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Main News Channel Main News Channel for o2 Wireless Festival 2009 en Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:31:55 GMT Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:31:55 GMT 5 Download FREE tracks from all the artists that played the Bella Union Stage at Wireless this year Listen to 10 amazing songs on your PC or MP3 player now - and it won't cost you anything to download! At Wireless this year, not only did we have some of the biggest names in Dance, Hip Hop and R&B playing the festival, but we also had some of the most pioneering acts from the world of Indie playing our Bella Union Stage across the weekend. Re-live some of these more intimate (but no less awe-inspiring) performances, by downloading our FREE Bella Union album, featuring music from all the bands that played the Stage on July 4th and 5th. Entitled Barefoot in the Park 2 - The Bella Union Stage at Wireless 2009, it's a great way for you to remind yourself of these amazing artists. <a href="http://media_livenation_co_uk/Wireless/2009/BarefootinthePark2-TheBellaUnionStageatWireless2009.zip">Click Here</a> to download the album now. The file size is just under 80MB, so should download in under a few minutes on a decent broadband connection, or in about 35 minutes on a dial-up connection. Enjoy tracks from Fanfarlo, Banjo or Freakout, Beth Jeans Houghton, Chimes & Bells, Jesca Hoop, St Vincent, Peter Broderick, My Latest Novel, The Low Anthem and Here We Go Magic either at home on your computer, or on your MP3 player.  <a href="http://media_livenation_co_uk/Wireless/2009/BarefootinthePark2-TheBellaUnionStageatWireless2009.zip">>Download now for FREE</a> Duncan LaBarre General Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:00:00 GMT 2009-07-08T15:00:00 f9abdcd9-50a5-421b-a3f8-66c5591447cc 2 Kanye West closes Wireless 2009 with a spectacular performance Sets from Mr Hudson, Q-Tip, Example and more conclude our best ever Hyde Park event… As the sun was thinking about setting on London town, we made our way over to the Tuborg stage where we caught performances from two must-see acts – London’s very own Mr Hudson, and the energetic Example, who could have easily played a much larger crowd in Hyde Park tonight. But the hour was fast approaching for a set from the man we were all here to see. Kanye West played to a sold out crowd tonight, delivering one of the most comprehensive sets we’ve seen all weekend. The stage was dramatically set up, with an elaborate elevated platform for the showman to perform on. Kicking off with Coldest Winter (a contrary song choice considering the incredible British weather we had today), Kanye belted out hit after hit as Flashing Lights seemingly melted into Coming Home Again. Touch The Sky encouraged a mass hands-in-the-air moment, and the momentous Through the Wire saw 30,000 people simultaneously swaying their hands to the music. Following a slew of hits, Kanye paused to show his gratitude to the crowd for making the effort to come and see him this evening. “I wanna thank y’all for making my dreams come true,” said the superstar, full of sincerity. “Without you, there is no me.” This poignant interlude was followed by an epic rendition of the track Robocop, before Kanye, surrounded by four scantily clad, gold-painted dancers broke in to Say You Will. “That’s my favourite song on the album,” claimed the rapper. “Well, they’re all my favourite songs,” he joked. The set also included iconic performances of Diamonds, Jesus Walks, Gold Digger, American Boy, and a stripped down version of Heartbreak 808, which featured a simple piano accompaniment, and Kanye’s phenomenal vocals. The incredible set was enjoyed by a  packed out Wireless crowd, and celebrities including James Corden and Keisha from the Sugababes were spotted enjoying the genius hard at work. A scream that would have been audible all over London erupted when the now iconic sounds of Daft Punk’s Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger were played, with the American closing with perhaps his most famous track Stronger. Kanye was amazing tonight, and was the perfect performer to close what has been our best Wireless ever. The show was full of glamour, excitement and tenacity, which we think is a great microcosm for what has been a brilliant weekend. Hope y’all had a good time. See you next year. The Wireless Festival 2009 Team x  Duncan LaBarre General Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:15:00 GMT 2009-07-05T23:15:00 8c0b9f31-3503-4e6b-b43d-cc233d437111 3 Calvin Harris, N-Dubz and Diversity keep us busy at Wireless 2009 Sunday is shaping up to be even more intense than yesterday in London's back garden The Wireless audience have been on fire today (not literally, you understand – it’s a figure of speech), and one band you could tell they were all longing to see was N-Dubz. With a mighty roar from the crowd, their set kicked off with an awesome drum solo as Dappy, Tulisa and Fazer induced a deafening scream, kicking off with I Swear. Everyone watching was in good voice, and Dappy got the entire Wireless crowd chanting the chorus to Ouch back at the Camden trio. Following an incredibly swift costume change backstage, the band broke in to Strong Again, Wouldn’t You and Better Not Waste My Time. Today, N-Dubz confirmed that they truly are masters of controlling a sold out crowd – they were amazing. All this chaos was followed by what would turn out to be a legendary set from Scottish dance producer Calvin Harris, who owned the stage with his catalogue of hits. Starting out with Merrymaking At My Place, which was followed by awesome lesser-known track Colours, the crowd were loving Calvin, not least when he managed to get 20,000 people jumping up and down to a fantastically bass-y rendition of Acceptable In The 80’s. With the sun pounding down on Hyde Park, there was a Balearic vibe in the air, and when he played Not Alone, Calvin confirmed, as if there was any doubt, that he really is a force to be reckoned with on the dance scene. We were also lucky enough to see Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity, who would be playing their biggest gig since winning the show to the Wireless hoard. With the stage stripped of mic stands, drum kits and everything else, the troupe backflipped and summersaulted on to the stage, before being greeted by Kiss FM DJs and Wireless MCs Ricky and Melvin, who interviewed leader Ashley in front of everybody before the performance. Ashely told us that they had been touring pretty much none stop since winning BGT, and that they had all arrived at Hyde Park in a helicopter. They did an extended version of the set that won them the show, which