ROCKSTAR ENERGY PRESENTS... WIRELESS FESTIVAL 2024 - SATURDAY // FINSBURY PARK, LONDON
21SAVAGE HEADLINES DAY TWO OF ROCKSTAR ENERGY PRESENTS… WIRELESS FESTIVAL 2024! AT LONDON’S FINSBURY PARK
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)
21SAVAGE HEADLINING ON THE MAIN STAGE ON DAY 2 OF ROCKSTAR ENERGY PRESENTS… WIRELESS FESTIVAL 2024! AT LONDON’S FINSBURY PARK
PHOTOCREDIT: LUKE DYSON
For the second day in a row against the backdrop of London’s iconic Finsbury Park, thousands of music enthusiasts flocked to the venue early on and eagerly waited for the second day of what promised to be another spectacular day. The vibe in the festival today was much different than its predecessor, with a completely different kind of festival fashion going on, as well as a wide mix of different age groups, including school kids who came down to see some of their favourite artists.
Wireless Festival has long gained its fame for the diversity of its line-up, and today is no exception. Comprising a bill that includes a variety of male and female rappers – even though there were considerably less female artists on today’s line-up in comparison to the day before – as well as African artists that would otherwise not find themselves performing in front of such a big crowd. With the buzz following Nicki Minaj’s performance still lingering, the first artist I caught on the Main Stage was none other than Fridayy, who has gained his reputation from topping the US Billboard Hot 100, as well as receiving multiple Grammy nominations. Fridayy’s set attracted a large crowd early on, as his signature voice mixed together with R&B, hip-hop and afrobeat sounds was the perfect start to the party. I really enjoyed the gospel-like sounds echoing behind the rap beats, and the crowd around me seemed to thoroughly enjoy the set too.
FRIDAYY PERFORMING ON THE MAIN STAGE ON DAY 2 OF ROCKSTAR ENERGY PRESENTS… WIRELESS FESTIVAL 2024! AT LONDON’S FINSBURY PARK
PHOTOCREDIT: LUKE DYSON
The second artist on the Main Stage was Gunna. As the festival attendees were buzzing with energy under the sun, they were ready for the Atlanta rapper to take the stage. With the promise of an energetic performance, Gunna definitely delivered, joining the stage dancing and creating a vibrant tapestry of anticipation. The state-of-art visuals of the stage were also a great backdrop against the performance that sparked a lot of moshpits, not only at the front but all the way to the back. Impressively, Gunna’s performance seemed to attract not only his die-hard fans but also the more casual listeners, as he performed songs such as ‘Drip Too Hard’, ‘Hot’ and ‘Fukumean’. The crowd went wild towards the end of the performance, while he performed track after track restlessly against the thumping of the bass. From walking around the venue I could hear nothing but praises about Gunna’s set, especially because of his mastery in performing live and interacting with his audience, which was genuine and surprisingly intimate for a festival of this scale.
GUNNA PERFORMING ON THE MAIN STAGE ON DAY 2 OF ROCKSTAR ENERGY PRESENTS… WIRELESS FESTIVAL 2024! AT LONDON’S FINSBURY PARK
PHOTOCREDIT: BEN AWIN
As we thought that Gunna had already topped Wireless, Asake’s entrance to the stage raised the bar even higher. His performance at the festival was definitely a standout moment, blending infectious energy with his unique Afrobeats sounds. Asake is the first African artist to perform at the Main Stage at Wireless, and the confidence he took the stage was captivating. Joined by a group of dancers, a live band and a sax, he had the crowd singing along and dancing with enthusiasm from the first second. It is worth noting that the staging and production were impeccable, with vibrant visuals and dynamic lighting that complemented his lively performance. His ability to connect with the audience was also evident as he frequently engaged with his fans, even getting some of them to join him on stage, creating a great atmosphere for all those in attendance. The crowd at Wireless was visibly thrilled by Asake’s set, with many fans waving their hands as commanded, showing how Asake’s growing influence and popularity has grown. Highlight of the set was ‘Happiness’, where he was joined onstage by Gunna and Sarz, as well as his hits ‘PBUY’ and ‘Palazzo’, having fans sing along as if a gun was pointed to their heads. Wireless Festival should gain extra points for inviting Asake to the Main Stage, as it was the perfect way to showcase the rapper’s diverse musical talent.
