Wireless Festival was thrown into chaos just hours before it was due to start after it was announced that two acts had pulled out. Fans also voiced fierce criticism of bosses’ plans to end the event early before the 2024 European Championship final on Sunday.
The annual music event was set to kick off on Friday in London’s Finsbury Park. Just hours before the first act was set to take the stage, organizers announced in a statement that Tyla and Diggi D would not be performing on Sunday as planned.
The message read: ‘Flo Milli and Veeze will not perform tomorrow. Tyla and Digga D will not perform on Sunday.’
Although the announcement stated that replacement acts would be announced “soon”, it was confirmed later in the day that the festival would end at 7pm on Sunday.
In a statement, organisers said: ‘Rockstar Energy presents Wireless will now finish at 7pm on Sunday 14 July, giving you plenty of time to travel home and watch the Euro 2020 final between England and Spain.
Wireless Festival has been thrown into chaos after it was announced that two acts had pulled out. Fans have also criticised plans to end the event early ahead of the Euro 2024 final on Sunday (headliner Nicki Minaj is pictured).
The annual music event was due to kick off on Friday in London’s Finsbury Park, but a statement from organisers said Tyla (pictured) and Diggi D will not be performing on Sunday.
‘The festival will go ahead as planned on Sunday and Doja Cat will perform a full headlining set.’
The Three Lions will play the live final against Spain in Germany. The match will kick off at 20:00 UK time.
Although the bosses shared updates about the festival a day before the start, many fans expressed their anger in the comments.
Some noted how much money they had paid for tickets: a day ticket cost £94.60 and a weekend ticket cost £258.25. Thousands of people heard that they would get a reduced line-up on the final day.
Comments under the festival’s Instagram post included: “I’m sorry but it’s ridiculous for a festival to end at 7pm.”
‘Are you going to give everyone their money back?; Sorry, but can someone start a petition to get our money back by Sunday;’
‘Will I get my money back then, as I paid for a full day on Sunday, rather than having two of the better acts taken away so I can watch football from a team I’m not a fan of?’
‘The audacity! We come all the way from the Netherlands just so you can watch the game? Really?’
In an update shared on Instagram Stories, bosses confirmed that two of Sunday’s acts would not be performing as planned
Bosses then revealed that Sunday’s setlist, headlined by Doja Cat (pictured), would finish at 7pm so fans could ‘travel home’ to watch England’s Euro 2024 final.
‘So no replacement acts for Sunday? Just end early ”for the football”’
‘I honestly NEVER want to go there again;’
‘Are you serious? We paid so much for a 7pm curfew and 2 cancelled artists? I can’t believe it.’
Digga D later confirmed on Instagram that he had been forced to withdraw from the festival as he was in custody after pleading guilty to cannabis dealing.
In a statement on his Stories, it said: ‘The management here, Digga, asked us to share a message with the fans.
“Guys, I’m sorry, but they still have me here, so I won’t be going to Wireless this weekend. I’m just as bummed out as you are, but God willing, I’ll be out of here real quick. Thanks everyone for your support and prayers.”
In May, the drill artist pleaded guilty to two drug charges after his arrest by police was broadcast live on Instagram.
Digga D, whose real name is Rhys Angelo Emile Herbert, pleaded guilty to a charge relating to the importation of cannabis on or before July 11, 2023.
Herbert also admitted a second charge, supplying cannabis to others between October 2022 and February 21 this year.
There will be another hearing at Lincoln Crown Court this month, where Herbert will be told whether a non-jury trial (known as the Newton Hearing) is needed to determine the extent of his involvement.
“In the meantime, you will remain in custody,” Judge Hirst told Herbert at a hearing in May.
The drill artist, whose tracks have been listened to by millions, was arrested in February at a property in Bracebridge Heath, near Lincoln, while broadcasting live on Instagram.
Nicki Minaj, 21 Savage, Doja Cat and J Hus have been confirmed as headliners for this year’s Wireless Festival in January.
The three-day event returns to its original location, Finsbury Park in North London, from July 12-14.
London-born rapper 21 Savage said of the announcement: “I’m so excited to be coming back to the UK and headlining Wireless for the first time.”
A statement on Friday announced that Wireless would shut down at 7pm on Sunday, an hour before England’s match at Euro 2024.
Although bosses shared the festival updates a day before they kicked off, many fans were quick to voice their anger in the comments
Digga D later confirmed on Instagram that he had been forced to pull out of the festival as he was taken into custody after pleading guilty to cannabis dealing.
Elsewhere, Future, Ice Spice, Asake, Rema, Gunna and Sean Paul have been confirmed for what promises to be a crazy weekend.
The weekend will also see performances from renowned BBC 1Xtra DJs and presenters DJ Target, Kenny Allstar, Nadia Jae, Remi Burgz, Seani B and Snoochie Shy.
Wireless started in 2005 primarily as a rock and pop festival, but in recent years it has focused mainly on urban music.
Last year, Wireless signed a five-year deal with Haringey City Council to host the event in Finsbury Park every summer until at least 2027.
The 2023 edition featured Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, D-Block Europe and 50 Cent throughout the weekend.
And in 2022, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, SZA and Megan Thee Stallion delivered great performances.