July 8. It was clear and bright with the London Sunday farmers’ market on in full swing and cafe-goers pouring onto the terraces to revel in the sunshine. I, with a light step and a happy heart, headed for Hyde Park.

But the cause for my happiness lay elsewhere. Eric Clapton, one of the greatest blues-rock musicians of all time, was to perform at Hyde Park, headlining the British Summer Time celebration. He would be preceded by the prodigiously talented Steve Winwood of Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith and Traffic fame and the Latino great, Carlos Santana.

My wife Joy and I met up with a few of our friends at the Hyde Park Corner underground and went trooping in. The high summer brought with it a more-than-brilliant sun and soaring temperatures. It was what the British affectionately call “glorious weather”. The planes and chestnuts were in fine leaf — emerald green against the blue of the skies. It promised to be a lovely long day of music.

Fortune, they say, favours the brave. Without any heroics on my part, I can say, I have been lucky enough to witness the Slowhand weave his magic twice, the last time was at the Royal Albert Hall, as part of his 70th birthday celebration. What can be better for a Clapton fan? His music has always haunted me, from age 12, ever since I had heard 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974).

In an interview with Guitar World in July 2016 , the maestro mentioned that he was suffering from incurable damage to his nervous system. The condition apparently leaves him struggling to play the guitar. More news on his health followed.

So when I heard that he would play live at Hyde Park, to be joined by another one of my all-time favourites, Steve Winwood, I did not hesitate for a moment before deciding to be a witness of this historic concert. We had bought our tickets, months before, as early as November 2017, which, as expected, got sold out in no time. I guess everyone who bought tickets were aware of the fact that this may as well turn out to be a rare appearance in a major concert in the UK. (The man has two dates in the US in October, both at Madison Square Garden.)

I had a concert video of the duo playing as Blind Faith at Hyde Park in 1969 and Winwood singing Presence Of The Lord with Clapton on the guitar. I wondered if there would be an encore today.

Steve Winwood and Santana pack a punch

We entered through the north entrance at around 1pm. Inside, the atmosphere was that of a carnival, as the sponsors had pulled out all stops to ensure the audience enjoyed the high summer to the hilt.

There were two separate stages, apart from the Great Oak Stage. These were surrounded by themed food stalls, a fairground carousel and loads of listening points and screens. Men, women and children of all ages stood and sat about enjoying ciders and Pimm’s.

Only one place was thronging with people queuing up. You guessed right. It was the official concert merchandise stall — from T-shirts to caps, pins to mugs and more. I bought a tour T-shirt before settling down near Delay 4 — a place which we thought afforded a decent view of the stage though it was outside the Gold Circle, where the audience was really up close.

When we went to get our beer, the seller told us that organisers had even provided free Wi-Fi. “Catch one of the purple-shirted people, they will give you the password,” he told us helpfully.

While the Oak Stage was presided over by new rock acts like Gary Clark Jr, time gave way to the first big one of the day — Steve Winwood at 4.50pm. Other stages offered variety shows with feather-costumed Brazilian dancers and more.

We braved the brilliant sun, not willing to take shelter in the shade afforded by the trees, at the price of our vantage point. All around were brave hearts like us, quite a few of them on the good side of 70, couples with their babies in strollers, some making themselves comfortable on mats and blankets thoughtfully carried in.

As the afternoon progressed, so did the queues outside ice cream and drink pit stops. The air was heavy with the smell of wood-fired pizzas, seafood roasting and other savoury smells as the crowd swelled and increased to 65,000 strong. This third day was the biggest gathering of the BST festival.

Soon it was time. The lovely notes of Steve Winwood’s punchy I’m a Man filled the park with breeze carrying the sound back and forth like waves of an ocean. This was followed by my all-time favourite, Can’t Find My Way Home. I heard this first when I was in school, and had hoped that he would perform this with Clapton. Sadly, it was not to be. The bluesy notes weaving a lovely tapestry, reflecting our eternal quest for home.

