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
Novak Djokovic 1 of 12 members of proposed player council to meet with Grand Slams

Novak Djokovic 1 of 12 members of proposed player council to meet with Grand Slams

A dialogue between the four tennis Grand Slam tournaments and disgruntled players has moved a step closer, as sources confirmed to AFP on Monday the 12 members of a proposed advisory council. Novak Djokovic, who has won a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles, and women's No.1 Elena Rybakina head the list posted on social media earlier Monday by Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated. The four Grand Slams - the US Open, Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon - announced the creation of the counc


O A

LeBron suits up in new jersey at Philadelphia 76ers media debut

LeBron suits up in new jersey at Philadelphia 76ers media debut

"You guys know who I am, right?" The name is familiar but the 76ers red, white and ⁠blue jersey was new for LeBron James, who opened his introductory press conference on Monday with a quick quip amid the extraordinary buzz that surrounds his ‌arrival in Philadelphia. Wearing the Sixers jersey in public for the first time, he quickly removed his ‌own name tag from the table as he met with an overflowing ‌crowd of reporters at the Sixers training complex, where his arrival has been regarded as ‌


O A

R&B Singer SZA Inducted To New Jersey Hall Of Fame Class Of 2026

R&B Singer SZA Inducted To New Jersey Hall Of Fame Class Of 2026

R&B sensation SZA, born Solána Imani Rowe, is officially part of New Jersey history. The R&B singer-songwriter who gave music hit songs such “Snooze” and “I Hate U” joined the New Jersey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 on Sept. 24. She was inducted in the Performing Arts & Entertainment category. The 18th annual ceremony took place at the Dream Live Performing Arts Center at American Dream in East Rutherford. Danny DeVito hosted the celebration. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SZ


O A

Colin Kaepernick’s “The Perilous Fight” Lands No. 1 on New York Times Best Sellers List

Colin Kaepernick’s “The Perilous Fight” Lands No. 1 on New York Times Best Sellers List

Colin Kaepernick can officially add another accomplishment to his résumé. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback’s new memoir, “The Perilous Fight,” debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times Best Sellers list. The book landed atop the hardcover nonfiction rankings following its Sept. 15 release. Kaepernick celebrated the news on social media shortly after the ranking was announced. “#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER,” Kaepernick wrote. He also thanked readers who purchased the memoir and attended


O A