Fans let down by late Wireless festival line-up announcement

Yasmin Malik & Riyah Collins

BBC Newsbeat

Drake was announced as the headliner for an unprecedented three nights earlier this year

Getty Images Drake pictured at a basketball game. The rapper, who has short hair and a cropped beard, wears a diamond stud earring and a black leather jacket over a black turtle neck jumper. He looks away from the camera over his right shoulder and crowds of spectators are in the background. — Drake was announced as the headliner for an unprecedented three nights earlier this year

Music fans say they feel let down after the full line-up for Wireless was revealed just four days before the start of the festival.

In February, organisers revealed megastar Drake would headline all three nights of the London event, and announced slots for other well-known acts including Burna Boy, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Summer Walker and Vybz Kartel.

The remainder of the bill was kept under wraps until Monday, when 20 new artists were added.

But some fans have told BBC Newsbeat they’re disappointed, and scrambling to sell their tickets.

Wireless has been contacted for comment.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Wireless and fans had high expectations.

“It’s just frustrating,” fan Ellie Stammers tells Newsbeat.

“You spend all this money for an event you think is going to be the hypest, the biggest event that there’s ever been, and then you get let down four days before.

“This is the 20th anniversary, it needs to be go big or go home.”

Drake first headlined the festival in 2012, with organisers saying he holds the title “for the audience’s most requested artist”.

But there was a mixed reaction to the decision to give the Canadian three headline sets.

Some said it was overkill and called for more British artists to be added to the line-up.

On Monday, organisers announced sets from artists including Popcaan, Darkoo, Odeal and SAILORR.

It also added Leon Thomas, Uncle Waffles, BigXThaPlug and Lancey Foux to the line-up, among others.

“People don’t really know what they’re paying for,” says ticket holder Brittany Orrin.

Odeal, who won a Mobo for best R&B/ Soul act this year, was added to the line-up on Monday

PA Media Odeal wins the Best R&B/Soul Act Award at the Mobo Awards at the Utilita Arena Newcastle. He holds a mic in one hand and his trophy in the other while speaking to the crowd after the win. He has shoulder-length braided hair and wears a black blazer over a white vest. He's pictured behind a podium reading 'Mobo Awards' with some supporters behind him. — Odeal, who won a Mobo for best R&B/ Soul act this year, was added to the line-up on Monday

Brittany initially paid to attend the whole weekend but is now trying to offload her Saturday and Sunday tickets.

“They left it for so long for people to know who was coming and it’s quite unfair for everyone who’s got their tickets,” she says.

“It doesn’t give them a chance to change their plans.”

Last year’s Wireless featured headline sets from Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat and 21 Savage.

And while Drake is one of the biggest music stars on the planet, Brittany says she was hoping for more variety.

“He is a big artist but people don’t want just one artist,” music fan Brittany Orrin tells Newsbeat.

Summer Walker was announced earlier this year as a headline act for Friday

Getty Images Summer Walker wears a one-armed black top, revealing a heavily tattooed left arm. She has bobbed black hair and wears reflective sunglasses, her left hand running through her hair. — Summer Walker was announced earlier this year as a headline act for Friday

Tickets to attend all three days of the festival are on sale for £475 and, as of Monday, some artists had still not been announced.

Organisers said on Monday there would be “more surprises in store” and the 2025 festival had been the fastest to sell out in its history.

Around 50,000 people are expected to be there each night to see Drake’s return to the UK – and he’s just dropped a new diss track, What Did I Miss?, reflecting on his beef with Kendrick Lamar.

His rival will also be in the UK this week, launching his tour in Birmingham on Thursday, one night before Drake’s first Wireless set.