More about: Wireless FestivalNicki MinajJack HarlowMegan Thee Stallioncardi BSZAGiveon

Wireless 2022 Finsbury Park was all about the women. Having faced criticism in the past for a lack of gender diversity in its headliners, Wireless have overcorrected in a magnificent way, presenting Cardi B, SZA and Nicki Minaj on consecutive nights in North London. Whether a reflection of its line-up or not, the audience, too, is overwhelmingly femme, with what feels like a strong percentage of attendees presenting as female. The result is a deeply comfortable weekend characterised by great vibes and even better performances.

Even some of the male acts (still a slight majority) seem to have been booked for the girlies. Arriving on the Friday to the velvet tones of heartthrob Giveon, Wireless is alight with the delighted screams that will come to define it. They start up again for Megan Thee Stallion, who you can tell isn’t used to such an early slot: when she asks for the crowd to show their phone lights, it’s hard to imagine she can really see them in the bright sunlight. Meg aka Thee Hot Girl Coach aka Tina Snow, is, as ever, a true rockstar whose set is filled with hits, slick flows and choruses of screaming every time there’s twerking (which is a lot). Her chastisement of the crowd close to the stage for pushing sums up some of the weekend’s mood: “we doing hot girl shit” she says.

By the time Cardi takes to the stage, everyone is ready as hell. Offset’s appearance is an exciting addition to the set, until he stays a touch too long. We’re here for Cardi after all, and she’s more than what everyone wants all by herself. Replete with bangers, Cardi slams each of them home with her effortless live style and frankly bonkers aspect. Finishing by bringing Megan Thee Stallion on for the UK’s first ever live performance of ‘WAP’ and riding straight into ‘Bodak Yellow’ it’s a pyrotechnic finale that takes the flame back for the ladies.

Saturday is all about Summer Walker, whose tearful performance has one of the biggest crowds of the weekend, all witness to her pregnancy announcement when the tears are so profuse as to need an explanation. Local rising star Bree Runway takes some of the pressure off when she comes on to perform ‘HOT HOT’. There’s a similar feeling of delirious joy when SZA brings on Dreya Mac to do her super-mega viral ‘Own Brand Freestyle’ complete with sick dance break later on. Neither Summer Walker and Bree Runway nor SZA and Dreya Mac would be obvious pairings, but both work brilliantly and are further demonstrations of the divine feminine on display this weekend. SZA’s guitarist and Jack Harlow’s affable and aphrodisiac performance add to the general sense of a crowd of women being treated to the absolute best, especially considering SZA’s Wireless shows are her first in the UK for some years.

Nicki Minaj’s impromptu meet and greet requiring emergency police intervention should be enough to tell you about the hysteria that greets her Sunday night closing show. And there wraps up a weekend that celebrates some of the best artists in the eclectic world of Black music...crucially, a celebration that had women — both performers and attendees — at the front. 

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More about: Wireless FestivalNicki MinajJack HarlowMegan Thee Stallioncardi BSZAGiveon