DOJA CAT CLOSES ROCKSTAR ENERGY PRESENTS… WIRELESS FESTIVAL 2024 AT LONDON’S FINSBURY PARK

★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

DOJA CAT CLOSES ROCKSTAR ENEGRY PRESENTS… WIRELESS FESTIVAL 2024! AT LONDON’S FINSBURY PARK
PHOTOCREDIT: CHARIS LYDIA BAGIOKI

The final day of Wireless is in full swing as the festival goers gathered for the final day of the iconic event at London’s Finsbury Park. With a significantly smaller audience but a lot of familiar faces in the crowd – and note that it was England’s final in the Euros so it is to be expected – the first major act on the Main Stage was Uncle Waffles, a Swazi-born DJ and record producer based in South Africa. Noted for her amapiano beats and dance abilities, the multi-platinum performer had the crowd swinging in excitement in what could be described as an electric set. Despite being mostly behind the DJ booth, the infectious smile of Uncle Waffles and the bubblepop pink visuals drew a lot of crowd into the set, with a lot of high energy beats that had everyone dancing. Uncle Waffles mixed the tracks seamlessly, adding Afrobeats and hip-hop into the mix, maintaining a very engaging performance. It is to be noted that she also danced at the catwalk of the stage, with intricate dance moves and expressions that created a dynamic experience for the audience that had gathered up so early in the afternoon.

The enthusiastic crowd cheered when Rema came on stage, signalling that a lot of his loyal fans had come to the festival to see him. The Nigerian singer, rapper and songwriter has become an emblem for Afrobeats globally and has had a massive impact on the global stages. Emerging on top of a black castle, he had an instant grip on the audience as ‘Soundgasm’ and ‘Dimension’ came on. His set immediately captivated the audience, earning him rightfully overwhelming roars of applause. The setlist was a perfect blend of his hits and new materials, showcasing his versatility and smooth vocal talent, as well as creating a perfect blend of slower emotional songs and high-energy tracks. As he walked down the catwalk, he performed a medley of ‘Benin Boys’, ‘Dumebi/Oroma’ and ‘Baby/Woman’. The live band behind him also added a dynamic layer into the performance, while his interactions with the front-rowers made the performance feel personal and intimate. Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, Rema was unable to perform the crowd favourite ‘Calm Down’, which left the audience in a slight feeling of frustration.

The final day of Wireless has however been plagued by a lot of controversy, especially with some acts dropping at the last minute. Pulling off a Houdini, Don Toliver was added to the bill in place of Tyla, emerging in the stage through flames and performing intensely from the first track. The energetic bass and Don Toliver’s ‘Open it Up’ had the audience buzzing, as he walked down the stage with undeniable swagger and instantly commanded attention. The skilful guitarist of his band also followed him along during the set, adding to the stage presence and having the crowd around him vibing along. Despite the high energy, the crowd was much smaller than Rema’s and the set dipped in the middle. Some of the slower tracks, although showcasing Don Toliver’s vocal range and lyrical depth, lacked energy. Saying all of this, when Sexxy Red and Cash Cobain came on stage to join him, the crowd ran back to the stage screaming, increasing the momentum of the performance. It is worth noting that both artists had performed at the other stages during the Wireless weekend, but their ability to pull the crowd instantly rightfully showed that a main stage spot could have been well-deserved.

Finally, this year’s touring queen Doja Cat joined the stage at 17.45 sharp, in a sea of awe and gasping. The crowd was small, but the fans were die-hard, having waited for her at the barricade since the start of the day, with placards and pickets of the singer’s face everywhere to be seen. In front of a stage covered in blonde hair, an idea that emerged during Coachella, Doja Cat appeared in a scarlet wig, a Spice Girls-inspired union jack corset and a black lace thong that had everyone in a chokehold. As a closing stage to her ‘Scarlet Tour’, which had seen the singer perform two nights at London’s iconic O2 a few months earlier, she burst into the stage with ‘Acknowledge me’, followed by ‘Shutcho’. It is safe to say that Doja Cat’s performances are no joke. Despite the lack of dance groups, the singer’s seductive and racy dancing skills, her breathless rapping and her theatricality had the audience following her every move. As ‘Tia Tamera’ echoed across the park, the crowd was singing along to every word, twerking along every beat and generally having a great time.

A highlight of the set was the medley of ‘Attention’, ‘97’ and ‘Balut’, where the singer walked along the catwalk to engage with the audience. As ‘Need to Know’ came on, she retracted back to the Yeti-stage, singing from a giant hair braid, dancing along with her backup singers, performing seamless splits and finally emerging on the balcony. Doja Cat’s performance was exuding confidence and charisma that very few artists can pull off. As she was suspended above the crowd, it was like her audience was looking at their queen. Her eccentric vocal style, the velocity of her performance and the immaculate production served to create an amazing experience for her crowd. Her set closed with the top hit ‘Paint the Town Red’, even though the audience left by that point was minimal in comparison to the rest of the festival. Despite this, Doja Cat’s professionalism and persona on stage are thrilling, showcasing her talent, versatility and charisma. She delivered one of the most standout performances of the weekend, leaving fans buzzing in excitement and asking for her to have a Superbowl Half Time Show. The football might have not come home, but Doja Cat certainly has.