Music
Review
Stormzy gets off to the races at Silverstone ahead of British Grand Prix
The rain only added to a flawless performance from the rapper ahead of a jam-packed weekend of music and F1
With the ongoing success of Netlfix’s Drive To Survive series and recent news of the Brad Pitt-starring F1 movie, Formula One is hardly in need of a popular culture boost at the moment when it comes to bringing in new recruits to the world of racing car fandom. But that did not stop Silverstone rev up their entertainment ahead of the 2024 British Grand Prix this weekend, which saw UK rap royalty Stormzy take to the stage on Friday night, as he braved the rain for the first of only a handful of shows on home turf this year.
Supported by DJ Jordss and grime hero Ghetts, Stormz delivered a flawless, career-sweeping set that included gentle bops (‘Hide & Seek’), hard-hitters (‘Wiley Flow’) and crowd singalongs (‘Vossi Bop’, ‘That’s Not Me’).
The inclusion of ‘Rainfall’ from 2019’s Heavy Is The Head couldn’t have been more appropriate, as incessant showers fell down on Silverstone’s music festival space, which had been increased this year to a capacity of 60,000. Rather than putting off either fan or artist, the rain helped give a feeling of unbridled fun, while Big Mike danced and dived on the wet stage in just his socks. The stage this year was produced by Library Productions, of Glastonbury’s Pyramid and Other Stage fame, and the show clearly harnessed the rain’s cinematic power, with Stormzy silhouetted in a spotlight, before pyrotechnics and fireworks lit up Silverstone’s vast space.
Stormzy’s show followed Kings of Leon’s opening night and preceded Nick Tong and Rudimental as part of a music programme that has been developed to place the Grand Prix on Britain’s summer festival circuit. Having pulled in a record 480,000 fans in 2023, the appeal is clearly there. “Our long-term ambition has always been to attract the biggest and best artists in the world to Silverstone to put on a spectacular show for the British fans,” says Nick Read, Silverstone’s Commercial Director.
Beyond the main stage, crowds could watch a Euros game at The Chequered Flag pub, catch a comedy show with Frog And Bucket, or dance into the night at a new secondary dance stage.
The 2024 British Grand Prix was held on Sunday 7 July at Silverstone, which saw Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton keep Lando Norris at bay for his ninth victory in the Championship.