was followed by rapturous allplause and cries for more. Meanwhile, the backstage area was a hive of activity, and before we knew what was happening we found ourselves rubbing shoulders with the stars, who were out in full force. Mark Ronson was spotted chatting to Jack Penate, two thirds of the Sugababes (Heidi must’ve been elsewhere) where wandering around with Alesha Dixon, and we were lucky enough to catch up with Noisettes, Flo Rida and Mr Hudson. We’re off to chill out with a few more A-listers, and are finding it hard to believe that we’re only a few hours away from seeing Kanye West’s headline performance. It’s gonna be huge. Duncan LaBarre General Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:15:00 GMT 2009-07-05T19:15:00 9ce7edfa-5796-4c35-a33f-df5767259776 4 Day Two at Wireless 2009 has officially begun Sets from Noisettes, Chipmunk, Tinie Tempah, Ratatat and more get the crowds jumping Sunday at Wireless started early this afternoon, with the carnival atmosphere in Hyde Park from last night still very much alive and well. South London’s very own grime superstar Tinie Tempah kicked off the proceedings on the Main Stage, playing to an already bustling crowd who had got to Wireless nice and early. As well as dropping in a bunch of crowd-pleasers, the 19 year old boi-wonder made a brief nod to the late great Michael Jackson, with the Billie Jean bass-line thrown in on closing track Hood Economics, much to the delight of the audience. Next up, Noisettes took to the stage, injecting the Wireless masses with their inescapable chart-topping tunes. Singer Shengai looked amazing in a tight white dress, and the band quickly broke into Wild Young Hearts, before rocking out to the incredible Don’t Upset The Rhythm. “It’s an absolute treasure to be out performing to you today,” she told the fans. “I’ve been looking forward to this gig.” As the sound of Chipmunk’s DJ was detected on the Second Stage, the fans came running in from the bright July sunshine. The big top filled up in no time and it was the turn of the 19 year old London boy to command his followers. With virtually every pair of hands in the air, a raft of promo CDs were thrown into the audience before the star lunched into the number one smash hit Tiny Dancer. He also treated fans to an airing of his new single Diamond Rings – if it does well in the charts, he may even be lucky enough to buy a few  himself – it’s out in the shops tomorrow! We then headed over to the Tuborg Stage where Ratatat were striking up a moody set complete with sinister samples, freaked out guitar noise all set to a lazy trip-hop beat. The darkness gave way to a dub bassline and a squealing effect-drenched guitar which provided what has to be the most interesting incarnation of dance music we’ve heard in a while. Their performance took us on a journey of electronic music from The Prodigy through Air by way of Daft Punk – a real treat! Duncan LaBarre General Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:45:00 GMT 2009-07-05T11:45:00 9328ad12-e8ab-4f6f-9e06-98dc50b7ff8f 1000000 Basement Jaxx close an unforgettable party in the park Headline set from the carnival masters sets the Wireless crowds into a frenzy Finally, the time had come for the headline act that everybody was waiting for. Following an operatic introduction, Basement Jaxx stormed onto the stage with the same energy and vigour that we witnessed four years ago at the very first Wireless Festival in 2005. Felix was the epitome of cool, strolling onto the stage shouting “How ya doin’ London” before the band broke into a storming rendition of Good Luck. Oh My Gosh was delivered with a gritty rock edge offset by infectious Latin grooves and a bonkers bongo backbeat. Jus’ One Kiss was performed true to the original recording with some additional guitar work making it sound even livelier – as if it needed to be! A flurry of hits ensued including Red Alert, Do Your Thing, new single Raindrops and Agro, followed by a stripped back acoustic version of Romeo. Simon played a simple guitar accompaniment as a backdrop to Kele Le Roc’s ever impressive vocals, a truly sublime moment of calm in an otherwise pounding set. As the sun set over Hyde Park we were also privy to a first airing of future Jaxx classic She’s No Good. “You just heard that for the first time” announced Felix at the song’s conclusion – and we’re pretty sure it won’t be the last; it had No.1 written all over it. Tonight we were treated to our own West End Musical with a full light and laser show including stunning visuals played on their own colossal plasma screen. The band covered every genre from rock to ragga and shifted from one musical style to the next with consummate professionalism and the look of a tight knit band who were thoroughly enjoying themselves. And so, as the first epic day of Wireless 2009 comes to a close, we know that when the sun rises in the morning we’ll be doing it all again. Tomorrow sees none other than international sensation Kanye West headlining the Main Stage with a supporting cast of the finest acts from the world of urban music who will once again turn Hyde Park into the ultimate party venue. It’gonna be a large one – bring it on. Duncan LaBarre General Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:15:00 GMT 2009-07-04T22:15:00 8e8a5453-fa4b-4a70-9ebd-3e81684da69f 1000000 The Streets and Dizzee set the crowd in a spin at Wireless Legendary performances from Birmingham and London's finest keep the party going As the music played on in London’s back garden, you could feel the excitement as hundreds of fans flocked towards the second stage to witness what would turn out to be a legendary performance from The Streets. With the vivacious crowd creating an enormous noise in anticipation of Birmingham’s finest, the hoard went wild when Mike Skinner et al burst on to the stage with a deafening version of Let's Push Things Forward. Skinner was a master on the mic, and between him and Leo the Lion, The Streets controlled the delighted crowd with renditions of Has It Come To This, Could Well Be In, Everything Is Borrowed and bringing things down a notch with a emotional version of Never Went To Church. It was an epic set, lasting over and hour and included classic hits from all four albums. “Put your hands in the air if you’re still alive out there” demanded Mike at one point, which encouraged a mighty roar from the crowd. All this pandemonium was followed by a no-less chaotic performance from Dizzee Rascal over on the Main Stage. The London-boi-done-good  came on to stage to greet his home crowd, and was rewarded with a mind-blowing scream from the audience. He started with a cover of the Ting Tings’ That’s Not My Name (which featured a great