Review
Review
Drake and his star-studded cast of guests celebrate 20 years of Wireless
The Toronto rapper's three-peat headline shows were the ultimate celebration of Wireless Festival's 20th anniversary
Wireless festival has changed a lot in the past 20 years, going from showcasing mainstream rock and pop acts at its 2005 debut, to becoming the UK’s premier festival for hip hop, R&B, rap and their subgenres. A place for homegrown and international talent, Wireless has allowed UK fans to experience live shows from music’s biggest artists, including Basement Jaxx, Dizzee Rascal, Doja Cat, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Skepta and many more. Now in its 20th year, Wireless pulled out the big guns for its headliner – Drake for all three nights, each with a special curated setlist and surprise guests.
After the heat of the Kendrick Lamar beef of 2024, a musical rift that continues to permeate throughout hip hop discussions today, Toronto’s very own multi-genre megastar was determined to return to stages to prove his star power and lasting cultural legacy with a historical Wireless residency. Each day was dedicated to his different defining eras: Drake the R&B crooner, Drake the rapper and Drake the diasporic traveller – all while inviting artists that fit the bill to perform their own show-stopping sets on the line-up. The result was a highly coveted three-day party to usher in the summer, complete with a flying Drake, a preview of a new collab with Central Cee, the return of Vybz Kartel, special appearances from Lauryn Hill and Ty Dolla $ign, and more.
Missed out on the festivities? Here are our highlights of Wireless 2025, and where you can catch your favourite artists next.
kwn
2025 has been a breakout year for kwn, with their signature sultry and unapologetically queer R&B, which is perfectly encapsulated in their EP, with all due respect. Their Friday set at Wireless festival (with a special appearance from R&B mainstay Kehlani) allowed fans to see their range, switching from more intimate and vulnerable songs ‘war to be over’, to raunchy FLO collab ‘talk you through it’. “This crowd looks a bit young still”, they say to an audience full of young fans still eager to hear kwn’s music. The jovial and sincere tone in their voice as they speak to the crowd is a refreshing reminder that this is their first Main Stage performance at Wireless, even though their stage presence and star quality is akin to a seasoned vet. A refreshing reminder that this is only the beginning for kwn.
Leon Thomas
While Leon Thomas has been a key player in the music industry behind the scenes – nominated for Grammys for his production and songwriting on projects by SZA, Rick Ross and more – it was his breakout album, MUTT, that brought him to the forefront of contemporary R&B. A multi-instrumentalist, Leon Thomas’ Wireless Festival set showed off his Jimi Henrix-esque electric guitar solos, soulful vocals, and even his drumming skills. This is all before he brought out his special guest Ty Dolla $ign for a live rendition of ‘FAR FETCHED’. Catch him on his UK tour next spring.
PARTYNEXTDOOR
Fellow Toronto native PARTYNEXTDOOR was a double-featured guest at Wireless Festival this year, performing a set on both R&B Friday and hip hop Saturday. Following the release of his joint album with Drake, $ome $exyl $ongs 4 U – home to the song of the ‘NOKIA’ – PARTYNEXTDOOR graced Wireless with a taste of his solo shows. Production value is high, with a team of dancers working the cameras and the crowds to accentuate the steamy lyrics in PARTYNEXTDOOR’s catalogue. His live rendition of ‘Come And See Me’ is what introduces Drake to the stage, allowing fans to get a taste of what’s to come on their upcoming joint tour, $ome Special Shows 4 U. The crowd is alight with the nostalgic scene of the two of them together, harking back to the early days of OVO Sound Radio. Get your fix at their summer shows – tickets are on sale now.
Lancey Foux
Day two of Wireless Festival was dedicated to rap, hip hop, grime, drill and more, showcasing the best of the UK underground and mainstream. One standout performer was Lancey Foux, and underground-turned-mainstream rapper with an ear to the future. His rave-inspired punk rap set against experimental beats (and visuals – which included negative-scale images of Princess Diana, Addison Rae, Karl Lagerfeld, Takashi Murakami and Soulja Boy) was fertile ground for mosh-pits, frenetic screams whenever he dedicated any songs to “his ladies”, and an undeniable stage presence. No corner of the stage went untouched, no part of the crowd went unaddressed, every song brought more energy than the last. Alongside a special appearance from UK underground rising star YT, Lancey also announces his upcoming album The Time of Our Lives, which he is sure to preview at his upcoming Reading & Leeds slots.
