London's Hyde Park



3 July through 6 July 2008

Four days and four stages of stand out talent, including some of the biggest names in rock, pop, dance and everything in between'it?s the O2 Wireless Festival 2008, the coolest festival in the heart of the city. Taking place in London's Hyde Park over four days in July, the O2 Festival is in its fourth year and 2008 is looking like yet another

blockbuster event.

The festival starts off on Thursday, 3 July and runs through Sunday, 6 July 2008 and plays host to four nights of incredible lineups and cutting-edge bands. The O2 Wireless Festival transforms the heart of the city with pounding beats, dance tunes, rocking grooves, sunshine, beer and that famous festival atmosphere; a definite change from the usual Hyde Park mix as concertgoers enjoy market stalls, food vendors and of course, an almost overwhelming array of the hottest music around.

The Lineup is Smokin?

Once again, the Festival features a smoking list of all-star headliners, longtime favourites and incredible newcomers perched to be tomorrow's stars.

Thursday's lineup kicks off the festival in high form with a hip-hop and dance flavour as headliner and hip-hop supremo Jay-Z takes the main stage. Also appearing on Thursday is the always fabulous and fun Mark Ronson, the electropop sounds of Hot Chip, Irish electronica singer Roisin Murphy and dance favourites Hercules and Love Affair. Other acts scheduled for Thursday are Santogold, Alice Smith, Sparkadia, Hot Melts, Annie and Tinnie Tempah.

Friday sees a long list of top billers with the legendary songwriter and lyricist, former Smiths frontman Morrissey in his only UK festival date. Also taking the stages on Friday are alt-rock sensation Beck'in his only UK festival performance, indie-rockers The National, Brit indie faves Guillemots, the incomparable and iconic Siouxsie Sioux, Dirty Pretty Things, long-time favorites the New York Dolls and up-and-comers Lightspeed Champion. Other Friday acts include The Wombats, Mon Ouisch, Peter & The Wolf, Jaguar Love, The Hosts, Black Kids and Get Cape Wear Cape Fly.

Headlining a major lineup of dance music on Saturday is dance veteran Fatboy Slim; also on Saturday, ?90s mash-up favourites Underworld and the original funk-soul brother Bootsy Collins?bringing his tradition of glitter-spattered, colourful show to the UK for the first time in seven years. The Saturday lineup keeps up the groove with Swedish popster Robyn, electro-rockers Does it Offend You, Yeah?, Dans Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip, Sam Sparro and The Whip. Rounding out Saturday's amazing lineup of acts are Cornershop, Mstrkrft, Cagedbaby, Booka Shade, Audio Bullys, Leon Jean Marie and Japanese Pop Stars.

Finishing off the festival with a night of incredible music and musicianship are the always energetic and passionate California rockers, Counting Crows in their only UK festival show, soulful guitarist Ben Harper and Australian alternative sensations Powderfinger. Longtime alt-rockers Goo Goo Dolls, the reggae sounds of Eddy Grant, comedic punk-pop group Bowling for Soup, The Hold Steady, the laid back sounds of Donavon Frankenreiter, Delays and The Galvatrons are also on for Sunday. Galactica, Joe Purdy, Magic Christian and Ryan Shaw make Sunday Festival appearances as well.

More artists are being added and the lineup is due to get even more amazing as the festival draws near. As with any festival, double check since supporting acts are being added all the time.

Getting In

Gates open at 2:00 pm on Thursday and Friday, and 12:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday with all days scheduled to end 10:30 pm. With no camping facilities, and strictly general admission tickets, plan to arrive early to get the best spots. There are VIP Experience packages, which offer reserved grandstand seating, all other admissions are general and there is no ?Golden Circle? (space at the front of the standing area offering a primary view of the event).

There are three ticket options available; the Standard Day ticket is your basic entrance ticket giving you one-day admission to the Festival. The Club Experience package includes the Day ticket as well as private entrance to the concert site, a chill out area with DJ, private restrooms, undercover facilities and garden seating, BBQ style hot and cold fork buffet, private cash bar, and Live Nation Experience pass. The VIP Experience package includes all of the amenities of the Club Experience plus VIP tiered reserved seating for the main stage.

This year's O2 Wireless Festival is shaping up to be a heart-stopping, mind-boggling four days of fabulous sounds from today's hottest acts, and up-and-coming stars of tomorrow.