This year sees Boomtown’s most vibrant district Barrio Loco elevated to new heights for the festival’s tenth chapter which takes place over 9-12th August. A playground to 60,000 attendees this summer, it is just one of 14 theatrically immersive districts where hidden plots feed into an ongoing storyline which mirrors the ‘real world’. Representing music genres across a fusion of cultures, Barrio Loco is the beating heart of community. Hope rises in this concrete playground and raw energy is of the highest value within this cosmopolitan borough overflowing with creativity and nurturing the homegrown talents.
Greatly expanded for Chapter 10, this districts’ main stage Poco Loco champions the best in up and coming talent from the UK hip hop, garage and grime scenes. Multidimensional London rapper Ghetts brings his versatile rhymes to the stage, as does Brummie Queen of British rap Lady Leshurr and her melodic flow peppered with political witticisms. Foreign Beggars return with their pioneering sound taking live bass music to the masses. Nadia Rose packs a punch for female empowerment with high energy, playful lyrics and huge upriser Kojey Radical incorporates ‘storytelling and Afrocentric themes’ into spoken word backed with big beats. Not to be missed, Abstract Orchestra Plays Dilla brings live hip hop to new heights, arranging the legendary J Dilla into a 40 piece orchestral arrangement. Dynamic duo Children of Zeus will be bringing bass and soul, whilst carnival kings Jus Now keep the party going with a unique fusion of Trinidad/Bristol inspired production and 808ink duo’s ‘habit of producing house beats, skewed James Blake-like vocal chops’ has dubbed them one of the weirdest hip hop acts around, with a cult following to match.
Reprising their Clubhouse for Chapter 10, Desperados return with three massive takeovers courtesy of Swing Twings, with residency dons Samrai & Platt, Fox and Joey B, the fresh vocals of Alexx A-Game and the broken beat’s of Zed Bias. Oneman and Dj Zinc make Onedance with Jamz bringing to the forefront a whole host of DJ’s including Champion
Elijah & Skilliam and Madam X to name a few! After last year’s street block performance, 24 Hour Garage Girls are back with a filthy UK Garage Sunday session with the likes of Matt Jam Lamont, Mike Delinquent, DJ Cartier and leading lady Shosh. Kaotik Kartel’s mix of reggae and dancehall shows the roots of soundsystem culture that runs throughout the festival, whilst Samedia Shebeen’s tropical soundtrack brings Afrobeats and cutting edge basslines to the party.
Long term performance troupe, Bassline Circus will be returning with their relentless energy to delight passers by with an eclectic mix of circus performance. Raised eyes will find breathtaking parkour, streetdance and breakdancing showcasing the range of influences on offer throughout the district, running along walls and jumping over buildings. Barrio Loco remains a reflection of humanity’s triumphs in times of strife; where neighbours are family and friends are brethren, no-one is alone is this community of celebration.
BARRIO LOCO LINE UP
POCO LOCO
Ghetts / Lady Leshurr / Foreign Beggars / Nadia Rose / Kojey Radical / Levelz / Lowkey / Chali 2na & Krafty Kuts / The Herbaliser / Abstract Orchestra Plays Dilla / L’Entourloop Ft Troy Berkley & N’Zeng / The Mouse Outfit ft. Ellis Meade, Dubbul O & Berry Blacc / The Nextmen & GDC ft Gardna,Kiko Bun,Eva Lazarus & J Man / Jenna & The G’s / Children of Zeus / Jus Now / Dr Syntax & Pete Cannon / Coops / Cult of the Damned / DJ Vadim / 808Ink / Big Zuu / Babylon Dead / Makola / Ngaio
24HR GARAGE GIRLS
UKG Sunday Session ft. Matt Jam Lamont, Mike Delinquent, DJ Cartier, Shosh, DJ Redhot, Junior Buzz hosted by MC Kie & MC Vapour / Jamie Duggan / Shaun Dean / Mikey B / Off Me Nut / Deadbeat UK ft. MC Forca / Vital Techniques ft. MC Pean / Dr Cryptic / Gash b2b Hadean / Wonka & Syn / Rutherford / Dazed Ft. Friends on Benefits / Gorilla Tactics Takeover / A-Bee / WamJam hosted by Dert Bagginz MC
DESPERADOS CLUBHOUSE
SWING TING presents: Alexx A-Game / Brackles / Hipsters Don’t Dance / Swing Ting Residents: Samrai & Platt, Fox, Joey B / Zed Bias / Oneman Presents Onedance / DJ Zinc / Martelo / Oneman / JAMZ presents: Champion + MC Serious, Elijah & Skilliam, Madam X, Royal T,