O2 Wireless Festival 2005

United Kingdom | | 24 June 2005

The question immediately raised is can a four day event in Hyde Park, with no camping and a gap of three days between the two consecutive headlining days of New Order and Basement Jaxx, then Keane and Kasabian respectively, constitute a festival?

The answer is yes. It's not trying to be a Reading, Leeds, V, T In The Park, and obviously not a Glastonbury - but what organisers Clear Channel and sponsors O2 have cleverly done is transform this most royal of parks into a fun and safe playground with some quality acts complimented by the more traditional festival fare of herbal highs, laughing gas, bong shops, tattoo parlours and a plethora of fast food joints from every corner of the world. Sure there's no tents, and a good half of the attendees have clearly stepped straight out of their offices and West End boutiques still dressed in pin-stripes and Prada, but somehow it works.

The three stages - Main, XFM and Drowned in Sound - have the look and feel of festival stages, they are, admittedly, too close to each other to effectively separate the sound, especially with the decibel restrictions imposed in a residential (populated by filthy rich) area. There are also the Nokia Raw stages encouraging budding musical talent to give it a go. A few street performers dressed as crazy long-armed red aliens grab unsuspecting passers by, and everyone is smiling in full festival wonderment. What is really noticeable is the inclusion of family units in the predominantly upwardly mobile crowd that have gathered to see the likes of James Blunt, Rufus Wainwright, LCD Soundsystem, Moby, Babyshambles, The Bravery and many more - toddlers and kids having as great a time on a sunny evening as their folks - it's got a good vibe. Click on the links below for reviews of each day...

.: Friday, 24 June - New Order and more
.: Saturday, 25 June - Basement Jaxx and more
.: Wednesday, 29 June - Keane and more
.: Thursday, 30 June - Kasabian and more