My experience of Boomtown Chapter Ten – The Machine Cannot Be Stopped, was one of wonder and amazement. It is a huge city built with streets, façades, villages, psychedelic forest hideaways, the finest array of eateries, shops, bazaars, saloons, interactive science fiction installations, delightful dingy discos, neon hangouts, huge galactic stages, fairground rides, boom shaking sound systems and a kinetic energy that is both awe-inspiring and enticing.

The detail that goes into the production and experiential moments is spellbinding, the actors top of their game. It represents much more than a festival, it’s a feast for the senses, an adventure wonderland. I cannot stress enough how important Boomtown is for Britain. It is all that we are and aspire to be…the crème de la crème of festival entertainment, no matter what your taste in music. My jaw was aghast from the moment we arrived until the closing fireworks finale; Boomtown never stopped giving.

With over 500 acts, 80 street venues and 27 stages over 14 different districts and hundreds of actors complementing the theatrics, the action is non-stop, the revelry intoxicating.

Of all the stages, Sector Six was the most mesmerising. It is vast and its pylons are some 15 stories above the ground. With dozens of motion graphic displays, lasers and jets of fire vertically powering through the nights sky emitting a mind blowing heat intensity and strobe lighting the effects centred around a massive circular video screen.

Bang Hair Towers was also very impressive with ten massive LED screens, searchlights industrial scaffolding, hundreds of lasers, fire jets, and a central column akin to an airport control tower.

No other festival does jaw-dropping production like Boomtown.

Despite the extensive music on offer that includes Grime, Dubstep, House, Garage, Chilled, Acoustic, Psy-Trance, Disco, Metal, Punk, Jungle and Reggae, Boomtown attracts primarily a Drum and Bass fanzine and Millennials are in abundance. But don’t let that put you off. This year, for the first time, the organisers catered for more of a discerning crowd, and in my mind it’s the only way to experience Boomtown…

Beloved Boomtown Springs

Boomtown Springs is a deluxe experience that is like a summer holiday camp. It’s a piece of paradise amongst the madness of the main arenas. Don’t even think about going to Boomtown next year without getting a pitch at Boomtown Springs. It is well worth the extra investment as every ask is taken care of with style and playfulness.

You are welcomed on site by a bubbly girl dressed in a white t-shirt, hot pants and sun visor introducing you to the facilities, complete with a glass of champagne and an explanation of all the facilities on offer.

We opted to pitch our own tent but there are much more decadent accommodations on offer including pre-pitched yurts, complete with proper double beds, as well as pods and even 50s-style AirStream trailers, glistening in chrome and aluminium.

The site is very spacious with badminton courts, aerobic classes and even a pool with sun loungers and deck chairs to lap up what sun we had. The luxury includes hot showers and plenty of flushing toilets as well as a fabulous genuine Italian Pizzeria, a coffee and pastries outlet and a bar that served cocktails, champagne and any drink that tickled your fancy.

A beautiful mansion overlooked Boomtown Springs that had DJs playing throughout the day and night and attracted a discerning crowd that loved a boogie.

A Powerful Message

Right across each district, posters of a female robotic air hostess figurine, nicknamed AMI or Artificial Machine Intelligence, encouraged the crowds to attend the grand finale on Sunday night, that was coordinated across both Sector Six and Bang Hai Towers stages. AMIs message was one of respect and sustainability. Echoed by the Festival Organisers, “We really want everyone in attendance to fully understand the impact we collectively and individually have on this planet and to try to raise awareness and consciousness of this within the wider festival environment, this will form the foundations of what we want the Radical City chapter to explore.” Last year, some 20,000 tents were abandoned, which was a disgrace. This year, let’s hope people realised the impact they have on the environment and have more respect to the thought and attention to detail that goes into making Boomtown so special.

Boomtown is unlike any other festival experience and I wholeheartedly encourage you to buy your tickets when they are released in November. It’s explosive production wizardry, extensive music stages, theatrics, delectable Boomtown Springs and rib-shaking sound guarantees a weekend you will never forget.

Boomtown Chapter 11: A Radical City - 7th - 11th August 2019.

https://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/