Drake to Headline Wireless Festival for All Three Nights
#image_title

Drake to Headline Wireless Festival for All Three Nights


Share this post

Rapper Drake has been announced as the headliner for all three nights of this year's Wireless festival.

It will be his first UK performance in six years, with the One Dance hitmaker due to play a bespoke set on each night.

Wireless is celebrating 20 years and returns to Finsbury Park, London, between 11 and 13 July.

Other artists confirmed to be playing across the weekend are Burna Boy, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Summer Walker and Vybz Kartel.

Drake has most recently been embroiled in a rap beef with Super Bowl headliner Kendrick Lamar.

The spotlight will again be on the pair, as Kendrick has his own UK tour dates lined up for July, including playing in Birmingham the night before Drake's first performance.

Despite the origins of the feud going back a decade, the past year has seen it ignite again with Kendrick's Not Like Us takedown of Drake winning a Grammy - but also the subject of an ongoing legal case by the Canadian.

Drake first headlined Wireless in 2012, with the festival saying he holds the title "for the audience's most requested artist".

He recently released Some Sexy Songs 4 U, a joint album with fellow Canadian artist PARTYNEXTDOOR who will be performing on the Friday.

The same day will see R&B star Summer Walker on stage, who made waves with her previous performance at Finsbury Park in 2022.

Sunday will see Afrobeats icon Burna Boy making his Wireless debut, with dancehall star Vybz Kartel also performing on that day.

The Jamaican artist was freed from prison last year after having a murder conviction overturned.

Where are the UK acts?

The prospect of three nights of Drake has led to a mixed reaction from fans.

While some are excited to see "history" being made think his back catalogue is deep enough to make each night sound different, others have criticised the lack of UK artists.

"I don't think there needs to be three days," music fan Rehea Shillingford tells BBC Newsbeat, adding she's "not against Drake".

"There's other British artists that could have been headlining," she says, naming the likes of Dave and J Hus who have previously topped the bill.

But she is excited that Vybz Kartel will be performing, and feels he could "have been headlining".

Megaman, from garage and hip-hop collective So Solid Crew, says while Drake is "the biggest artist in the world", it's wrong to announce Wireless "without a UK artist".

"It's a UK brand, so I would always love to see a top UK artist as part of the first run of promo," he told 1Xtra Breakfast's Nadia Jae.

"We have so many big artists in the culture, there's no harm putting any on there."

"We love [Drake] for what he does. But we hope he's on-side and says: 'I have to put a UK act on the lineup'."

The festival has promised more acts for the weekend will be announced later.

Last year saw the likes Nicki Minaj, 21 Savage, J Hus and Doja Cat perform.

About 50,000 rap, R&B and hip-hop fans head to the event each day.

In 2023, Wireless signed a five-year deal with Haringey Council for the festival to be held in Finsbury Park every summer until at least 2027.


Share this post
Comments

Be the first to know

Join our community and get notified about upcoming stories

Subscribing...
You've been subscribed!
Something went wrong
NBA Roundup: Heat Earn First Win Since Rozier Arrest, Wembanyama Continues to Shine

NBA Roundup: Heat Earn First Win Since Rozier Arrest, Wembanyama Continues to Shine

In their first game since guard Terry Rozier was arrested in an FBI sports gambling probe, his Miami Heat teammates unleashed a scoring barrage in a 146-114 NBA win at Memphis on Friday. Bam Adebayo scored 24 points and reserve Nikola Jovic added 20 off the bench to lead eight double-digit scorers as the Heat improved to 1-1 after their big win. Miami also scored a one-half team record 86 points in the first two quarters in taking a 86-47 half-time lead, the largest in Heat history dating to 1


O A

NBA Roundup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Drops Career-High 55 Points as OKC Outlasts Pacers in Double OT

NBA Roundup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Drops Career-High 55 Points as OKC Outlasts Pacers in Double OT

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 55 points to lead reigning champion Oklahoma City over Indiana 141-135 in double overtime on Thursday in a historic rematch of last season's NBA Finals. Hours after the league was rocked by a massive illegal gambling probe, reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexanderdragged the Thunder to victory. The Canadian added eight rebounds and five assists while hitting 15-of-31 shots from the floor and 23-of-26 free throws to lead a 45-of-51 Thunde


O A

Miguel Reveals His ‘Worst Trip’ Was On Edibles

Miguel Reveals His ‘Worst Trip’ Was On Edibles

Miguel is not shy about his love of psychedelics. During a recent interview with Bootleg Kev, Miguel shared his best and worst trips on the substances. “We love psychedelics,” adding that he’s had “mostly good trips.” “The best ones are always outside, though,” Miguel explained. “Either by water or in the forest kind of vibe. Maybe not in the forest, but like the sky is out. You know what I mean? Like you’re looking at the trees, you’re like, ‘Wow, we really are one.’” Miguel went on to expl


O A

Drake Shatters RIAA Milestone on 39th Birthday

Drake Shatters RIAA Milestone on 39th Birthday

As Drake approaches his 39th birthday, the Canadian rapper continues to dominate the music industry with a string of record-breaking achievements. His upcoming album, ICEMAN, slated for release before 2025, adds to a discography that has consistently set benchmarks for both sales and cultural influence. On October 24, coinciding with his birthday, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced that Drake now holds the record for the most diamond-certified songs by any artist. T


O A