remarkably stunning in a live setting – at this point, I don’t think anyone wanted his set to end.

A very emotional segment followed which proved important to Stevens and showed how much he cares for the people. It was hard not to cry during these songs especially The Little Ones when he was speaking of war and the children who were sacrificed. As a parent, this made it even harder to hear, it’s hard to even write about and as beautiful and important as the performance was, it was also incredibly emotional. “Free Palestine” was chanted on stage and in the crowd and the unity made the performance so much more impactful. The song has held its message across the years with various school shootings and wars across the world and Stevens reminds us why it affects us all.

Our emotions were still high during Father and Son and at the back of the Gold Circle, it was beautiful to see many fathers with their children sharing that moment. The end of the set was full of energy, nostalgia and crowd participation with the songs If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out and Wild World. The backdrop shared the lyrics which was great for anyone unsure of the words but of course, there wouldn’t be many who didn’t know the words to Wild World. These three songs, as Stevens noted, had to be done quickly so no chat in between as time was ticking and he was risking going over his set. Joking that Neil (Young) could “wait five minutes”, he performed Peace Train Last.

Cat Stevens music is timeless and his performance was strong, relatable, emotional and nostalgic. He has this amazing ability to make each and every audience member feel important and heard. His vocals still hold the very same worth they did years ago and his powerful story telling, soothing tone is something that I could easily listen to all day. I can’t quite get over his performance and will hold this memory with me forever.