The Strokes kicked off Barclaycard British Summer Time with a greatest hits set last night (18.06.15).
The US rockers thrilled the 60,000-strong crowd – which included the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Alexa Chung, Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, Pixie Geldof and Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner – at London’s Hyde Park with a career-spanning show that heavily relied on their influential debut LP ‘Is This It’.
The group’s set opened with the title track from that album, quickly followed by ‘Barely Legal’, getting the crowd into a buoyant mood before playing more recent track ‘Welcome To Japan’.
Despite constant speculation of tension within the band, frontman Julian Casablancas appeared in good spirits and was particularly delighted by the warm weather.
He said: "We’ve really enjoyed ourselves. We don’t recognise London with this great weather".
The sing-a-long set closed with ‘New York City Cops’, before the band returned to the stage for a three-track encore of ‘Juicebox’, ‘You Only Live Once’ and ‘Take It or Leave It’.
Earlier in the evening, Beck had provided a set worthy of a headline act, with ‘Devil’s Haircut’, ‘Sexxlaws’ and a cover of Donna Summer’s ‘I Feel Love’ proving particular highlights.
The black-clad singer sealed off the stage with police tape after ‘E-Pro’ before returning, dressed in white, for a final song, ‘Where It’s At’.
Other performers who took to the stage in Hyde Park yesterday included Future Islands, Temples and Public Service Broadcasting.
Barclaycard British Summer Time continues tomorrow (20.06.15) with Blur headlining and on Sunday (21.06.15) with Kylie Minogue topping the bill.
Next weekend will see The Who and Taylor Swift take to the stage.
The Strokes kick off British Summer Time