ASAKE PERFORMING ON THE MAIN STAGE ON DAY 2 OF ROCKSTAR ENERGY PRESENTS… WIRELESS FESTIVAL 2024! AT LONDON’S FINSBURY PARK
PHOTOCREDIT: LUKE DYSON
Next act on stage was J Hus, whose presence was announced by none other than his DJ Skrillz. Following a very long hiatus of the rapper, his performance was highly anticipated, with his fans eagerly awaiting his return to the festival scene. Known for his stage presence and dynamic stagecraft, J Hus appeared on stage like a god observing his greatest creation – a loyal fanbase that awaited his return. As he came on stage, his presence was commanding, with red lights and strobes creating moments of very high energy to complement his music. Opening his set with ‘Must Be’, he showed how he is able to blend infectious rhythms with introspective lyrics, as well as jazzy sounds and rap flows. The artist’s fans – the OGs since 2019 – were very enthusiastic about his older songs, yet sadly his newer releases received a much less energetic response from his audience. The cosmic sounds did not seem to resonate with everyone in the audience, as a large part of the crowd further back seemed slightly uninterested to J Hus’ efforts. Even so, the loud cheers at the end intensified, proving that despite the lukewarm reactions, he remains one of the most compelling voices in contemporary British music.
J HAUS PERFORMING ON THE MAIN STAGE ON DAY 2 OF ROCKSTAR ENERGY PRESENTS… WIRELESS FESTIVAL 2024! AT LONDON’S FINSBURY PARK
PHOTOCREDIT: JAHANY TENNAI
Lastly, the energy peaked just before today’s headliner 21 Savage took the stage. With an homage to Travis Scott and the crowd super hyped up and slowly gathering around the main stage, the gritty style and raw energy of the rapper was electrifying when he joined the Main Stage. Opening his set with ‘No Heart’, the crowd sang along, as his distinctive voice instantly captivated the audience. Throughout his performance, 21 Savage masterfully navigated through his extensive catalogue of hits, including Drake’s ‘Jimmy Cooks’, ‘On BS’, Travis Scott’s ‘TOPIA TWINS’, ‘Bank Account’ ‘Red Opps’ and ‘No Heart’. Each track was met with enthusiastic responses, with the audience bouncing and rapping along. In contrast to other artists, his stage set-up was minimalist yet dynamic, ensuring that the focus remained on his lyrical prowess and dynamic performance style.
While the performance was nothing short of exciting, with 21 Savage even taking a moment to express his gratitude to the crowd, the majority of the attendees started leaving around the middle of the set, leaving only his hard-core fans behind. The crowd was much smaller than any other artist during the day, with a lot of complaints about the age of the crowd being thrown around. As the set continued though, 21 Savage performed Post Malone’s ‘rockstar’ and Metro Boomin’s ‘Creepin’, adding depth to the tracklist. The smaller crowd made it easier to watch through the sea of iPhones, even though it also showed the ephemerons nature of this style of music.
On a high note, 21 Savage’s performance of ‘redrum’ was the moment that defined his whole set, with the crowd erupting into excitement and citing each lyric along. It is unfortunate that artist of this scale and talent only receive crowd response for the viral hits, yet it still does not take away from the artist’s ability to command the stage and make it a night to remember.
21SAVAGE HEADLINING ON THE MAIN STAGE ON DAY 2 OF ROCKSTAR ENERGY PRESENTS… WIRELESS FESTIVAL 2024! AT LONDON’S FINSBURY PARK
PHOTOCREDIT: LUKE DYSON