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‘British Summer Time’, The Rolling Stones live at Hyde Park, London, July 13 2013
The Rolling Stones have never been great at simply repeating themselves, so when they returned to Hyde Park in 2013, nostalgia came with a healthy dose of swagger. This wasn’t a museum piece or a polite victory lap—it was proof that the band could still surprise a crowd decades after making the park part of rock folklore. Ruby Tuesday floated across a summer evening, Emotional Rescue resurfaced like it had never left, and even familiar songs felt newly energized. Turns out revisiting the past works much better when nobody treats it like the past. The trees were fake; the atmosphere definitely wasn’t.
July 13, 2013: ‘British Summer Time’, Hyde Park, London Start Me Up/It’s Only Rock’n Roll/Tumbling Dice/Emotional Rescue/Street Fighting Man/Ruby Tuesday/ Doom And Gloom/Paint It Black/Honky Tonk Women/Band introduction/You Got The Silver/Happy/Miss You/Midnight Rambler/Gimme Shelter/Jumping Jack Flash/Sympathy For The Devil/Brown Sugar/You Can’t Always Get What You Want/Satisfaction *With special guests The Voce Choir and members of the London Youth Choir on You Can’t Always Get What You Want All photos mainly from IORR
A Hyde Park Finale Rooted in Magic and Mischief
The Rolling Stones brought their 2013 tour to a memorable close on a stunning summer evening in London’s Hyde Park. While the setlist mirrored last week’s show—fifteen songs were the same—the night had its own identity. Emotional Rescueand Ruby Tuesday added a fresh twist, both received with roaring approval. Emotional.., in particular, felt like a hidden gem unearthed for casual fans, while Ruby Tuesday, basking in golden-hour light, became a sing-along anthem that fit the mood perfectly.
The crowd energy soared, with more fans both inside the gates and lounging outside the ticketed area. The spirit was infectious.Street Fighting Man sent waves of people bouncing in unison, a visual spectacle of unity. Keith Richards delivered a heartfelt version of Happy, earning warm cheers from the London crowd before signing off with his signature “Gold rings on ya London!”
Trees, Taylor, and Tour Goodbyes
The band embraced Hyde Park’s oak-themed stage with humor and charm. Mick Jagger joked about making it a tourist spot—perhaps a future home for Boris Johnson? The tree theme ran deep, with witty nods as he introduced Ronnie Wood. GRRRegorythe cartoon gorilla made his usual animated appearance before the encore, romping through digital foliage.
Midnight Rambler, stretching from daylight into night, was powerful—especially with Mick Taylor’s piercing guitar lines. Still, his appearance on acoustic during Satisfaction felt off. Yet as the band took a final bow—Taylor respectfully standing back—it was clear this night belonged to the legendary four.
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