BST Hyde Park festival has cancelled its music event on July 13 after Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) pulled out of the headline slot.

Musician Lynne, 77, who was billed to play on Sunday alongside his band, decided against performing on the advice of doctors following a ‘systemic infection’. 

A statement from organisers said: ‘Following the news that Jeff Lynne’s ELO will not be able to perform at BST Hyde Park due to medical reasons, Sunday 13 July’s event will sadly be cancelled.

‘Ticket holders will be refunded and contacted directly by their ticket agent with further details.’

It added: ‘Tonight’s performance marks the final night of an incredible edition of BST Hyde Park and we look forward to seeing everyone next year.’

An earlier statement from BST said: ‘Jeff Lynne is heartbroken to report that he will not be able to perform at tomorrow’s BST Hyde Park show.

‘Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time nor will he be able to reschedule.

‘The legacy of the band and his longtime fans are foremost in Jeff’s mind today – and while he is so sorry that he cannot perform, he knows that he must focus on his health and rehabilitation at this time.’

Singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer Jeff Lynne was due to headline BST Hyde Park on July 13 with his band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO)

BST Hyde Park festival announced on social media that it has cancelled the concert after Jeff Lynne was forced to pulled out on medical grounds

 The musician, best known for hit Mr Blue Sky, revealed on X that he was battling a ‘systemic infection’ and said that doctors ‘have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time’ 

The band were due to be joined at BST Hyde Park by Californian rockers The Doobie Brothers, English songwriter Steve Winwood, Dhani Harrison – song of Beatles star George Harrison. 

Other acts on the bill included W.H. Lung, Cats in Space, High Fade, Neckbreakers, Bobbie Dazzle and Bec O’Malley. 

ELO’s latest cancellation comes after the rock band, best known for their hit song Mr Blue Sky, pulled out of a performance at Manchester’s Co-Op Live on July 10 at the last minute. 

The band cancelled less than an hour before they were due to take to the stage, with thousands of fans already seated in the vemue. 

They were told that the performance would not go ahead as planned due to ‘illness.’

The band posted on social media: ‘Unfortunately due to illness tonight’s (Thursday 10th July 2025) scheduled performance of Jeff Lynne’s ELO at the Co-Op Live will not going ahead. 

‘Jeff is devastated he cannot perform this evening. 

The band was formed in Birmingham in 1970 by Lynne, multi-instrumentalist Roy Wood and drummer Bev Bevan, and first split in 1986.

ELO was formed in Birmingham in 1970 by Lynne (pictured playing the Pyramid Stage at Glstonbury in 2016), multi-instrumentalist Roy Wood and drummer Bev Bevan, and first split in 1986

Even before the cancellation of the Hyde Park show, fans were concerned for Electric Light Orchestra’s frontman Jeff Lynne after the band cancelled their show in Manchester at the last minute on Thursday night

Fans took to social media to share their disappointment after the Manchester show was cancelled

They are known for fusing classical music, Beatles-style pop and futuristic rock visuals, and were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017.

ELO are best known for their 1970’s hits Livin’ Thing, Mr Blue Sky, Telephone Line and Evil Woman.

Singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer Lynne resurrected the band in 2014.

On September 14 that year, he teamed up with the BBC Concert Orchestra to play some of the band’s greatest hits at a comeback concert at BST Hyde Park.

The band released the album From Out Of Nowhere in 2019 and it soared to number one on the UK albums charts, joining Discovery (1979), Time (1981) and their compilation album, All Over the World: The Very Best Of Electric Light Orchestra (2005).

ELO also had a number of top 10 songs in the UK singles charts, including Don’t Bring Me Down, Hold On Tight and Shine A Little Love.

Lynne was made an OBE in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to music, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2015.

The BST Hyde Park concert series runs throughout June and July and attracts some of the biggest acts in the industry. 

The BST Hyde Park concert series has attracted some huge names this summer, including Olivia Rodrigo, who headlined on June 27 and belted out her biggest hits in a jaw-dropping custom 3.1 Phillip Lim crystal fringe embellished bodysuit 

The American songstress sent fans wild after she was joined onstage by Ed Shereen 34, in a duet of his mega 2011 hit The A Team

Sabrina Carpenter also headlined earlier this month. Pictured: Sabrina Carpenter onstage at BST in Hyde Park on July 6 

Shows in recent weeks have included Olivia Rodrigo, Zach Bryan, Noah Kahan and Neil Young. 

Pop superstar Sabrina Carpenter delighted British fans with two back-to-back shows last weekend.   

The 26–year–old singer took to the Great Oak Stage at the London music festival on June 5 and 6. 

Sabrina dazzled a crowd of 65,000 people with her tongue–in–cheek lyrics, choreography, and glitzy costumes, as she belted through her hit songs. 

On the Sunday the audience was given a special treat as she brought out legendary pop rockers Duran Duran’s lead singer, Simon Le Bon, and bass guitarist John Taylor to sing Hungry Like The Wolf.

Tonight’s headliner is US soul piano legend Stevie Wonder, who is supported by acts including Ezra Collective, Thee Sacred Souls and Corinne Bailey Rae.