Kings Of Leon at BST Hyde Park sees the revival of a band finally able to let loose

Any thoughts that Kings Of Leon might be riding into the sunset? Throw them firmly to the side. This is a rebirth: fun, guaranteed. Words: Jamie Muir. Photos: Dave Hogan, @elliekoepke.

How do you adapt when things change and become bigger than you ever expected? For Kings Of Leon, their relationship with being one of the biggest bands on the planet has been stacked with moments of undeniable highs yet also uncomfortable growing pains. The Followill family's cut-deep heartland-rock twists took them from beloved saviours of breakthrough guitar culture into global powerhouses. That jump, when their 2008 album 'Only By The Night' took them into the unprecedented terrain of mammoth festival-headline behemoths and 'big gigs only'. It also saw them looking at a completely different reality that has continued to evolve with every step they've made since. It leads them to 2024 and another giant night headlining London's iconic Hyde Park. Yet, there's something different. The band's latest album, 'Can We Please Have Fun?' is an invitation and a mission statement, and tonight, it's played out in grandstand fashion as Kings Of Leon look around and embrace just how massive they've become. Most importantly, it's a revival of a band finally able to let loose.

Nieve Ella opens the Birdcage Stage, tucked in the side of Hyde Park, with panoramic bangers galore. Each track feels like an anthem; whether it's 'The Things We Say', 'His Sofa' or latest single 'Sugarcoated', today's set is the perfect welcoming nod of effortless indie-pop. Pulled from the everyday emotions that cross over universally and immediately, it's yet another example of why Nieve Ella is going to become a very big deal to a whole lot of people.

That sense of ambition is also written all across Daydreamers, who take to the same stage with the sort of delightfully slick neon-indie hooks that give second-hand sugar highs. New cut 'Saviour' shows their nods to today's headliners, but a run of 'Call Me Up' and 'Beach House' to close their quick-fire burst of an introduction to many proves they're bringing together a melting pot of different touchstones. What they have in common? That ambition again - Daydreamers have the tunes to be firmly in your head in no time.