The lineup includes Travis Scott and Lil Uzi Vert.
Brits will be familiar with Wireless Festival, one of the UK’s biggest music events. Bringing together the biggest names in hip-hop, rap, R&B, grime and dance, headliners for the UK editions have included A$AP Rocky, Cardi B, Drake, Jay-Z, Kanye West and Rihanna. Now, as the festival prepares to make its inaugural bow in the Middle East, FACT can reveal the first eight artists to perform at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Park on Saturday, 11 March.
Travis Scott
Arguably one of the biggest names in rap music, Travis Scott, will headline Wireless Festival Middle East. The Grammy Award-nominated rapper is known for his outrageous style, frequent collaborations and the sonic longevity of his tracks. From his “Sicko Mode” collaboration with Drake to the anthems “Goosebumps”, “Butterfly Effect”, and “Highest In The Room”, the artist known to his fans at La Flame has become one of the most recognisable voices in rap music in the last decade. Scott was previously scheduled to perform in the capital as part of the Abu Dhabi F1 in 2019, but the concert was cancelled due to ‘unforeseen circumstances.’
Lil Uzi Vert
Known for his tattoos, eccentric hairstyles and the $24 million pink diamond that was once embedded into his forehead, Lil Uzi Vert will take to the Wireless stage ahead of Travis Scott’s headline performance on Saturday, 11 March. With a melodic approach to rap music, Lil Uzi Vert has collaborated with 21 Savage, ASAP Rocky, Future, Nicki Minaj and Tyler, The Creator during his illustrious career. Fans can expect to hear “Just Wanna Rock”, “20 Min”, and “Money Longer” as part of his performance at Etihad Park.
Wegz
One of the biggest rappers in the Middle East has also been confirmed to join the Wireless Festival lineup. At just 19 years old, Wegz has established himself as one of his generation’s most prominent Egyptian trap artists. He gained worldwide recognition due to the success of his YouTube videos, including his single “TNT”, which received 1.8 million views on the video-sharing platform. Most recently, he performed the official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 song “Ezz El Arab (Arab Glory).”
Black Sherif
Black Sherif is a Ghanaian rapper who rose to fame in 2021 with the release of his songs “First Sermon” and “Second Sermon.” Blending reggae, hip-hop and UK drill, he achieved breakthrough success in March 2022 with the release of “Kwaku the Traveller,” which topped the Apple Music charts in Ghana and Nigeria.
Ali Gatie
Canadian-Iraqi artist Ali Gatie is set to take to the Wireless stage with his unique blend of R&B and soul music that draws influence from Ed Sheeran and Frank Ocean. Gatie gained popularity in 2019 with his hit song “It’s You” and continues to captivate audiences with his emotionally charged and thoughtfully crafted lyrics.
King
Arpan Kumar Chandel, known professionally as King, is an Indian rapper, dancer, TV personality and music composer who gained popularity with the release of his single “Boombas” in 2015. He has since released three studio albums and a film soundtrack, “Sahi Galat” for the movie, Drishyam 2.
Divine
Indian rapper Divine achieved mainstream success through his 2019 collaboration “Mere Gully Mein” featuring Naezy. In December 2020, Divine made history as the first Indian rapper to be featured on the Spotify Times Square billboard in New York City. In 2022, he made his debut at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, becoming the first Indian hip-hop star to attend the event.
Young Stunners
The final addition to the Wireless Festival lineup is Young Stunners, a Pakistani hip-hop duo made up of Talha Anjum and Talhah Yunus. They gained fame on YouTube with the release of their first song, “Burger-e-Karachi”, and have continued to produce hits, including the collaborative 2021 Pakistan Super League anthem “Groove Mera.” Young Stunners are often credited for introducing Urdu rap into the mainstream Pakistani music scene.
With more artists being added to the Wireless Festival lineup in the coming weeks, the festival’s debut in Abu Dhabi will feature more than 13 live performances across two stages, in addition to plenty of food and beverage options, and several big-name brand activations.
Tickets for Wireless Festival Middle East will go on sale on Friday, 13 January, via www.ticketmaster.ae. AED 295 (General Admission) and AED 795 (Golden Circle).
GO: Visit www.wirelessfestival.me for more information.