Boy Better Know
Also celebrating their 20th anniversary were grime juggernauts Boy Better Know, pulling no stops with a setlist of all their classics – including a reimagined rendition of ‘Too Many Man’ – and a slew of special guests such as Chip, Shakka and Finessekid. Each member has a chance to shine, with Shorty performing ‘What’s Going On’, Skepta performing ‘Gas Me Up’, and JME giving us a taste of ‘Untitled’. Also present and showing no signs of slowing down were BBK members Jammer and Frisco, plus DJ Maximum holding it all together on the decks. Fans were also treated to an outfit change, with BBK going from wearing all-black outfits to all-white ensembles. Their breathwork, crowd control and performance quality showed how seasoned each member was, and you can catch them at this year’s two-day edition of Big Smoke festival this August.
Vybz Kartel
Worl’ Boss is back and nature is healing. The dancehall star was welcomed back to UK stages with his first-ever Wireless performance, a fact he takes time to remind the crowd about. It’s equal parts historical as it is emotional for Vybz and his special guests, particularly long-time collaborator Spice, who makes an emotional speech about how blessed she feels to be able to share the stage with her friend after years apart. The performance begins with a DJ set playing reggae classics; Bob Marley’s ‘One Love’ and ‘Don’t Worry’, and Buju Banton’s ‘Our Father in Zion’, before Vybz graces us with his presence. He traverses his hits including ‘Virginity’, ‘Clarks’, ‘Gal A Weh Do’, and ‘Romping Shop’ with Spice. He acknowledges the crowd members repping their respective heritage with their country flags, jerseys and signs – “today, we’re all Jamaican”. He welcomes rising star Moliy and London rapper Stefflon Don on stage for the debut of their remix to ‘Shake It To The Max (Fly)’. He brings out Sneakbo and Popcaan. It’s a celebration and a homecoming, and a preview of what’s to come at his upcoming tour.
Drake
The man of the hour, each day was packed with special guests, unexpected surprises, and a setlist of hits. Day one was “for the people who love R&B. For the people who love melodies”, kicking off with Take Care breakup classic, ‘Marvin’s Room’. Everyone sings each word passionately without skipping a beat, and this remains the theme of each of Drake’s sets. The state-of-the-art stage and lighting adds to the grandeur of Drake’s performance style and seemingly never-ending catalogue, the pyrotechnics are big enough to feel the warmth of the fire all the way at the back. “The boy is home”, he laments, describing how much love he’s always received from UK audiences and how happy he is to bring his own “OVO Fest” to London. After playing hits including ‘Feel No Ways’, ‘Passionfruit’ and ‘Take A Shot’, Drake mentions how he’s made “special phone calls” for the R&B day and the result? Guest appearances from Bobby V, Mario, Bryson Tiller, Giveon, and the incomparable Ms. Lauryn Hill.
Day two of Wireless sheds the loverboy Drake and introduces the hard-hitting rapper Drake, alongside Dave, Central Cee, Fakemink, J Hus, Headie One and Skepta. But the unexpected hit of the night? A guest appearance from Vanessa Carlton, who plays ‘1000 Miles’ while Drake flies over the crowd on a crane.
Diaspora day Drake allows his appreciation for Afro house, amapiano, Afrobeats and Dancehall to shine, with a “party set” – albeit a short party set due to Finsbury Park curfew restrictions – of house mixes of his dancefloor-fillers. Fans were treated to an exclusive preview of his new collab with Central Cee, as well as reimagined house versions of ‘Passionfruit’, ‘Controlla’, ‘One Dance’ and ‘Find Your Love’. The final cast of special guests included Vybz Kartel, Popcaan, Darkoo and Rema.
Feeling FOMO from Wireless? You can catch Drake on his joint tour with PARTYNEXTDOOR from 20 July to 4 August, and tickets are on sale now.