Dizzee twist on the chorus with the line “They call me blud, they call me rooode boy!”), before breaking in to a storming performance of He’s Just a Rascal. Playing “some of that new s**t” from his latest album including Road Rage and Dirty Cash, Dizzee was on fire. Dropping in blasts of Sound of da Police and Jump before sending everyone crazy with Fix Up Look Sharp, you could tell he was having a good time. The set ended with a stonking rendition of Bonkers, which induced mass fist pumping and ground shaking. Dizzee was legendary tonight, and London loved him. Duncan LaBarre General Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:45:00 GMT 2009-07-04T20:45:00 dd42b8be-6c86-49cc-9f39-1b359c606518 1000000 The music plays on as the sun shines down on London Town Jack Penate, Digitalism, St Ettienna and loads more keep the party going in Hyde Park And so the fun in the sun and live music continued in Hyde Park, with the balmy weather and incredible summer atmosphere welcome additions to what is already turning out to be our best Wireless ever. At a more salubrious pace, Danish minimalists Chimes and Bells charmed the Bella Union Stage with gorgeous sun kissed songs. The set was well received as the band ended with a rousing rendition of their single Do The Right. Meanwhile, London stalwarts St Etienne graced the Main Stage as the afternoon temperatures soared. Fox Base Alpha signs were clearly visible in the adoring crowd as the band launched into a fan-pleasing set laced with chilled summer beats. Bob Stanley and Sarah Cracknell’s finale of He’s On The Phone really served to get the crowd moving. Oblivious to this were the crowd who had gathered at the second stage for what proved to be a stonking set from German dance-punk duo Digitalism. The guys emerged to hysterical cheers from the already hyped crowd, coming out to the euphoric Idealistic, before hammering out most of the choons from their awesome debut album. Tommy Sparks lifted the roof off the Tuborg stage with a great rendition of the Stardust classic Music Sounds Better With You and closing his set with the one the crowd were all waiting for She’s Got Me Dancing - and yes, he managed to get us all dancing too! Over on the Main Stage, it was the turn of chart-topping man-of-the-moment Jack Peñate to entertain his mass of assembled fans. After a quick round of the ‘crowd-division-noise-making’ competition from our resident compares Ricky and Melvin, the atmosphere was more Carnival than stroll in the Park as Jack ripped into songs off his new album in addition to some old favourites. I’m So Near and Everything is New  were conducted with the famous Peñate swagger whilst We all Spit At Stars and Torn On The Platform delighted fans with the stunning accompaniment of a small brass section. ‘Cor it’s hot out here’ quipped Jack as he continued his tirade of hits, he even managed to live up to the old Rock ‘n’ Roll cliché of smashing his guitar at the end of Give Yourself Away – ‘excuse me, it all got a bit too much’ he said afterwards. No problem Jack - embrace your inner rock self! Duncan LaBarre General Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:30:00 GMT 2009-07-04T19:30:00 916cf0d2-0e36-45e9-9d41-27526a6a88d7 1000000 Wireless 2009 kicks of in style Sets from Oakenfold, Phenominal Handclap Band and Filthy Dukes confirm that the weekend has officially landed It’s just gone 4pm on Saturday afternoon, and it’s official – the weekend has very much landed. The sun is shining, fists are pumping and the ground is shaking. Wireless 2009 has kicked off in incredible style. It all started on the Main Stage early this afternoon, when the delightful Phenomenal Handclap Band played to the Wireless crowds, delivering their feel-good disco sound, and foot-tapping, hand-clapping tunes to those who had got themselves down to Hyde Park bright and early. They played hit tracks including You’ll Disappear and the sing-along anthem All Of The Above, which had a joyous 70’s vibe, held together with incredible vocals. It’s fair to say that what this band don’t know about 5-part harmonies ain’t worth knowing. <img height="367" width="550" alt="" src="http://media_livenation_co_uk/fido/publishing/news/a/c/u/Image/the_phenomenal_01.jpg" /> Earlier we bumped into the effortlessly cool Paul Oakenfold a few minutes before he was due to play his epic 80 minute-long DJ set over and the second stage, who told us that he was glad to be back in the UK for a few days (Paul lives in Miami these days, don’t cha know?). “I hope to see a few family and friends over the next couple of days” said Paul, before telling us about what an incredible year 2009 is turning in to for him. “My highlight so far has been touring with Madonna, and working with Jerry Bruckheimer on his new film”. What a name dropper! Well, when you’re the godfather of dance music, you probably end up rubbing shoulders with a few A listers, right? When he took to the 2nd stage, the crowd went absolutely ballistic from the very first beat. In a rammed tent, Oakenfold was on complete fire laying down a tenacious beat and slyly mixing in samples from the likes of Universally Speaking, Mr Brightside and Sex On Fire. When he played a pulse-racing version of Satisfaction everyone went crazy, and a quick spin of Josh Wink’s A Higher State of Consciousness was simply off the hook. <img height="367" width="550" alt="" src="http://media_livenation_co_uk/fido/publishing/news/a/c/u/Image/paul_oakenfold06_duncan.jpg" /> Surrounded by various bits of equipment that included decks, effects machines and a couple of synths, Paul was a maestro in the mix. A screen behind him flashed images of girls, the Hollywood Hills and LA skyline, with a huge, ubiquitous Perfecto badge revolving in the background. The Ibiza spirit had truly come to London Town, and as far as we were all concerned it was 3am in Manumission, not late afternoon in the Capital. We dragged ourselves away from the chaos of the Second Stage, where we discovered that Oakenfold had managed to establish a one-in-one out policy, with hundreds of fans desperate to get in to see the superstar DJ at work. Wandering over to the Main Stage, we caught the end of Filthy Dukes’ set, who were entertaining everybody with their sound that is a delicious clash of New Order meets Digitalism. “Feel free to come and dance” encouraged lead singer Tim – before getting everyone going with a great rendition of crowd-pleaser This Rhythm. <img height="367" width="550" alt="" src="http://media_livenation_co_uk/fido/publishing/news/a/c/u/Image/filthy_dukes07_duncan.jpg" /> Next, we headed on down to the Tuborg Stage, where we were lucky enough to catch a bit of Black and White Years, who were busy rocking the tent