Wireless Weekend: How Drake Reinvented Festival Headlining
By Kerryann White
Canadian rapper Drake returned to the stage of one of London’s favourites summer spots, Wireless festival. With a vengeance.
When the word dropped in February that Drake was going to be welcomed back to dominate a very familiar stage, we all guessed that it would be a great show and something not to be missed (even if you do have to fly over from Dublin). What we could not have guessed was the three-day extravaganza that turned into a fantastical and legendary representation of Drake’s talent, range, and an undeniable addition to the legacy he will leave.
Not to mention, the three shows were nothing if not a major display of the love and appreciation Drake holds for his fans, honouring the gratitude he feels for the life he leads because of their dedication. As he said, “We appreciate you taking your hard-earned money, that you worked your motherf*cking asses off every day for, at whatever job you’ve got, and buying tickets and streaming songs.”
OVO Sound 2025
Friday night kicked off with tremendous energy, as Finsbury Park transformed from a quiet space used for taking in local nature, to a hub for celebrating R&B and the culture surrounding it. When the time finally came around, Drake walked onto the familiar stage and began the show with his beloved classics such as “Marvins Room” and “Passionfruit”. From the start, he had the audience in the palm of his hands but decided to extend this to some of his (very popular and influential) friends. He welcomed Mario, Bobby Valentino, Byson Tiller, GIVEON and OVO comrade PARTYNEXTDOOR to shake up the show, each guest offering their own unique addition to the groove of the evening.
Lauryn Hill at Wireless Festival on July 11. Joseph Okpako/WireImage
What took the evening from a great to cinematic was the appearance of the musical hero herself, Lauryn Hill, performing a mash-up of her iconic ‘Ex Factor’ with Drake’s ‘Nice For What’. If that wasn’t enough, he ascended a podium and was lifted above the crowd on a crane, soaring across the entire venue. In doing so, he refused anyone in the audience the opportunity to leave without getting up close and personal with him. And yes, he did serenade all with Whitney Houston’s ‘I Will Always Love You’, giving the perfect goodbye to Friday night, and hello to Saturday!
The night that was advertised as a love letter to UK rap and grime turned out to be exactly that and more. While it was incredibly hard to keep up with the sheer number of large names entering the stage one after another, cameras were graced with the sight of Yeat, FakeMink, HeadieOne, J Hus, Dave, Central Cee, Skepta, PARTYNEXTDOOR for another appearance, 21 Savage, Latto, Sexxy Red and lastly, Vanessa Carlton (a beautiful yet surprising finale). If there is anything to take away from this list, it’s that Drake not only has a lot of friends, but he knows how to throw a show. He finished this round of performing once again with a blast of Whitney and a view from above, fans lapping up this one even more than the last.
Drake’s three-day takeover ended on Sunday night alongside Vybz Kartel, Popcaan and Burna Boy, followed by Central Cee’s return and a surprise appearance by Nigerian rapper Rema. Although a shorter setlist and fewer bombshell guests, the night was by no means ordinary. After teasing some new music with Central Cee, jamming out to great rhythms and a showcase of Jamaican flags in the crowd to welcome Kartel’s first performance in 20 years, the night full of soul was officially over.
By the time the festival-goers had to reluctantly part ways with the incredible weekend that had now been and gone, they also had to welcome a whole new level of post-concert depression.
A Word With An OG
I have been lucky enough to speak with Dave Roberts, one of the original minds behind the festival’s launch back in 2005. “We weren’t aiming at a specific genre back then,” he told me. The aim was to bring a multi-artist music festival into central London – something bold, something new – for those who lived and worked in the city and wanted to experience that sense of proper music without leaving town.
The early years were experimental – indie one day, dance and electronic the next – but the moment that 02’s involvement came to an end, Dave says, Wireless leaned fully into grime, UK rap and hip-hop. He added, “That shift gave it a really distinct identity and made it a true cultural platform. And it’s stayed true to that ever since. In my view, Wireless didn’t just follow the rise of urban music in the UK – it helped accelerate it.”
This evolution that Dave speaks on is completely evident with Drake’s headlining weekend, as the R&B star has formed a connection with Wireless that has grown legendary. What started as a risk in 2005 for all of those involved, has now become a global platform where artists aren’t simply performing, they are making history.
