Live footage of the best Wireless 2022 moments from SZA, Summer Walker, Giveon, Mahalia, Mnelia and more.
It’s officially a wrap on wireless 2022! The sun was out and crowd showed out all weekend! We loved that Wireless showed so much love to R&B this year, dedicating a whole day to R&B’s biggest names and brightest rising stars. From headline slots for R&B icons Sza and Summer Walker, to platforming the UK’s R&B stars Mahalia, Mnelia and Bellah.
And it felt even better to see a crowd of gen Z’ers show R&B such phenomenal amounts of love. Surely, it puts to bed any question of if R&B / Soul music has a viable fan base in the UK music scene. The hotbed of R&B talent here in the UK simply need financial support and creative platforming. And we’re committed to just this through the BLUES100.
So without further ado, here are our 10 fave moments from Wireless Festival 2022.
Wireless London showed out for Summer Walker
The crowd at Wireless 2022 roared with such excitement once Summer Walker hit the stage. And the energy stayed high throughout, with fans screaming every single lyric. Summer was so overwhelmed by the love, she broke down crying halfway through singing Session 32. “I’m pregnant, so my hormones you know… But y’all just showing me so much love. I never got love like this London, I really appreciate y’all you know…”
After Session 32, she took a quick break before returning to the stage after an outfit change to finish out the set. Singing beautifully as ever with hit songs like Girls Need Love, Unloyal and Insane.
Mahalia’s feel good set of hits
On the UK’s love for R&B, perhaps the most successful R&B singer in the UK in the past decade, Mahalia also hit the Wireless stage on Friday 8 July. Performing her feel good hits, old and new like like Sober and I Wish I Missed My Ex.
Bellah’s Wireless main stage moment
One of 2021’s R&B breakout stars, Bellah had her moment on the main stage when 1XTRA DJ, Nadia Jae brought her out. Performing songs like Prototype and Something U like, it was amazing to see a rising star on the main stage.
H.E.R showed off her prodigous talent
H.E.R. definitely had the most dynamic performance of Saturday’s line-up. Reminding fans that she was a a child prodigy musician, she sang her heart out, played a rousing guitar solo before hitting the drums. H.E.R’s festival set crossed genres from reggae and R&B to Rock & Roll.
Bree Runway was HOT HOT for Wireless
Summer Walker brought out Bree Runway for an energising performance of HOT HOT during her outfit change. Bree off course smashed the show like she always does.
SZA’s Wireless headline debut
Wireless 2022 was the year for the women, who headlined all of weekend two. SZA headlined Saturday, the singer’s debut headline performance. For her headline moment, SZA had the most impressive set design featuring an imposing distressed tower. Plus choreography and a 70 minute set of back-to-back singalong tunes mostly off her debut album, Ctrl. Sza truly brought out the energy and the crowd gave it right back, screaming out all her song lyrics.
Mnelia represented UK R&B
Fans were hyped and enthralled throughout Mnelia’s set on the N4 Wireless stage.
Giveon said the “mic is ON”
On the heels of a mic glitch at the BET Awards, Giveon had a lot to prove during his Wireless main stage performance. And prove it he did! The footage speaks for itself.
Lucky Daye live magic
Lucky Daye’s Wireless N4 stage performance represented for the men of R&B. He showed off his prowess as an elite performance.
Dréya Mac’s moves
SZA managed to thrill an already hyped crowd when she introduced Dréya Mac as a special guest during her headline set. Armed with her infectious smile and iconic dance moves, Dréya Mac proceeded to perform her viral hit Own Brand Freestyle. She even gave a dance intermission before leaving the stage. LEGENDARY!
