Stray Kids at BST Hyde Park

On an evening charged with the excitement of Wimbledon and the Euro finals, headlining act Stray Kids proves that the summer buzz encompasses more than just sports on the ninth and final day of the 2024 BST Hyde Park series. With an electrifying set and infectious energy, the eight-member band closed out the summertime festival as the sun set over Hyde Park, bringing the buzzing elation sweeping through London to even greater heights.

“It’s great to be back here!” says leader Bang Chan, eliciting a roaring response from the audience as the band takes their place on the Great Oak Stage following opening performances by Maisie Peters, Alec Benjamin and NMIXX. Behind the group hangs an oversized, bright red banner displaying Stray Kids’s official logo. This emblem was hand-drawn by one of the members and serves as a testament to their genuine approach to music –a commitment that remains unchanged since their last performance in London five years ago.

Captivating the audience from the outset, Stray Kids begins the set with S-Class, a spunky and experimental fusion-pop with an addictive chorus that showcases their vocal talents and magnetic stage presence. Set against a backdrop of lightning and thunder displayed on the stage’s LED screens, the opening track sets the stage for an electrifying performance, enhanced by dramatic visuals that enthrall the crowd. This energy continues to escalate throughout the show, culminating in the fan-favourite hit Victory Song, performed under a backdrop of swirling smoke and fiery red lava, long after the sun had set completely. 

And beyond the band’s all-killer set and striking visuals is a truly festive energy that extends beyond their musical numbers – a member playfully shouts out the Euro 2024 final, which had begun half an hour before the group began, and another sings praises to the live band as he hands the spotlight over for an intense, guitar-driven interlude brimming with instrumental anticipation, making for a truly unforgettable experience in the heart of summer.

Christina Yang
Photos: Ishashat Photography/JRC McCord

For further information and future events visit Stray Kids’s website here.

Watch the video for the single S-Class here: