Covent Garden - Impromptu Concert • Friday, October 18, 2013

About

I’m getting ready to pop up in Covent Garden at 1pm today. Oh baby!

Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) October 18, 2013

From BBC News:

Sir Paul McCartney has given an impromptu gig in Covent Garden during the lunchtime rush.

“Good afternoon,” he told that assembled crowd of more than 2,000 fans. “Welcome to Covent Garden.”

“We’re just going to do some songs from our new album so get your phones out… As if they weren’t already,” he added.

The 71-year-old sang four songs from his latest album, New, from a truck parked on the piazza. It follows a similar stunt in New York last week.

The London gig began at 1330 BST, about an hour after Sir Paul announced it on Twitter.

“I’m getting ready to pop up in Covent Garden,” the former Beatle tweeted. “Oh baby!“

“Alright! Busking!” he joked after taking to the stage, watched by his daughter, Stella.

“This is a change from the ’60s because we would just have been coming in from the clubs right now.”

The singer opened with his current single, also called New, and closed with the same song approximately 20 minutes later, telling the audience: “Thank you very much. OK now, back to work!“

“Back to work” meant going to HMV music store nearby, for a signing session of his “New” album.

It was sensational, like being in a dream, suddenly playing to all these people. It was crazy, I kept giggling inside. It was great and very nice of all those people to come out.

Paul McCartney – talking to NME, October 18, 2013

Last updated on March 8, 2021

Covent Garden

This was the 1st and only concert played at Covent Garden.

Setlist for the concert