Clear Channel Entertainment is expanding its portfolio of European music festivals with the launch of the Wireless Festival. The event, organized by the company’s U.K. division, is set for June 24, 25, 29 and 30 at London’s Hyde Park; sources say a fifth day may be added.
New Order, Basement Jaxx, Keane and Kasabian will headline the multi-stage rock festival, which will be sponsored by wireless phone operator O2.
The new event will go head-to-head with Glastonbury Festival, which takes place June 24-26.
Hyde Park has hosted a number of groundbreaking open-air concerts. In 1969, the central London park drew about 500,000 visitors for a free concert headlined by the Rolling Stones.
Britain’s royal family owns the park via Royal Parks and the Prince’s Trust charity organization. The Prince’s Trust hosts the annual single-stage Party in the Park concert, which launched in 1996.
CCE U.K. also organizes the rock-oriented Download Festival, which bowed in 2003. This year’s Download Festival is set for June 10-12 at Donnington Park, with Black Sabbath, Garbage, System of a Down and Slipknot among the headliners.
