The dust has settled, stages have gone dark, echoes of electrifying beats have faded into the distance, and Boomtown has officially tallied its 15th mark in music festival history.
Transforming the festival’s famous stomping grounds into a pulsating labyrth of sonic exploration, thousands of eager ravers flooded the site to embark on their journey through ‘The Twin Trail’. Transforming the valley into a playground for the senses (a dream for our ADHD team), the vivid tapesty of colour and artistic expression stretched.as far as the eye could see, encased within it 12 stages and a multitude of hidey holes ready to be discovered.
For those who didn’t make it down this year or need a nudge to book those 2024 tickets, prepare to embark on a journey alongside the Broke team as we break down our best rated Boomtown’s districts…
ORIGIN
A dance haven hosting the likes of closing headliner and drum and bass king Hedex, the electronic explorationist Interplanetary Criminal and everyone’s favourite female DJ collective, Girls Don’t Sync, if you were looking for dirty drops and skanking synths, this was the stage to hit.
METROPOLIS
A districtric known for its cutting edge electronic music, neon lights and vibrant inviting atmosphere, we spent hours exploring Metropolis’ hidey holes, from ‘Lil Pharma’ packed with test tube decorations and actors adorned in doctor costumes, to ‘Bleach Party’, an intimate room filled with a sofa, trippy TV screens and acidic music.
It’s here where we found a nod to the inimitable community Boomtown’s brings to the rave scene (basically, there ain’t a bad vibe in site). Tucked next to the rainbow walled ‘Fun Fair’ room, you’d have found a LED heart… How to illuminate it, you ask? Energy from two friends (or strangers) holding hands whilst stood on the metal plate resting in front (how fucking cute is that??).
OLD TOWN
At the heart of Boomtown’s narrative (more on that later) is Old Town, designed to resemble the Wild West, it’s a place where the past meets the future, featuring rustic facades, saloons, and wooden structures. Rich with characters, stories, and interactive performances, actors bring the district to life.
BOTANICA
Celebrating the world and sustainability (core focuses for the festival), this particular district featured lush greenery, garden-like settings and interactive installations promoting enviromental awareness. Around every corner were thought provoking pieces from a live human zoo where you’d be met with a monkey-mask adorned actor giving you the middle finger behind bars to a silent disco experience listening to the sounds of mother nature.
As for its electronic offerings, The Vault stage saw a mind altering set from Joy Anonymous (which may or may not have made us shed a tear) and a jungle-heavy secret room where ravers could let loose under a low-hanging leaf-covered ceiling.
TRIBE OF FROG
Hosting the wibbliest of wobs, those who could hack what had been aptly named ‘The Weatherspoons Stairs’ and wander their way into the woods would be met with a psytrance paradise. From the sandy floors to the neon butterflies and spinning rainbow stimulants floating above our heads, Tribe of Frog was the perfect space to trance out. For those looking to sink into the fairyland-like atmosphere, you might situate yourself under the LED strings falling from the trees or the multicolour lights .
AREA 404
If tripping on acid was a place, it’d be Area 404, the best way to describe it? BOING. Home to Boomtown’s newest stage Spectrum 360, and Acid Leak, a room dripping with melting smiley faces, outside you’d be met with a water gun battlefield between performers and even a fake toilet to shit out any bad vibes (should you be lucky enough to get chosen).
GRAND CENTRAL
A stage filled with surprises, Grand Central hosted a plethora of acts from London’s rap legend Loyal Carner to jungle Queen Nia Archives. Providing a chill space for those looking to relax by day before the town came alive at night, our gang grooved and felt the love to Sister Sledge’s ‘We Are Family’, and the legendary himself, Cypress Hill unleashed an intoxicating whirlwind of hip-hop mastery that left the crowd in ecstatic rapture.
Casting a bittersweet shadow over the festival, The Prodigy, a beacon of electronic brilliance, were regrettably absent from the Grand Central stage due to unforseen medical circumstances… But, doing what they do best, Boomtown balanced the cosmic scales bringing Chase and Status to the line up. As tens of thousands flooded to witness the seismic finale, the duo filled the void with electrifying prowess scattering a cascade of beats across the crowd that echoed through the night in a euphoric crescendo to signal the end of a magical weekend.
Bidding boomtown goodbye, the closing ceremony revealed the ending to this year’s story line, an enigmatic narrative that unfolded like a gripping tome, captivating all who traversed its intricately woven paths. This year, a groundbreaking twist beckoned, as attendees held the reins of destiny in their hands. The festival’s various districts embarked on a quest, a hunt for Elen, the central figure of this enthralling saga.
Each raver was bestowed the power to pronounce Elen ‘Friend or Foe,’ a choice that rippled through the festival’s soul. The scales tipped in favour of camaraderie, and thus the closing spectacle mirrored this collective vote, ensuring Elen’s continued prominence in the cannals of Boomtown for those looking to explore the ever-evolving, intricately threaded narrative next year.
As the curtain falls on this extraordinary odyssey, a new chapter beckons on the horizon. Mark your calendars, for Boomtown shall rise once again from the 7th to the 11th of August in 2024. The anticipation unfurls, the countdown begins, and the sonic caravan of wonder and awe prepares to journey anew.
Until then, let the echoes of Chapter Two resound in your hearts, a testament to the rapturous euphoria and captivating tales that define the Boomtown experience. As the festival grounds hibernate, they await the moment when the spirits of music and camaraderie shall rekindle their vibrant symphony once more.