Wireless Tuned To Media Wavelength

Not only did 145,000 fans vote with their feet and show up at Live Nation‘s twinned O2 Wireless Festivals, but the U.K. media gave the second staging of the event a huge thumbs up.

Apart from feeling happy about what he described as a “fantastic” footfall of more than 110,000 across five days in London’s Hyde Park and 35,000 over two at Leeds Harewood House, U.K. managing director Stuart Galbraith said he feels the newspapers’ reaction has also helped stamp the brand.

The Hyde Park shows June 21-25, where the average per-day attendance was more than a couple of thousand up on last year’s four-day bash, got very positive reviews from the serious papers.

The event looks to have booked its slot in the U.K. festival calendar and the London social diary.

The next dates Live Nation had scheduled for the site were Hyde Park Calling, headlined by Roger Waters July 1st and The Who July 2nd.

Galbraith and his promoting team have 84 outdoor show days during the course of the summer which, apart from the Download and Wireless festivals, have so far included dates with Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Eagles. The Rolling Stones and Madonna are still to come.

Among the acts that helped tune the media in to Hyde Park Wireless were The Strokes, Depeche Mode, Belle & Sebastian, Super Furry Animals, KT Tunstall, David Gray, Massive Attack, The Flaming Lips, James Blunt, and Goldfrapp.

The June 24th and 25th Leeds lineup had Massive Attack, The Who, Goldfrapp, The Flaming Lips, Pharrell Williams, Super Furry Animals, and The Zutons.

– John Gammon