with tracks including You Are a Dragon and A Wetter Sea. Their unique blend of electro-dance rock was fantastic, and though it wasn’t quite as chaotic as the mayhem going down over with Oakenfold, they pumped out a superb summer sound that got everyone in the mood for more. Coming up, we’re looking forward to seeing The Streets, Afrika Bambaataa , and of course the sublime Dizzee Rascal. Obviously tonight’s headline set from Basement Jaxx is going to be rather special, if seeing them play this exact stage 4 years ago is anything to go by. We can’t wait. Duncan LaBarre General Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:30:00 GMT 2009-07-04T16:30:00 0dfe84ea-5332-40cc-95ae-11f8d7c46793 1000000 CALVIN HARRIS confirmed to play Wireless 2009 Chart-topper reveals himself as our surprise act on Twitter, and will play to the Hyde Park crowd this Sunday! Dance deity Calvin Harris has just been confirmed to play Wireless 2009 sponsored by Barclaycard. He revealed that he’d be our surprise act on his Twitter, and will play the Main Stage this Sunday (July 5th). Calvin, the legend behind the irresistible Acceptable In The 80’s and last year’s summer anthem Dance Wiv Me completes our line-up for 2009, and will be bringing his chart-topping disco choons to the thousands of dance fans who descend upon Hyde Park this weekend. With latest single I’m Not Alone already becoming the definitive dance track of 2009, and new album Ready For The Weekend set for release in August, we can’t think of a more welcome addition to the Wireless line-up. Also performing this weekend is fellow chart sensation Dizzee Rascal, who teamed up with Calvin on Dance Wiv Me. Could there be a special collaboration between the two of them at Wireless? We’ll have to wait and see! If you haven’t got your ticket for Wireless 2009, <a href="http://www.wirelessfestival.co.uk/tickets/">Click Here</a> to get your hands on ‘em now. Day tickets are just £45, or you can get a weekend ticket for just £80. Fancy two days of the most diverse and incredible dance and urban music from around the world? Then head on down to Hyde Park from 12pm on Saturday and come and have a large one. Duncan LaBarre General Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:30:00 GMT 2009-07-02T12:30:00 c787cc68-f1a2-4655-b8f0-e7137e3c9a1d 1000000 Find love with our Speed Dating service at Wireless! Experience a fun and fast way to find that special someone in London at this year's festival Finding love in London is no easy task, but Wireless has teamed up with one of the UK’s premier dating event organisers, When the Music Stops, to include a FlirtZone at this year’s festival, which will provide speed dating sampler sessions for the singletons. There will be rolling speed dating events, quick sessions lasting just 20 minutes each, in a special area, dedicated to the joys of speed dating. Each session will welcome 15 men and 15 women to sit down one on one for two minutes each. When the time is up and the music stops, participants are welcome to keep the chatting and the flirting going! It’s fun and it’s fast - speed dating is the perfect way to meet loads of other singles in a fun and safe setting. Duncan LaBarre General Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:00:00 GMT 2009-06-30T17:00:00 3ed3ae5a-0072-496a-b769-3f688e805747 1000000 Get involved with our Early Bird Treasure Hunt and win loads of great prizes! Get to Hyde Park before 2pm this weekend for your chance to grab thousands of pounds worth of cool stuff... In these credit crunch times, Wireless is giving each festivalgoer the chance to be a winner in more ways than one! A huge Treasure Hunt will take place on each day from 12pm to 2pm, with lucky laminates scattered around the site to be redeemed for prizes including £500 and £250 cheques courtesy of Wireless. There's also going to be Barclaycard gifts including over £1500 worth of Ticketmaster vouchers and multiple HMV gift cards worth up to £100, each, as well as a VIP experience package for 2, a backstage tour, ticket upgrades, free food and drinks vouchers including free Red Bull and Domino’s Pizza,, goody bags of NYC Makeup, exclusive Wireless 2009 posters and EA Games. Lucky laminates will be scattered around the site and the first people to grab them will be able to redeem for the first class prizes on offer (only one laminate can be claimed per prize finder). Get in before 2pm to get involved and win prizes! Duncan LaBarre General Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:30:00 GMT 2009-06-30T16:30:00 e3ada24b-d21f-42e1-bbfe-c7e78dc25814 1000000 Keep your skin protected at summer festivals this year Cancer Research UK offer top tips to avoid sunburn and the risk of skin cancer ruining your Wireless If you’ve never been to a summer festival before, you’ll be surprised at how easily you can burn when you’re outside watching bands, even if it’s not a particularly sunny day, or if there are clouds in the sky. If you don’t believe us, just ask someone who has been to a summer festival before, and we’re sure they’ll confirm this. This year at Wireless, Cancer Research UK’s SunSmart is encouraging festival goers to stay safe in the summer sun. The advice they offer shouldn’t be ignored, especially considering that getting a painful sunburn just once every two years can triple the risk of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. Don’t let sunburn catch you out – use shade, clothing and at least SPF 15 sunscreen to protect yourself from sunburn. To protect your skin • Spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm • Cover up with a t-shirt, hat and sunglasses • Use sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and labelled broad spectrum. Use it generously and regularly to get the right amount of protection Check out the UV Index at <a href="http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/">www.metoffice.gov.uk</a> before you leave for Hyde Park. And remember that you can still burn even if it’s cloudy. For more tips on how to enjoy the sun safely this summer, <a href="http://www.sunsmart.org.uk">visit www.sunsmart.org.uk</a> Duncan LaBarre General Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:00:00 GMT 2009-06-30T16:00:00 fe45cd48-f1bd-4ae7-b6ab-98af8d7a8f80 1000000 DIVERSITY added to Sunday line-up at Wireless Britain's Got Talent winners to perform on the same stage as Kanye West at this year's festival! The UK’s hottest dance act Diversity have just confirmed that they’ll be performing at Wireless 2009 sponsored by Barclaycard, showing off their sleek choreography and incredible street dancing skills to fans on the Sunday date of this year’s festival. Having impressed over 18 million Britain’s Got Talent viewers