Winwood said: “It was certainly not as hot when I played at Hyde Park,” referring to the1969 concert when he played this song with Eric Clapton as a member of the single-album supergroup, Blind Faith. “It was free then,” he added. He was playing in Hyde Park after 49 years! Well, the years had only polished and perfected gems like this.

He bid farewell after taking us down memory lane with Traffic’s soulful Dear Mr. Fantasy. As the last notes of Steve Winwood’s Gimme Some Lovin’ faded, the rays of the sun seemed to lose some of its harshness.

The bittersweet mood was completely reversed as Santana followed. His superb guitaring was suitably teamed with Cindy Blackman’s pulsating drums. The numbers were jive-y and packed a punch. I was thrilled when he played Black Magic Woman, the swaying and passionate number, which always brings people to the dance floor.

Santana’s iconic guitar playing whipped the crowds into a frenzy after a day of merciless sun. It became slightly cooler as the sun’s radiance dimmed as Santana played his encore Toussaint L’Ouverture.

EC arrives and rocks

It was almost 8pm and a cool breeze started. The audience was waiting for EC.

Clapton walked on to the Great Oak Stage, as dapper as ever, with three words — “It’s coming home” — echoing England’s aspirations after the team’s World Cup win against Colombia on July 3. Then the firm clear guitar notes of Somebody’s Knockin’ On My Door filled the air and the crowd went ecstatic. This JJ Cale unreleased cover was part of Clapton’s album, I Still Do and one of his favourite opening numbers.

The superbly talented Doyle Bramhall II on the guitar, Clapton’s long-time friend and occasional collaborator, put on a great show. He went on to his old favourites Hoochie Coochie Man and then Got To Get Better In A Little While. This original from his group Derek and the Dominos was later released as part of his Crossroads album and dealt with recovery from substance abuse. It was really wonderful to see how EC championed the cause of music after having been through so many phases of addiction and hence could truly give succour to fellow sufferers to come out of it all. Nobody Knows When You’re Down and Out got the crowd going with some fine guitar jamming with Doyle. Nathan East on the bass provided a steady and essential backdrop.

We were very happy. This was classic rock guitaring, which showed no strain. On the contrary, it was better, as the band and EC warmed to the crowd’s enthusiasm. In true EC fashion he effortlessly played one hit after another — Key To The Highway, and then a few drifty chords heralded Layla, one of his classics penned for the love of his life, Pattie Boyd, his best friend George Harrison’s wife, and later his. He played an acoustic version with the audience clapping along. Having recently watched Life In 12 Bars, a documentary on EC with commentary by the man himself, released last September, I was intrigued to know that this love ballad was based on Layla and Majnun, the legendary story of doomed love. I wondered aloud, why does the guitar god want to retire when he is playing and singing as well as this!

What followed was even better. Mellow and soul-stirring Tears in Heaven, followed by the fast paced Lay Down Sally, sung with its co-writer Marcy Levy. Levy stayed back to sing The Core from the 1977 album Slowhand. This was a surprise as he sang this song live after many years. Wonderful Tonight, Crossroads, Little Queen of Spades and Cocaine followed and the playing and singing was all vintage Clapton. The elaborate motifs by band members Chris Stainton and Paul Carrack on keyboards and organ enriched the Little Queen of Spades even more.

But All Things Must Pass and the audience was still high on Cocaine when Clapton left the stage with a final bow. He came back for the grand finale, a duet with the other living great Carlos Santana. They played and sang High Time We Went. At the end, the giant screens beamed: “Thank you for coming — You were Wonderful Tonight.” I’m sure each one of the 65,000-odd audience members was thanking the gods of classic rock for giving us the music for over 50 years now.

Heady with the entire experience, we walked back through St. James’s Park as the nearer tube stations were closed due to the huge crowds headed home from the concert of a lifetime. But even after being on our feet and braving the sun for 11 hours, I must admit it was sheer bliss.

(The writer is a music lover who enjoys travelling to experience live gigs)