Entertainment

The Weeknd closes Wireless Festival

The Weeknd performed hits The Hills and Starboy as he wrapped up the festival.
The Weeknd performed hits The Hills and Starboy as he wrapped up the festival. The Weeknd performed hits The Hills and Starboy as he wrapped up the festival.

Wireless Festival signed off a sun-kissed three days in north London with a roster of overseas talent headed by hit-maker The Weeknd.

The Canadian singer captivated tens of thousands of music lovers with a Sunday night set illuminated by fireworks, including hits The Hills and Starboy.

His soulful performance rounded off a day in which talent shipped to London’s Finsbury Park from across the atlantic stole the show.

Hip hop pioneer Nas drew one of the day’s largest crowds as he offered up an original blend of material, including an urban rework of Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).

Guest stars formed the backbone of many of the day’s hotly anticipated performances.

Damian Marley – son of reggae trailblazer Bob Marley – joined Nas on the main stage for several songs, led by his own hit Welcome To Jamrock.

As the Jamaican artist took to the stage – his dreadlocks tickling his heels – he was followed by a flag-bearer carrying the Lion of Judah symbol.

Tinie Tempah also surprised fans by joining Wizkid on the event’s main stage mid-afternoon to perform his 2009 track Pass Out, while Maverick Sabre appeared alongside Hilltop Hoods.

Earlier, thousands of revellers observed a minute’s silence for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.

North London artist Abra Cadabra led the commemoration at 1.45pm, which organisers advertised on large electronic signs to greet revellers as they entered.

The minute’s silence was also held in memory of young football fan Bradley Lowery, who died this week.

“You know what happened in west London in the fire, it’s a sad thing – God bless everyone that passed away,” Abra Cadabra told the crowd at the Pepsi Max stage.

“The community came together, stick together and now they will pull together.”

He asked for brief applause for those killed.

Silence then fell over the usually raucous Pepsi Max stage – a tribute mirrored by thousands also gathered at the nearby main stage.