Festival Preview of Wireless 2014, Birmingham/London
It’s fair to say Wireless, as far as chart music goes, is one of the big boys. Indie has Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds, Rock has Sonisphere and Download, Dance has Creamfields , and pop music has V and Wireless Festival. And for the first time ever, this year, it is being held from Friday 4th July – Sunday 6th July at Perry Park in Birmingham.
The line-up of Wireless has always been full of the biggest names in popular music. It’s difficult to exaggerate the sheer size of some of the acts they’ve hosted in recent years: Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Rihanna, Deadmau5, Pulp, the list continues. For anyone who claims to follow popular music in the UK, Wireless Festival is simply a must.
In fact, never has the statement ever been as apt as 2014, as not only has the festival spread its wings away from London into BURN’s very hometown, Birmingham, but it has surely outdone itself in 2014. Wireless is the only festival appearance Kanye West has announced this year outside of Tennessee, anywhere in the world. Wireless will be the only place in Europe you can hear Yeezus (BURN FM’s number 2 album of 2013 ) at a festival this year.
But Wireless does not stop there. When Outkast went on hiatus in 2007, a gaping hole was left in the R&B and hip-hop circles. Since 1996 the duo have gained almost legendary status, and their last album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, in many people’s opinion, was, and still is, one of the greatest albums ever written. And now, in 2014, they are back on the festival circuit, playing no less than 12 this year. And of course, you can see these titans at Wireless, second-headlining the Sunday night behind the ferociously talented Bruno Mars.
This Tuesday a multitude of new acts have been added to the already outstanding lineup. Outside the headliners Kanye West, Bruno Mars and Drake, Ellie Goulding, Rudimental, Pharrell Williams, Basement Jaxx , Wiz Khalifa and many more are also gracing the stage over the weekend.
Announced this Tuesday was one of UK best homegrown artists, now taking the world by storm with the likes of last year’s smash hit single ‘Trampoline’ is Tinie Tempah, who will take to the stage at Perry Park on the Sunday. Also added to the bill is Robin Thicke who had one of 2013’s biggest songs, “Blurred Lines” on Saturday, along with Grammy award-winning reggae and dancehall artist Sean Paul. Also recently announced to join 2014s already exceptional line-up are: Labyrinth, Naughty Boy, Ella Eyre, Wilkinson, Kid Ink, Lizzo, Meridian Dan, Javeon, Say Lou Lou, All About She, Elli Ingram, Schoolboy Q, Rixton, Blonde, Indiana, Alex Benjamin, Sinead Harnett and Sasha Keable.
With more acts to be announced soon, you’d be crazy to miss out on Birmingham’s biggest music event of year. Get weekend and day tickets now from the Wireless website, and follow them on twitter @WirelessFest for the latest updates and competitions.
Ben Sullivan & James Buckwell