on Saturday’s dramatic final, where the dance troupe beat hot favourite Susan Boyle to win the contest, this will be one of Diversity’s first live performances since winning the show. The 11-man troupe, which includes three sets of brothers, impressed the BGT judges with a frenetic routine that included a cheeky reference to the panel's buzzers. The multi-ethnic group, who won the £100,000 prize and will perform at the Royal Variety Show, have chosen to play at this year’s Wireless to kick-start what will no doubt be an incredible future for the dance group that everyone is talking about. Congratulations boys – we’ll see you on July 5th! <object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KJIz8BgRQc0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KJIz8BgRQc0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object> Duncan LaBarre General Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:30:00 GMT 2009-06-01T03:30:00 c9c84942-91a2-45d0-917b-85a26875949c 1000000 More Acts join line up for Wireless 2009 sponsored by Barclaycard Alesha Dixon among latest additions to this Summer’s hottest festival! The line up for Wireless 2009 sponsored by Barclaycard just keeps getting hotter as London’s very own Alesha Dixon joins Sunday’s bill alongside headliner Kanye West. More top artists added to the already amazing line-up for Saturday are Jack Penate, Saint Etienne, Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force and on the Sunday, Ironik, Example and Florence Rawlings. On Saturday 4 July, headliners Basement Jaxx will be supported by ‘the Father of Electro Funk Sound’, Afrika Bambaataa and his rap crew Soulsonic Force. The ensemble will be bringing their infamous break-beats from the Bronx to the capital. Influential indie-dance darlings Saint Etienne will be getting their groove on and critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Jack Penate will bring his infectious energy and anthemic songs to the star studded stage. Performing tracks from new album Everything is New, the Blackheath boy is set to show why he’s still the ‘one to watch’ this summer. Kanye West will lead a bill jam-packed with stars on Sunday 5 July, which includes one of the UK’s brightest and sassiest R’n’B talents, Alesha Dixon. Wireless gig-goers will get a special sneak preview of The Alesha Show ahead of her debut UK tour in October. Nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2008 MOBO Awards and Best Newcomer and Best Video (for Stay With Me) at the 2008 Urban Music Awards, Ironik will be bringing his myriad of R’n’B, grime, pop and hip-hop to Hyde Park. Together with the English rapper Example, who describes his new sound as ‘an up-tempo electro garage rap mash-up’ and phenomenal 20 year-old London soul singer Florence Rawlings. <a href="http://www.wirelessfestival.co.uk/lineup/index.aspx">Click Here</a> to check up the latest line-up now... James Kean General Thu, 28 May 2009 07:00:00 GMT 2009-05-28T08:00:00 3b6818a2-e03f-4818-9548-01cd5d2e0a7c 1000000 Noisettes confirmed to play at Wireless 2009 London trio won’t be upsetting anyone at Hyde Park this summer… It’s official: the band with the catchiest single of 2009 are confirmed to play Wireless 2009 sponsored by Barclaycard. Yes, The Noisettes are coming to Hyde Park this year, and we can’t wait to have them! The London trio, made up of singer and bassist Shingai Shoniwa, guitarist Dan Smith, and drummer Jamie Morrison, released the smash hit Don’t Upset The Rhythm earlier this year, and have been an inescapable force on the music scene ever since. Their second album Wild Young Hearts was released in April this year to massive critical acclaim, and the band have most recently been seen touring Europe and performing at the colossal SXSW festival in America. Their appearance at Wireless 2009 is going to be something very special, with the band playing tracks from both their albums, and promising a set that is as energetic as their reputation is based on. Lately they’ve been working in future tracks to their set list, so for a glimpse of what the band have got in store for the airwaves later in 2009, don’t miss them when they take to the stage on Sunday July 5th. <a href="http://www.wirelessfestival.co.uk/lineup/index.aspx">Click Here</a> to check up the latest line-up now... Duncan LaBarre General Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:00:00 GMT 2009-04-28T03:00:00 7e17bdd9-b505-486a-90bc-11b7859043e5 1000000 N-Dubz, Lady Sovereign and more added to the Wireless 2009 bill... ...and the Bella Union Stage returns to the Capital's favourite festival! As the sun shines over London town, we can announce a load more exciting artists to our already incredible line up. Taking place in London’s Hyde Park on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July, Wireless 2009 sponsored by Barclaycard is shaping up to be the highlight of this summer’s festival. Joining the bill on Saturday will be Metric, Skint & Demoralised, Master Shortie, The Japanese Popstars and Phenomenal Handclap Band while on Sunday N-Dubz, Tinchy Stryder, Zarif, Lady Sovereign, Chipmunk, Black and White Years and Steve Appleton are all confirmed to perform. In other news, following its success in 2008, the Bella Union stage returns showcasing a host of creative musicians from the independent label world. A Wireless collaboration with Bella Union label founder and Cocteau Twin’s Simon Raymonde, the Bella Union stage 2009 will feature Fanfarlo, Banjo or Freakout, Low Anthem, Peter Broderick, Beth Jeans Houghton and My Latest Novel with more still to be added. The unique and genuinely artist-run label for artists has had a successful track record of uncovering true gems and while this year’s line up offers recognisable acts, it will also be a chance to witness the cutting edge talents of the future. Duncan LaBarre General Mon, 27 Apr 2009 07:15:00 GMT 2009-04-27T08:15:00 f78e846b-a992-4609-92d5-07dcc4ad5532 1000000 Weekend Tickets now on sale! Make a weekend of it at Wireless this year <a href="http://www.wirelessfestival.co.uk/tickets/index.aspx">Weekend tickets</a> have just gone on sale for Wireless 2009 sponsored by Barclaycard. For only £80, you’ll be able to head on down to Hyde Park on both 4th and 5th July to watch all the action, so if you’re a lover of dance and hip-hop, this is your hottest ticket in town. Catch stonking headline performances from Basement Jaxx and Kanye West. Check out some phenomenal live performances from the likes of Dizzee Rascal, The Streets, Flo Rida and Q-Tip. Dance your socks off to an incredible DJ set by the one and only Paul Oakenfold. Discover the delights of acts like Delphic, Digitalism, Young Jeezy and Mr Hudson. All this and much, much more