The second London leg of Wireless is plagued by last-minute dropouts, and the mood starts out slightly sullen. Artists including Lil Durk, JI and Ruger all cancel during the weekend, while Afrobeats star Burna Boy announced a no-show the day before. Crowds of teens repeatedly curse after every dreaded in-app notification.
But once the music begins, things lift. As was the case with its Crystal Palace leg, an air of post-Astroworld fear still hangs over large-scale performances; artists regularly stop their sets at the slightest hint of trouble, which is often, with fans who are happy to mosh to anything. Monday performer Megan Thee Stallion expresses genuine alarm due to the overexcitement of the crowd: “Y’all are supposed to be twerking!” she says, wide-eyed. But their excitement is justified as she spits the tremendous Plan B a cappella, instantly transporting us to the late 90s and back, storming the stage with the vivaciousness of a headliner.
