The 2019 Wireless Festival will be more wholesome than ever before.
According to the Guardian, the annual music event will return to Finsbury Park next year, despite opposition from a local organization. The outlet reports that Friends of Finsbury Park had pushed to revoke the festival’s license, citing high noise levels as well as drug consumption and “anti-social behavior” among attendees.
“I remember last year when Travis Scott was performing and the windows at my friends’ house were shaking,” Tom Palin, a director of Friends of Finsbury Park, told the Guardian. “You could hear them jangling. The residents were adamant that something had to be done to stop the disturbance.”
But rather than lift the license, local government officials decided to amend the terms of Live Nation’s agreement. Starting next year, the final day of the predominantly hip-hop festival will conclude at 9:30 p.m. local time, half an hour earlier than previous years. The council will also implement sound level limits and monitoring to appease nearby residents. The council has also requested that all performing artists not to “sing or play any vulgar, obscene or banned songs or carry out indecent acts or make any vulgar gestures, actions or remarks during the performance.” Performers were also asked not wear any type of clothing that could “offend the general public”; this includes designs that “expose the groin, private parts, buttock or female breast(s).”
Unsurprisingly, many people weren’t thrilled about the new restrictions.
Wireless, which can draw nearly 50,000 people each day, has become one of London's most highly anticipated music events. Past performers include Drake, Chance the Rapper, Post Malone, Lil Pump, J. Cole, and Partynextdoor.
“Wireless festival is a world-class urban event that helps to fund the park the whole year round and makes a major cultural contribution to Haringey,” said Haringey Councillor Kirsten Hearn. “We will work to address these [concerns] with residents and partners at Finsbury Park.”