will be going on at Wireless 2009 sponsored by Barclaycard in the first weekend of July, with four stages of music, beer gardens, food stalls, festival games. The only way to get access to all of this incredible music is with the Wireless weekend ticket, on sale now. <a href="http://www.wirelessfestival.co.uk/tickets/index.aspx">Click Here</a> to go to our tickets page and get you Weekend ticket, where you’ll also be able to get your hands on individual days tickets too, if that floats your boat. It’s looking like one very heavy weekend indeed – don’t miss out! Duncan LaBarre General Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT 2009-04-20T13:00:00 76f09a6f-ada7-4357-b2c0-ac7bf200fa87 1000000 More bands confirmed to play Saturday and Sunday 10 more acts will be playing across two spectacular days of dance and hip-hop music in the capital Oi oi – you lucky people! We’ve got some very exciting news to tell you about here at Wireless HQ, with confirmation as promised of some of the other bands that will be supporting Basement Jaxx and Kanye West at Hyde Park across the weekend of July 4th and 5th. Some might say that this year’s Wireless is a Tale of Two Cities, with the likes of The Streets and Paul Oakenfold joining the mighty Jaxx to give the Saturday date more of a dance vibe, and Kanye, Flo Rida and Young Jeezy providing some fresh hip-hop beats on the Sunday. It’s looking like a good bill to us so far – here’s the full line-up of new additions so far... Saturday 4th July DIGITALISM German duo DIGITALISM are well known for their energetic and thrilling live shows. Debut album, ‘Idealism’ moved them from the underground to prominence whilst their remix work for everyone from Depeche Mode to Klaxons to Futureheads has brought their name to an ever wider audience. DOES IT OFFEND YOU, YEAH? Currently recording the follow up to 2008’s ‘You Have No Idea What You’re Getting Yourself Into’, DOES IT OFFEND YOU, YEAH? have a well deserved reputation for fearsome live shows. Melding the dynamics of a full on rock gig to their electronic sound, the Reading based band have shown their abilities to jump genres with remixes for the likes of Muse, The Raconteurs and Bloc Party DELPHIC Already the subject of heaps of critical praise and high hopes for 2009, DELPHIC are the next logical step on from boundary-breakers such as The Klaxons and Late Of The Pier. Comparisons to fellow Mancunians New Order are not wide of the mark but the trio are as influenced by straight dance music and the pop of Xenomania as their illustrious forebears. A key new band for the year, this show is an early opportunity to hear the sound of the future. FILTHY DUKES Already widely renowned as club promoters and remixers to the likes of Bloc Party, Justice and Late Of The Pier, FILTHY DUKES made the logical next step in the winter months of 2008 and began to craft their own tunes that would become the basis of their recently released debut album, ‘Nonsense In The Dark’. With a dream team of guest vocalists and a desire to make a real show rather than hide behind their equipment, expect a surprise or two when FILTHY DUKES take to the stage. Sunday 5th July Q TIP New album, ‘The Renaissance’ marks the return of one of the most recognisable voices and individual figures in hip-hop.   Former member of the seminal A Tribe Called Quest, Q TIP is a legend in US Hip Hop. A huge influence on those artists that followed them ATCQ and Q Tip are part of the foundations of hip hop and this is a very special show that is sure to be a highlight of the day. FLO RIDA Riding high across the world with his smash hit ‘Right Round’ – the fastest million selling digital release in the US - FLO RIDA is a very special addition to this year’s bill. With a back catalogue that features a clutch of massive hits (including UK number 2 ‘Low’) and new (US No. 1/UK top 5) album R.O.O.T.S. expect a packed field for this eagerly awaited show. KID CUDI Rapper and singer KID CUDI (aka Scott Mescudi) marked his arrival on the musical map in style earlier this year with debut single, ‘Day N Nite’.  The anthemic hip-house masterpiece hogged the charts for months and has amassed an incredible 21 million plays on Cudi's MySpace page.  NME have dubbed him “the next rap megastar” whilst The Guardian have declared him "the hottest new hip-hop artist in the US".  With a debut album on the horizon for later in 2009 expect to hear eagerly anticipated new material at this show from the Kid named Cudi.   DANIEL MERRIWEATHER The immensely talented DANIEL MERRIWEATHER first came to most people’s attention when he added the vocals to Mark Ronson’s smash hit version of ‘Stop Me’ by The Smiths.  Those in the know however had been checking out this Melbourne born singer for several years and are eagerly awaiting his debut album ‘Love & War’ due this spring.   The recent hit single ‘Change’ gave fans a taster and this live show is sure to win over yet more converts to this 26 year old with the soulful vocals. YOUNG JEEZY Grammy nominated, Billboard Hot 100 topping, YOUNG JEEZY is another massive name from the world of US Hip Hop on this year’s bill. With a trio of US Number Ones from his three studio albums, you don’t get bigger than this. MR HUDSON Having guested on Kanye’s album, the UK’s MR HUDSON comes to the festival with high hopes for his second album ‘Straight No Chaser’ on which Kanye acts as executive producer. Feted on the release of their debut album, ‘A Tale Of Two Cities’ in 2007, Mr Hudson look set to rise to further prominence on the release of this to coincide with this show. It doesn’t end there boys and girls – we’ll be announcing many more names across the two days very soon, so sit tight and get ready for what is shaping up to be the biggest music event happening in Hype Park this year. Duncan LaBarre General Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:30:00 GMT 2009-04-08T00:30:00 72515f23-18f0-41b4-88f4-0f127c1985e2 1000000 Kanye West to Headline Sunday night of Wireless 2009 US rapper heading to London's Hyde Park this summer to perform at capital's favourite festival Amazing news: We’re proud to announce that KANYE WEST will be coming to London Town this summer to play at WIRELESS 2009 – the biggest dance and hip-hop music festival in the capital. He’ll be headlining on Sunday 5th July, with a host of other acts for the day to be announced soon. In recent months Kanye has bagged himself a Brit award for Best International Male, released his forth album 808’s & Heartbreak, and sold out shows at the O2 in London. His appearance at Wireless 2009 will be another huge highlight in the rapper’s calendar, so much so that he’s chosen the festival to be his only UK performance this year. A