This year the hills of Hampshire welcomed Boomtown back again for Chapter Three: Revolution of Imagination. With a lineup, storyline, crowd, and city that promised to blow the minds of anyone in the vicinity. Boomtown’s an indulgent celebration of community and creativity, truly a festival like no other. We’re always blown away with the sheer size, attention to detail and variety that the Fair boasts, the novelties could never wear off as the Town continues to evolve and flourish year after year.
For anyone who’s yet to have called themselves a Citizen of Boomtown, it’s certainly hard to sum up into words and pictures only. The atmosphere this playground conjures comes second to none. For each new chapter the city is built (and hand painted!) slightly differently, with nooks and crannies crafted to stumble upon, and into. There’s a storyline to follow too, and participants are welcome to delve however deep they may choose, actors give hints and clues and will lead you through secret passageways. You can trade trinkets, and acts of all kinds of silliness to unveil the secrets and wisdom that characters hold dear.
This year, the story was set the follow an Election, throwing the city into Political disarray. Each of the distinct districts presented manifestos of the mad and marvellous, power was placed into the hands of festival-goers as could have their pick in-app. Area 404 was crowned triumphant in blazing glory during the annual Finale, at Sunday’s spectacular closing ceremony.
With the Revolution now in the careful hands of Area 404, let’s set the scene of this heroic land. This charming industrial, cyberpunk scrapyard of a village is home to rockstar central, Hangar 161 and local defunked amusement park, Wrong Side of the Tracks. We caught our speed-garage sister, Oppidan spinning down here on Saturday. You know she never disappoints and got the crowd riding along with her. Just along the path you’ll find the Museum of The Last Fragments, guarded by the Area’s armed warriors – they’ll squirt you if you’re lucky.
Old Town is the neighbouring district, welcome to the Wild Wild West. It’s like you’ve stepped right a storybook, and of course, you have. On Thursday we danced in the centre of town with strangers, skipping and swinging our partners in the game until we were drunk with dizziness – what a perfect welcome to the community. Glowing lights and laundry lines are draped above these lanes, they’ll lead you to The Fool’s Leap, a hardcore cabaret stage like no other. And if you’ve ever wanted to find some pups playing experimental electronica, well here’s the place to do it, DOGSHOW’s set was barking mad, made no mess and left no crumbs.
Letsbe Avenue is where you’ll find all your classic festival essentials, Hotel Paradiso, Boomtown Bobbies, The Daily Rag, Postal Posse. Pick up a paper to stay in the loop or head to the post office to pen notes of love or jest, to pals near and far. Need to wash some of your own skanking rags? Pop into Soapranos laundrette for flowing beats and bubbles. With the election looming of course there were protests uprising, we were caught up in one just outside the cinema. We think some “Minge is Might” t-shirts need printing ASAP.
The city’s newest stage; Nexus was a dreamy, floral haven in Botanica. With pastel fabrics that danced in the wind, just as we did. Dr Meaker ensured the vibes were slurped up on Saturday night, combining Bristol’s signature Dnb with an unrivalled 8 piece band. On Sunday the stage hosted longtime friend of the Fair, Inja. He filled the floor, and blasted our brains, blending classic drum and bass rollers with an assortment of anthems that made the genre-bending set one of the weekend’s best. The Garden Centre also in the city’s herbaceous district, was one of our most beloved hidey-holes, we’d been running low on Penis Passionfruit and Silybum Marianum seeds so it was a great chance to stock up.
From Boom’s newest baby, to the leading lady – Grand Central, the city’s wholesome booming heart. Sun and serotonin swept the crowd for Saturday’s helping of Greentea Peng and Gentleman’s Dub Club, THE perfect summer playlist. Sunday followed through with another celestial lineup; Protoje & The Indiggnation, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Damian “Jr.Gong” Marley AND Earth Wind & Fire Experience by Al Mckay. We were all moved in unison, as we were fed banger after banger. You can’t beat the feeling, going word for word in a big crowd, everyone chanting together, sunshine and smiles beaming. It could only be summarised as a pure dose of joy! Sunday’s the time for togetherness, love, gratitude, appreciation and a big, fat, groovy get-down at the church of Grand Central.
Climbing up from Grand Central, you’ll find the psytrance promise-land, Tribe of Frog. A sandy spot, filled with luminous fluttering butterflies – it’s so important to take time to be a fairy and there’s never been a better place to do it. Take a small stroll along the infused woodland for panoramic views of the City, we like to take a minute here to reflect, and basque in Boomtown’s beauty and splendour.
Zenith stands tall in Metropolis, an electronic mecca, with the sexiest, mesmerising dancers inside glowing-pixel screens, and a secret, silent disco karaoke bar found at E-numbers – of course we very nearly ended up up on stage singing a belter… let’s blame poor hearing and even poorer observation. Our favs from this corner of town included Horsemeat Disco and Ross from Friends, supplying much needed energy-boosting bops. Sometimes all you need is a Fleetwood Mac remix to inject an endless amount of euphoria, cuddle your friends and dance the night away. We love you Stevie.
Origin’s yet another spot you’ll be sure to catch a load of high-voltage, bass-bearing skanks. Speaking of, Friday was Hospitality takeover at Origin, so you know it was the place to be. Doktor ft. Kanobie, Lens Ft. Dread MC and Camo & Krooked ft Daxta were just a few of the guests that graced Origin’s decks, they all blew the place up and the crowds went off and off and off, we’ve still got that bass in our chests. Pendulum closed the weekend out here, hosting the closing ceremony, they shut the place DOWN, with an absolutely enthralling light display to match. Pendulum headlined one of our first festivals as teens, so it was a full-circle moment for us, Tarantula sits in a very special place in our hearts. The Aussie band’s anthemic, nostalgic catalogue perfectly encapsulates the sonic range you’ll catch at Boomtown, where else can you catch guitar-growling rock tunes and only round the corner the dirtiest of bassline vibrations. It’s an unmatched, positivity party that draws the most diverse and vibrant of crowds, and acts alike.
One of the many many things that make this the crown jewel of all UK festies, is the way live music is champion, live instruments especially. Across so many genres, from reggae and jazz, to post-punk and disco – there’s everything. Something for someone in every corner. Even once the stages slow to a stop and the lights come low, at the campfire you’ll find music being made and shared. Boomtown gives space and place for expression, experimentation and discovery. Actually, a couple of our favourite finds this year were Talk Show, Dakka Skanks and Riskee and The Ridicule. Though we may not have picked this punky lot when scrolling the lineup, all put on unmissable shows, with hypnotic performances and they’ve surely garnered new fans in Broke.
After all, it is the community, the people that make Boomtown. Whether they’re first time goers, or seasoned pros, people in huge groups, or solo-boppers. Each individual this the time that it is. This Chapter we were once again astonished by the innovation in outfits and costumes, each one providing a laugh, “wow” or smile. ‘Slag flags’, chicken ramen noodle hats and clown painted faces make the crowd-scape one to be reckoned with. The council of Ben’s, that come together and raise funds for charity, to The Cute Cartel that are fast becoming a festival mainstay, we spotted a record number of mushroom-people floating about the pastures. If there was ever a time to get your glad-rags on, dress as sparkly, or silly, or naked as you like, Boomtown is the place do it all. The city is sleeping now and we’re slowing coming back to normal, reliving the time of our lives in memories and pictures as we drop back into reality. We’ll remember the bliss Boomtown brought us, the limits of imagination and inspiration pushed, until next year. See you at the Estate for Chapter 4, until 2025.