I just got back from a long weekend in LDN, as some posh Londoners like to call their home. The o2 Wireless Festival was on for four days in Hyde Park. The spirit of the people was great and being able to walk home after a great day out at a festival was quite frankly the best of all!
This year the headliners were: Jay-Z, Morrissey, Fatboy Slim and Counting Crows.
Jay-Z played a similar set to his Glastonbury show, without the fabulous Wanderwall intro though. To be fair, I am possibly the whitest girl alive and Jay-Z was never on my preferred list of music. But he played a great set that even I could ‚bounce’ to (this sounds so wrong coming from me).
Day two saw Hyde Park filled with Morrissey fans and The Smith fanatics that still live in their beloved memories. Morrissey’s appearance is cocky as usual, but the people love it. Wandering around in a playboy shirt with his 20-something band sitting far in the back to have him take over most of the stage. He then holds a short monologue demonstrating his vegan/vegetarian lifestyle. It was something along the lines of: you eat death when eating meat. It was time for me to go.
Good show, Mr. Morrissey, I’ll give you that. But your overly slimy dramatic-ness just isn’t my thing.
Day three was the fun day of glow sticks, neon wayfarers and colourful clothes. Most of the saturday line-up where dance/indie/nuwave bands with Fatboy Slim finishing the night. I sadly was a bit late and only saw a few gigs here and there including the brilliant performance of Berlin’s own Booka Shade. Check ’em out.
The last day I spent on my way back to the pool. No Counting Crows for me.
All in all, a great weekend at an amazing city centre festival!
Have a listen to the following bands I loved at o2 wireless 2008:
Red Light Company – although I wasn’t very impressed with their haircuts at first, they are definitely pulling it off on stage!
Pete & The Pirates – English Indie Rock
Hot Chip – geeky darlings always worth watching live
Roisin Murphy – fashionable as ever with a great live performance
The Fashion – America is coming back with some great sounds
Beck – he is back and the only one that is allowed to wear Wayfarers in my eyes.
The National – I missed it but my friend said it was brilliant!
Robyn – better than expected. she blew me away.
Sam Sparro – rockin his Prince’ness.
Booka Shade – see above.