catalogue of hits including Gold Digger, Through The Wire, Stronger,Diamonds From Sierra Leone and Heartless will make this show undoubtedly one of the finest performances seen in Hyde Park, and we’ll be announcing a full supporting bill soon. After 2008’s spectacular performance by Jay Z at Wireless, we reckon that Kanye West’s appearance this year will firmly establish Hip-Hop’s place in Hyde Park. In addition to the exciting Kanye West announcement, we’re really pleased to announce a new partnership with Barclaycard, who will be sponsoring this year’s Wireless. With the live music industry stronger than ever, this is a fantastic opportunity for Barclaycard to bring great benefits and experiences to music fans – which is no bad thing. Don’t forget, the Saturday date of the festival is still on sale, with a stunning line-up that includes Basement Jaxx, Dizzee Rascal, The Streets, Paul Oakenfold and many more acts playing across four stages, with a variety of food stalls, beer gardens and fun games. It’s gonna be a large one – we can’t wait. Duncan LaBarre General Tue, 24 Mar 2009 07:45:00 GMT 2009-03-24T07:45:00 9c0a336f-e8d8-4597-adcd-d04c5d605b49 1000000 Big Name additions to the bill for Saturday Superstar DJ Paul Oakenfold leads a stellar supporting cast now confirmed to perform on the Saturday night of Wireless Festival in Hyde Park. With a stellar headline cast already in place, Wireless are proud to announce further global names and some of the hottest new faces in dance music for their very special Saturday bill in Hyde Park. Joining our headliners Basement Jaxx, Dizzee Rascal and The Streets, are the following stars of the dance world. At the top of the tree is a name synonymous with the dance scene since its very beginnings. As one of the key innovators of acid house in the late 80’s through his Spectrum night and the force behind Perfecto Records, PAUL OAKENFOLD is one of a handful of people who can claim to have kick-started the most important musical movement in Britain since punk. Through his twenty year career and over countless remixes, club nights and original tracks Oakenfold is rightly regarded as one of the Godfathers and this very special DJ set is sure to have the crowd in raptures from the first to last note.  One of the hottest tips for 2009, FRANKMUSIK, aka Vincent Frank, is looking set to make 2009 his own. Described by The Times as ‘equal parts Aphex Twin and Mika’, he is one of a clutch of artists reimagining the pop sounds of the ‘80’s. With a debut album due in the summer and remixes for Lady Ga Ga and Radiohead under his belt, this is an early chance to see a name that will be in the Best Of lists come December. SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM are Sydney trio Miss Connie (Connie Mitchell), Black Angus (Angus McDonald) and MC Double D (Daimon Downey). Their origins lie in the hugely successful nightclub Sneaky Sundays whose guest DJs have included Tiga, LCD Soundystem and Hot Chip. In Australia, their new album 2 has debuted at the top of the album chart whilst here in the UK the trio have seen support from Jo Whiley and The Sunday Times amongst others who thrilled to “a blast of sugar-rush electro, stealing hearts”. N.A.S.A are without doubt the hottest production duo to breakthrough in 2009, their 'Spirit Of Apollo' album was a tour de force in collaborations, featuring guests as varied as Tom Waits, Wu-Tang Clan, David Byrne, M.I.A., Kanye West and Chuck D to name but a few. Tipped for greatness by the likes of NME, Mojo, OMM and just about everyone else, this is the first chance to catch N.A.S.A. properly in the UK, a must see. With rave in his heart, a guitar in his hand and a mission on his mind, TOMMY SPARKS is  creating blasts of life-affirming melody and empowering elegies. Fitting just as snugly into a ram-jammed superclub as it would at the gnarliest of rock festivals. Tommy’s tunes are here to remind people of the universal power of music to make you move. Having stood in for Bloc Party on bass and with an appearance on The Prodigy’s latest album, Tommy is no stranger to the big stages but now it is time for him to take centre stage. Sophie Crosby General Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:00:00 GMT 2009-03-11T08:00:00 a2435e1e-656d-4fc5-b58c-73df75518628 1000000 Basement Jaxx to headline Saturday night Basement Jaxx, The Streets, Dizzee Rascal - at the biggest party in Hyde Park this summer... come on!!! We are delighted to announce the initial line-up for our now legendary dance Saturday. This is where Daft Punk took all-comers in 2007 and Fatboy Slim headlined the biggest party in the capital last year with support from Bootsy Collins, Mark Ronson and Lily Allen. - With that heritage you would be right to expect something special from Wireless for 2009 and that’s exactly what we've got After headlining at the very first Wireless in the summer that their million selling ‘Singles’ album hit No. 1, we are thrilled to welcome back the mighty Basement Jaxx. Combining a string of smash hits like ‘Red Alert’, ‘Where’s You Head At’, ‘Good Luck’ and ‘Oh My Gosh’ with stunning visuals and a glittering array of guest singers, the Jaxx live show is the stuff of dance legend. Headlining the second stage on Saturday at Wireless is no easy ride after last year's line-up which saw Underworld pack the tent and almost bring down the roof. Mike Skinner and The Streets are definitely up to the task, after a career encompassing four critically acclaimed albums - including the number one albums; ‘A Grand Don't Come For Free’ and ‘The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living’, numerous massive singles and a well deserved reputation for superb live shows.  Dizzee Rascal brings his chart topping sounds to the Main Stage for the first time. The three times gold album selling artist has been the pioneer of Britain’s hip hop and grime scene since his debut album, ‘Boy In Da Corner’.  Dizzee progressed through Top Ten follow up ‘Showtime’ and third album ‘Maths and English’ before last year’s smash hit Number One single, ‘Dance Wiv Me’.  Dizzee and Basement Jaxx are no strangers, having shared record label XL Recordings, (before Dizzee established his own ‘Dirty Stank’ label), and having worked together on 2003’s ‘Lucky Star’ from the Jaxx ‘Kish Kash’ album. In addition to four stages of the best music, Wireless 2009 will welcome back all the extra attractions which have become synonymous with the event. - Expect fairground rides, a huge variety of food stalls, beer gardens and fun games.  