Watch Video: A Spellbinding Tribute to Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” by Toyah & Robert Fripp at Cropredy Festival
The evening air at Cropredy Festival shimmered with anticipation as the crowd gathered in a wave of excited murmurs. But no one could have predicted the electrifying moment that would soon unfold—a tribute performance so powerful, it left even rock legend Robert Plant visibly moved.
As the opening notes of “Kashmir” rang out, the unmistakable tension and grandeur of Led Zeppelin’s epic anthem filled the air. Toyah, fierce and radiant under the stage lights, commanded the audience with her haunting vocals, channeling the mystique and power of the original. Beside her, Robert Fripp’s guitar work was nothing short of mesmerizing—each riff crisp, precise, and pulsing with raw energy.
The performance reached cinematic heights. Fripp’s mastery turned every note into a sonic tapestry, while Toyah’s voice soared with emotional intensity. The audience, transfixed, swayed and cheered, swept up in a musical storm that blurred the line between past and present.
In the crowd, Robert Plant stood silently at first—arms crossed, eyes narrowed—not with scrutiny, but with reverence. As the performance unfolded, his expression softened. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Then, as the iconic bridge hit with full force, he nodded, slowly, then emphatically—his face awash with admiration.
Plant wasn’t just a spectator—he was a witness to a rare moment of tribute done right. He clapped along with the thunderous applause as the final chord echoed into the night, visibly impressed by the duo’s fearless homage to one of Zeppelin’s most iconic songs.
The crowd roared. Phones lit up. Tears shimmered in eyes. What they’d just seen was more than a performance—it was a fusion of legacies. Toyah & Fripp didn’t just cover “Kashmir”—they summoned its soul.
And as Plant disappeared backstage, still nodding, one thing was clear: rock royalty had just given his seal of approval.
