the first year of Birmingham Wireless draws to a close and it can only get better

Wireless Festival (Brimingham) 2014

Friday 4th to Sunday 6th July 2014
Perry Park, Birmingham, West Midlands, B42 2EY, England MAP
early bird £62.50 a day

Daily capacity: 50,000

We arrived a bit later today to avoid the queues and it worked, we drove straight to the car park, the sun was shining, my feet were still killing from the days previous events, all blistered and my face was still beetroot red from sunburn, another day another dollar.

Ella Eyre – The fire cracker exploded Sunday’s festivities, Christ, she can belt out a tune and didn’t disappoint to say the least. I loved her bolshiness on stage. She’s got a set of lungs on her and I’m sure she’ll be in the business a long time after what I saw today. One very talented young lady.

Foxes – Another British jewel in the crown, been dying to see this young lady for a while, only heard good things about her live and her album is amazing, its definitely grown on me for sure. She has an amazing voice for someone so young., She didn’t disappoint and yes her voice is all that, her set was very soothing and definite music to my ears.

Iggy Azalea – before I saw Ms Azalea I wasn’t a big fan of her music, but today changed my mind, I actually loved it, I liked her ballsy attitude, she had a kinda basketball outfit on and she wasn’t afraid to shake her booty. The kids loved it, especially her current hit.

Tinie Tempah – Well, What can I say about this guy, a perfectly honed body, with biceps to die for, dressed in his trademark Raybans and shorts, I didn’t know what to expect to be honest, BUT this guy blew me away, he was abso-bloody-lutely amazing, he kicked ass and it was like a ‘Tinie Temper’ Rave, pyrotechnics and fire accompanied the kick ass beats, hit tune and tune, after tune, I actually felt like I was at a gig at Creamfields, dance your little arse off, my feet wouldn’t stay still, even they I’m an old git, bloody hell this guy is seriously immense and he’s like your first cup of tea on a morning, where you just can’t get enough and it was that good that you just want another one! Highlight of the set was ‘Tsunami’, the beats were epic and ‘Mosh Pit’, which made me thank god I wasn’t standing in the middle of the audience being pulverised and crushed. It was cool to watch on the big screens.

Basement Jaxx – Wireless Veterans Basement Jaxx are immense live. How do I know this?, Well, I’ve seen them on numerous occasions including at IOW 2009, which was so memorable and on their last UK tour, which was immense. They are one of the stalwarts of the festival circuit and have been around for years, their music is mesmerising and there is no way you can’t dance, even I did at Isle Of Wight 2009 with a backpack on! I was lucky enough to meet both the guys at IOW and they are so lovely and down to earth, they have a special place in my heart and their music is mind blowingly good.

Basement Jaxx were one of the jewels in the crown tonight, even with my camera kit on I danced, my feet didn’t know what hit them, I was in heaven, I even danced in the pit! ‘Romeo’, ‘Raindrops’ and they even showcased their new single and mentioned about a new album, oh yes please!! Pure class for sure.

Pharrell Williams – The most popular man in pop. This guy is so talented, singer, song-writer and producer, everyone wants a piece of him, he’s the collaboration king, latest offering was collaborating with Ed Sheeran on his new album. Everyone loves Pharrell, he was famous before, but ‘Happy’ has shot him to the moon with his famous Vivienne Westwood Mountie Hat. Can he surpass himself and convert his musical delights to the big stage, I guess only tonight will tell. At one point during his set he was as quiet as a mouse and just looked out into the sea of people, they clapped and roared and shouted his name, he just kept looking, his popularity is beyond belief, he’s like a guru.

His set was full of delights and he could do no wrong, followed around on stage by a serious amount of dancers draping themselves on him, he even picked out a girl in the audience and said he was looking at her, she just screamed.

He oozes confidence and seems like such a nice guy, he made sure he went the length and breadth of the stage waving at a numerous amount of girls. He is the full package, a definite lady’s man and so talented too, it’s no wonder everyone wants a piece of him.

Kanye West – ‘Mr Moody’, Kanye is controversial, more famous these days for his relationship with that Kardashian bird, now Mrs West, and his over excessive wedding fiasco, he’s never too far from the spotlight and trouble. I’ve only seen Kanye once and that was at V Festival, Weston Park years ago, all I can remember was his jumper and how colourful it was, shameful I know. Maybe he can inspire me tonight? NOT.

No photographers, well not in the pit anyway, shooting from the mixing desk? Don’t bother, I can never understand when and why star’s end up with massive egos, I’m still shaking my head thinking about shooting from the mixing desk.

Usually people that are geniuses are on the fringe between brilliance and being nutty, Will-I-Am is one of those people, but I’m sorry Kanye West you’re not in that league, I just think he’s an ego on legs. I just think he’s lost the plot.

Wireless – was it good? Was it memorable? Would I do it again? Obviously this was Wireless’s first year in Brum, the only negative that springs to mind is the line up, it didn’t match up to previous years expectations, but there were obvious jewels in the crown such as Salt ‘n’ Pepa, Ellie Goulding, Tinie Tempah and Basement Jaxx. Hopefully this is the first year of many and it can only get better from here on in.

review by: Michelle Owen-Williams

photos by: Tricia Owen-Williams