There was no doubt about it: the place to be this past weekend was at the Hennessy Social Club at Rockstar Energy presents Wireless. With a powerhouse three-day line-up, a mix of stage experiences and the promise of a scorching London sun, for another year, Finsbury Park was the go-to summer excursion.
We made a beeline for Hennessy’s first-ever Social Club—a bold, red space tucked inside the festival grounds. First stop? Grab an ice-cold cognac cocktail to take the edge off the heat. The carefully-curated space brought together music, drinks and games, with the Henny Rita hole-in-one challenge giving everyone the chance to win free drink tokens and the now-iconic red summer bucket hat. Judging by the sea of hats across the crowd all weekend, the UK has some strong golfing skills up their sleeve. The Hennessy Social Club offered a members-only vibe with a relaxed yet lively atmosphere, a variety of Hennessy cocktails on-tap, and a DJ line-up worthy of any main stage. What started as a tucked-away gem quickly became one of the weekend’s essential destinations, especially as temperatures soared.
What made the Hennessy Social Club work so well was its emphasis on music that flowed with the crowd, and the intimate space encouraged connection and dancing. On Friday, DJ Sugar B and host Marcus Blue kicked things off with upbeat club anthems as the first wave of festival-goers 2-stepped inside. Beloved Afrobeats producer and selector Juls stepped up next, setting the tone with an effortless journey through the finest sounds across the African diaspora; his blend was rich and warm, the kind of set that subtly pulls you in and makes the heat feel like part of the rhythm.
Complex UK alumni Mercedes Benson—aka ‘Your Girl’s Favourite DJ’—followed with her signature energy, weaving through Afrobeats, Afroswing and Amapiano for the win. Her selections gave instant flashbacks to Hennessy’s Amapiano takeover at Notting Hill Carnival a few years back, bringing that same vibrant spirit into the Club. DJ Ace closed out the day’s sets with his specialist mix of R&B; as only Ace can, he tapped into the beauty of the genre—from timeless classics to emerging vocalists—with seamless transitions and undeniable feels. By the time the space reached capacity, the speakers were turned up to share the energy with the crowd outside. The queue? Still growing. The weekend? Only just getting started.
By Saturday, things really started to heat up. The theme of the day was Carnival to Club, and Sugar B and Marcus Blue opened up once again, laying the groundwork for the sonic journey ahead. The legend that is Twin B arrived to an expanding queue, and he took us from UK funky gems through to smooth R&B classics, which was the exact blend that moment called for. Then Sir Corey stepped in and shifted gears—his transitions into dancehall, club riddims and UK rap ignited untapped energy in the crowd. Blending Whitney Houston and Cardi B to make an anthem I never knew was possible, followed by Vybz Kartel’s “Summertime” and Jada Kingdom’s “What’s Up”? Instant reload! The crowd were now in full swing, bubbling down to these sounds with each other, holding fans in one hand and sipping cocktails in the other, skanking through the heatwave like it was second nature.
Supa D, one of the UK house scene’s biggest DJs right now, showed up and showed out, weaving Tems and Muni Long vocals over soulful house instrumentals, while Coldsteps jumped on mic duties from the balcony. With one call of “Ollie, Ollie, Ollie…” the whole section echoed back: “Oi! Oi! Oi!” The energy was feel-good right the way through. Rampage, ever the crowd favourite, kept the momentum alive with anthems from Dexta Daps, Vybz Kartel and more. As the crowd swelled, so did the guestlist: Mis-Teeq legend Alesha Dixon dropped in for a skanking session, while Top Boy’s Micheal Ward soaked up the sun from the roof.
Sunday came fast, and there was no way we were missing it. The Legends & Legacy day party theme brought Supa D back once again, this time alongside host Terminal 4, who brought wild energy and full-body commitment to his set. The crowd gave it all back: gunfingers, shoulder skanks, friends dancing with no sense of time. The queue outside? Gone. It had fully morphed into one big, extended party.
Then came the mighty Heartless Crew; as Bushkin touched mic, he didn’t stay on-stage. Dressed head-to-toe in Moschino (top off, naturally), he descended into the crowd, taking in the energy while DJ Fonty handled the decks. By the time he stepped outside of the Hennessy Social Club, “Heartless Theme” rang out and the eruption of cheers and dancing was electric. And as Bushkin delivered his classic line, “That, that, that, that, that’s mine! Heartless Crew, we bought the whole shop,” it felt like the entire field shouted it in unison.
As Rockstar Energy presents Wireless closed its gates for another year, one thing became abundantly clear: Hennessy Social Club wasn’t just a brand space—it was the heartbeat of the weekend. From curated sounds and cultural classics to sun-soaked cocktails and surprise guests, it was arguably the festival’s defining moment. On top of the refreshing ice-cold cocktails, it was also a great reminder that the best kind of summer is the one you spend fully in the moment.
For more information on Hennessy, head here. Please drink responsibly (18+).