Can it get any better than this? <a href="/tickets">BUY TICKETS HERE</a> from Wednesday 18th Feb at 9am... Sophie Crosby General Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:15:00 GMT 2009-02-16T07:15:00 53209f7a-e461-4fc7-bd74-1fcb586b9b8f 1000000 Offset your carbon footprint when you buy your ticket Trying to get to the festival in an environmentally friendly way, but still want to do more? Its really easy to donate a few pence when buying your tickets, to offset the carbon emitted by travelling to the festival... Climate change is a pressing global issue. Nevertheless, there are things that we can all do. We are committed to encouraging and providing more sustainable transport options to O2 Wireless Festival, and would advise all fans to travel to and from the event using public transport where possible. We would also like to offer customers the opportunity to offset their unavoidable carbon emissions associated with travelling to this event. If you would like to participate in this scheme, it's very simple: there is an option to add 50p to your order on the shipping page of your ticket transaction.  The figure of 50p represents the average per person CO2 emissions associated with audience travel to and from the concert. It was deduced using results of transport surveys and transport modelling along with approved DEFRA conversion figures. The funds will purchase Gold Standard Voluntary Emissions Reductions (VER's) from Emission:Statement who also support UK based environmental organisations to promote the solutions to climate change 'locally' as well as 'globally'. EmissionStatement was established following repeated requests for high quality and transparent carbon offset from clients across the music industry. Music artists and organizations who had carried out considerable carbon reduction, wanted to offset their remaining unavoidable business, travel and event emissions. The Gold Standard is an independent, transparent, internationally recognized benchmark for ‘high quality’ energy efficiency or renewable energy projects. Our offset meets strict sustainable development criteria as validated by independent UN accredited bodies. Gold Standard is also the only offset supported by Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and WWF. For more information on the offset scheme go to <a href="http://www.emissionstatement.co.uk">www.emissionstatement.co.uk</a> Sophie Crosby General Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT 2009-02-16T07:00:00 6ad47576-ad51-428e-a46a-02a79e7db854 1000000 2009 Festivals to Remain in Hyde Park Event organisers, Live Nation, have secured a three year agreement to stage events in Hyde Park. We are thrilled to announce that the O2 Wireless Festival will remain in Hyde Park, viewed as the most prestigious outdoor events site in the UK. Several bidders were invited by Royal Parks to submit a formal tender proposal. Live Nation's ten year history with Royal Parks has seen many unforgettable events being staged in Hyde Park and this will continue through to 2011 with the award of the new agreement between Live Nation and Royal Parks. 2008 saw many memorable events in Hyde Park including the Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Concert and Live Nation owned festivals Hard Rock Calling and the O2 Wireless Festival. Get ready to join us in Hyde Park again in 2009! General Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT 2008-10-27T00:00:00 8a2c779b-438d-4213-9f9b-4eb85208c603 1000000 2008 O2 Wireless Festival Highlights A round-up of the four day festival that thrilled crowds in Hyde Park from 3-6th July 2008. The 2008 O2 Wireless Festival was a huge success despite the changeable weather, with the four headliners - Jay-Z, Fat Boy Slim, Morrissey, and Counting Crows giving tremendous performances on the main stage. The 2008 festival opening day saw the biggest headline act of 2008, Jay-Z, taking to the stage as 30,000 fans chanted "HOVA!". He played a blinding greatest hits set blazing though his hits, including '99 Problems', 'Hard Knock Life', 'Dirt Off Your Shoulder', 'Oh My God', 'Big Pimpin' and 'U Don't Know'. Jay-Z obviously felt comfortable, calling London "my second home". Morrissey played a belter on the Friday night at Wireless. "When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high", he proclaimed before launching into 'The Last Of The International Playboys'. Earlier that day, also on the main stage, Beck previewed a number of tracks from his forthcoming album 'Modern Guilt'.  Dressed in black, the star still brought out his biggest hits for the festival, including 'The New Pollution', 'Loser', 'E-Pro' and the incredible opener, 'Devil's Haircut'. All in all, a class performance. On Saturday night Fatboy Slim proved he can still throw a party like no-one else. The superstar DJ played a rocking set - Opening with a remix of 'Praise You', he bounced around with a beaming smile throughout the set. Surprise of the day on Saturday was Bootsy Collins, his brand of P-funk came at the perfect moment - the mood was set beautifully for a party and despite the wind, the atmosphere was just right. The final day of Wireless 2008 drew a sell-out crowd, who despite the showers, enjoyed every minute. In the headline spot, taking a bow was Counting Crows. The most emotional moment of the festival came as Adam Duritz stood still, shut his eyes and sang 'Colourblind', with tears streaming down his cheeks. Earlier in the day, a huge and predominately Aussie crowd converged on the main stage for Powderfinger's first ever London festival appearance. Ending with 'My Happiness', it was all arms in the air and probably the biggest collective antipodean sing-a-long Hyde Park has ever seen! As the festival closed for 2008, there might not have been a completely dry person in Hyde Park but it didn't seem to bother a soul. General Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT 2008-10-27T00:00:00 1eb138a2-8aee-47bb-8087-3b0ed7b103a3 1000000 Love Live Music? If you love live music then check out who's on tour right now. If you can't wait until Summer 2009 to check out the very best music at the O2 Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, then why not check out some great live music at a venue near you! Live Nation, organisers of the O2 Wireless Festival promote live music all year round. Visit our website and search for your favourite artists to see who's on tour right now <a href="http://www.livenation.co.uk">www.livenation.co.uk</a>. You can also sign-up to the Weekly Live Nation email newsletter, packed full of touring artists, shows going on sale soon and presales - giving you the chance to buy concert tickets before anyone else. Don't forget to register for O2 Wireless Festival 2009 updates now. General Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT 2008-10-27T00:00:00 91468616-f8fa-46ff-858f-d091dac44552 1000000