Wireless Festival has been thrown into chaos just hours before its launch, after it was revealed that two acts had dropped out, with fans also slamming bosses’ plans to end the event early for the Euro 2024 final on Sunday.
The annual music event is set to kick off at London’s Finsbury Park on Friday, but just hours before the first act was set to the stage, a statement from organisers said that Tyla and Diggi D would no longer be performing on Sunday as planned.
The post read: ‘Flo Milli and Veeze will no longer be performing tomorrow. Tyla and Digga D will no longer be performing on Sunday.’
While the post said that replacement acts would be announced ‘shortly,’ later in the day it was confirmed that the festival would instead come to an end at 7pm on Sunday.
In a statement, organisers said: ‘Rockstar energy presents Wireless will now finish at 7pm on Sunday, July 14th, to give you plenty of time to travel home to watch the Euro final England Vs Spain match.
Wireless Festival has been thrown into chaos, after it was revealed that two acts had dropped out, with fans also slamming plans to end the event early for the Euro 2024 final on Sunday (headliner Nicki Minaj is pictured)
The annual music event is set to kick off at London’s Finsbury Park on Friday, but a statement from organisers said that Tyla (pictured) and Diggi D would no longer be performing on Sunday
‘The festival is going ahead as planned on Sunday and Doja Cat will perform a full headline set.’
The Three Lions are set to play Spain in the live final in Germany, with the game set to kick off at 8pm UK time.
While bosses did share the updates on the festival a day before it was due to start, many fans were quick to vent their fury in the comments.
Some noted the vast amounts they’d shelled out for tickets, with a day pass costing £94.60, and a weekend ticket priced at £258.25, as thousands learned they would be getting a reduced lineup on the final day.
Comments under the festival’s Instagram post included: ‘I’m sorry but ending a festival at 7pm is ludicrous;’
‘Are you going to be giving everyone their money back then?; Sorry but can somebody start a petition for getting or money back for Sunday;’
‘So will I get my money back since I’ve paid for a full day on Sunday as opposed to two of the better acts being taken away so I can watch football for a team I don’t support?’
‘The audacity! We travelling 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, which is headline by Doja Cat (pictured), would come to an end at 7pm, so fans could ‘travel home’ to watch England’s Euro 2024 final
‘So no replacement acts for Sunday? Just ending it early ”for the football”’
‘Makes me NEVER want to go again to be honest;’
‘Are you serious? We paid so much for a 7pm curfew and 2 cancelled artists? I can’t believe this.’
Digga D later took to Instagram to confirm he’d been forced to pull out of the festival, as he is remanded in custody after pleading guilty to dealing cannabis.
A statement on his Stories read: ‘Management here, Digga has asked us to share a message with fans.
‘Guys I’m sorry but they’ve still got me up in here so I’m not going to make Wireless this weekend. I’m as gutted as you lot but god willing I’ll be out real soon, thank you everyone for your support and prayers.’
In May the drill artist entered guilty pleas to two drugs charges, after his arrest by police was broadcast on Instagram Live.
Didda D, whose real name is Rhys Angelo Emile Herbert, pleaded guilty to a charge relating to the importation of cannabis on or before 11 July, 2023.
Herbert also admitted a second charge of supplying cannabis to others between October 2022 and 21 February this year.
A further hearing will take place at Lincoln Crown Court this month, when Herbert will learn if a trial without a jury – known as a Newton Hearing – is required to decide the level of his involvement.
‘In the meantime you remain remanded into custody,’ Judge Hirst told Herbert during a hearing in May.
The drill artist, whose tracks have been listened to by millions, was arrested at a property in Bracebridge Heath near Lincoln in February while broadcasting on Instagram Live.
Nicki Minaj, 21 Savage, Doja Cat and J Hus were confirmed as headline acts for this year’s Wireless Festival in January.
The three-day event will return to its original home, Finsbury Park in North London between July 12-14.
Speaking on the announcement, London-born rapper 21 Savage said: ‘I’m so happy to be returning home to the UK and headlining Wireless for the very first time.’
On Friday, a statement then revealed that Wireless would come to an end at 7pm on Sunday, an hour ahead of England’s Euro 2024 match
While bosses did share the updates on the festival a day before it was due to start, many fans were quick to vent their fury in the comments
Digga D later took to Instagram to confirm he’d been forced to pull out of the festival, as he is remanded in custody after pleading guilty to dealing cannabis
Elsewhere, Future, Ice Spice, Asake, Rema, Gunna, Sean Paul have been confirmed for what is set to be a mind-blowing weekend.
The weekend will also host appearances from celebrated DJs and broadcasters from BBC 1Xtra DJ Target, Kenny Allstar, Nadia Jae, Remi Burgz, Seani B and Snoochie Shy.
While it started as primarily a rock and pop festival in 2005, in recent years Wireless has focused on urban music.
Last year, Wireless signed a five-year deal with Haringey Council to be held in Finsbury Park every summer until at least 2027.
The 2023 edition saw Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, D-Block Europe and 50 Cent appear across the weekend.
And it 2022, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, SZA and Megan Thee Stallion put on stellar performances.
