It’s one of the most hotly-anticipated line-up drops of the summer. The full bill for Boomtown 2024 – Chapter 3: Revolution of Imagination is finally here, revealing a gigantic programme of over 450 names heading to Winchester’s Matterley Bowl between 7th-11th August.
This year’s stacked line up is poised to continue the festival’s incommensurable legacy blending together music, culture, entertainment and activism through the largest interactive theatre experience in the world. In-depth storytelling, modern circus acts, art and dance, all come together around a mind-blowing production and set-design at the festival. Winning UK Festival Awards ‘Best Festival Production’ in both 2022 and 2023, and heralded as ‘Transport Impact Innovators’ in 2023, as well as being picked as Major Events Summit’s ‘Best Non-Sporting Event’ in 2023, and named as BBC Radio 1’s ‘Best Dance Festival UK & Europe’ in 2023 – Boomtown, which celebrated its 15th edition in 2023, is on a mission to inspire millions to transform the world for the better. Boomtown always promises an eye-opening show, whilst underlying future-forward values committed to the planet and its people. It is like nowhere else on earth.
An ever-evolving entity, Boomtown is a vibrant parallel universe, bustling with eight distinct city districts that play host to 12 main stages, over 50 hidden venues and thousands of performers from musical acts and on-the-ground actors. The musical programme at Boomtown is a diverse wonderland featuring talent from the worlds of hip-hop, post-punk, world music, reggae, folk, drum and bass, techno, house, rock, jungle, disco, psytrance and beyond.
Legendary hip hop luminaries The Pharcyde will touch down at Boomtown alongside four-time Grammy Award-winner Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and homegrown Jazz-fusion talent Ezra Collective. Elsewhere everyone from Stockholm’s punk leaders Viagra Boys, to online electronic sensation Marc Rebillet and the global spectacular that is Earth Wind & Fire Experience by Al McKay make their Boomtown debut. Hot off the release of their latest album ‘Heavy’, Soft Play will light up their stage while hypnotic neo-soul singer Greentea Peng and fellow-london based singer/rapper Hak Baker inject a multi-genre fused excitement to the bill.
Elsewhere, multi-hyphenate producer SBTRKT will blast groundbreaking mixes live at Boomtown this August. There’s the promise of a formidable Pendulum DJ SET and a full display by Ibibio Sound Machine, while Manchester’s Children Of Zeus bring soul/hip-hop beats to the bowl. Grime icon-turned-actor Ghetts set is sure to be a festival highlight too. Record-collector and electronic music fanatic turned viral sensation Fish 56 Octagon, Brighton-based rock trio Dream Wife, Swiss BBC Sound 2022 shortlist pick Priya Ragu and fast-rising BBC Radio 6 Music DJ Sherelle will make festival memories this year.
Fresh from their team up on new track ‘Energy Gang’, both D Double E and Sir Spryo will appear at Boomtown. In addition, four-strong DJ collective Horse Meat Disco, Ross From Friends Presents Bubble Love and dub-reggae-soul seven-piece Fat Freddy’s Drop will offer the very best in cross-genre performances. American-celtic punk gang Flogging Molly, London punk-rap duo and avant garde Bristol-based producer collaboration comes in the form of Bob Vylan x Grove, plus post-punk pair Sleaford Mods, doom-punk group Witch Fever and multi-award nominated rock/rap act Kid Bookie are amongst some of the names bringing heavy to Boomtown.
On top of the music, there’s an entire world for festival goers to discover at Boomtown Chapter Three: The Revolution of Imagination. It is the perfect example of how to harness the power of imagination that lives within everyone. All those taking part in the experience are invited to embark on their own journey through expertly-designed tales of honour, treachery, and political progress. Along the way they will be encountering heroes, villains, and eccentric oddities – at one of the world’s most unique experiences. Three pillars are always at the foundation of Boomtown: Creativity, Connection and Celebration, and everyone is invited to celebrate three key overarching values: Respect yourself, respect each other and respect the planet.
