Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Hyde Park

Neil Young and his band Crazy Horse are set to bring their distinctive blend of arena-ready rock and country-tinged Americana to Hyde Park on July 12.

Since coming to prominence in the 1960s, Neil Young has been a ceaseless innovator in the popular music scene. Known for his genre-spanning contributions to folk and rock music, he has released 34 studio albums under his own name, plus more with bands Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Buffalo Springfield and Crazy Horse.

His 1970s albums Harvest and After The Gold Rush have influenced countless singer-songwriters and are classics in the folk-rock genre, while the raw aesthetic of later works like Rust Never Sleeps and Freedom is credited with influencing the generation of indie musicians that made up the grunge scene of the 1990s. 

Young’s most recent record once again showcases his constant drive for innovation. The album, A Letter Home, is a collection of cover songs recorded on a 1940s ‘Voice-O-Graph’ booth- a machine designed for punters at fun fairs to record their own voices.

Young is known for his committed and intense live performances, and while there are sure to be acoustic interludes showcasing his softer side, expect the bulk of the material to be drawn from his muscular back-catalogue of rock anthems. But with a huge repertoire of songs from the last 40 years to draw upon, the unpredictable Canadian superstar’s set could throw up a few surprises.