Since the release of their first worldwide hit ‘Where Is The Love’ in 2003 The Black Eyes Peas have become a bona fide hip hop phenomenon. The band have sold over 27 million albums and 20 million singles worldwide. Their latest single ‘The Time (Dirty Bit)’, taken from new album ‘The Beginning’, was their fifth single to hit number one here in the UK whilst ‘I Gotta Feeling’, which was out last year, became the first single to sell more than one million downloads in the UK. Renowned for their electrifying live show the band gave a stupendous half time performance at last nights Super Bowl in Dallas, Texas and they recently sold out the 60,000 tickets available for their concert at the legendary Stade de France in a record breaking 60 minutes! With other smash hits including ‘My Humps’, ‘Rock That Body’ and ‘Boom Boom Pow’ the band are set to give an explosive headline performance on Friday 1 July.
The Chemical Brothers have forged a career by pushing boundaries. Over the seventeen years since the release of their first single the band have sold millions of copies of their seven studio albums – five of which consecutively hit number 1 in the UK. At the end of last year they were honored with the prestigious Q magazine ‘Hero’ award, they have won multiple Grammy awards and are renowned for their vocal collaborations having worked with a dizzying array of handpicked artists, from Noel Gallagher to Beth Orton, The Flaming Lips to Midlake, Q-Tip to Kele Okereke. Their remarkable new live show, which has been heralded as their most spectacular yet, is set to dazzle the crowds on Saturday 2 July at this years Wireless with Barclaycard.
A stellar line up of artists are already confirmed to join The Black Eyed Peas on Friday 1 July. Last year saw Plan B play to a rammed tent on the second stage, since then his second album ‘The Defamation of Strickland Banks’ has become one of the biggest selling albums of 2010. It’s hit the number one spot twice and reached triple platinum sales. He was recently awarded with the ‘Best Breakthrough’ artist at the Q awards, is soon to embark on a sell-out arena tour of the UK, and is confirmed to perform at this years Brits where he is nominated for three awards. The undisputed breakout star of 2010, Tinie Tempah returns to Wireless with Barclaycard for the fourth year in a row. His platinum selling debut album The Disc-Overy topped the album charts last year and so far boasts three hit singles. Nominated for four Brit awards (the most nominations for any one artist this year), and also set to perform at the ceremony, Tinie has earned industry respect well beyond his years. Pop-grime superstar Example will be back in full force this summer, he released his highly anticipated album ‘Won’t Go Quietly’ in 2010 which spawned four Top 20 hits including the infectious ‘Kickstarts’. Friday’s line-up this is set to be a must see event!
Saturday’s headliners The Chemical Brothers will be in fine company. After releasing their Gold debut album ‘More Than A Lot’ in 2008, drum & bass maestros Chase & Status last year boasted two sold out tours, won a Q Award for Best Video and were nominated for the Critics Choice Festival Headliner at the UK Festival Awards. Their highly anticipated second album ‘No More Idols’ was released last month, featuring mind-blowing collaborations with the likes of Tinie Tempah, Dizzee Rascal, White Lies, Cee-Lo Green and Plan B. Aphex Twin, the prolific alpha male of electronica, will send a wave of arrhythmic dance through the Hyde Park crowds when he hits the decks nearly 20 years after he released his first ever record, ‘Angalogue Bubblebath’. Hailed for his distinctly experimental approach, Aphex Twin has cemented himself as one of the most inventive and influential figures in contemporary electronic music. Rave-indie band The Whip released their debut album ‘X Marks Destination’ in 2008, the Mancunian four-piece have become an unstoppable force in the electro-indie scene with big stomping dancefloor fillers including ‘Trash’ and ‘Divebomb’. Singer, songwriter and high funkstress Janelle Monae has created a distinctive sound of melded cabaret, hip-hop, rock and soul. Her debut album ‘The ArchAndroid’ was released to widespread acclaim last year and found itself in many critics ‘best albums of 2010’ lists. A truly electrifying performer she is sure to give a thrilling debut performance at this year’s Wireless with Barclaycard. With New York rockers Battles, Canadian electro-funk twosome Chromeo, Mancunian beat shaper Justin Robertson and Hot to trot DJ duo Nero (who won a highly coveted place in the BBC sound of 2011 list) also confirmed Saturday’s line-up so far ensures it will be one non-stop party!
2010’s acclaimed line-up saw headliners P!NK, LCD Soundsystem and Jay-Z perform show stopping sets to tens of thousands in Hyde Park. Previous headliners have included such luminaries as Morrissey, The White Stripes, Kanye West, Daft Punk, New Order and Basement Jaxx. Hyde Park has been home to London’s most sensational summer concerts for over four decades, an iconic location for some of the greatest names in musical history. Acts that have performed include The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Blur, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Roger Waters, The Who, Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters and The Police.
Wireless with Barclaycard is a spectacular open-air live music experience in the heart of bustling London. It offers a chance to experience the excitement and watch the best in popular music right on your doorstep; with many more acts and details still to be unveiled, Wireless with Barclaycard 2011 is certain to be the big event on the summer’s musical calendar.
Ticketing Information:
Tickets for Friday 1 July and Saturday 2 July are priced at £49.50 and £48.50 respectively, plus booking fees.
Tickets go on sale for these dates at 9am Friday 11th February at www.wirelessfestival.co.uk
Tickets are on sale now for Sunday 3rd July.
From Friday, multi-day tickets will be available. 2-day tickets will be priced at £92 plus booking fees, and 3-day tickets will be priced at £130 plus booking fees.
Barclaycard customers have the exclusive opportunity to purchase two for one tickets, on sale Wednesday 9th February at 9am via www.barclaycardunwind.com
Vodafone customers can buy tickets 48 hours before they go on general sale. Get yours from 9am, 9 February at www.vodafone.co.uk/vip
Purchase a Carbon Offset for 50p as an add on to your order to negate the environmental impacts of your travel to and from the festival, these funds will be used to invest in environmental projects in local schools. More details are available on www.wirelessfestival.co.uk