At the forefront of Boomtown’s immersive and theatrical festival is live music and this year as Boomtown reveals the line-up for one of its founding stages located at the very centre of the fictitious city, Town Centre, is providing 60,000 festival goers that visit the Winchester based event with an experience not to be missed. Live music genres from across the festival are pulled together across a multitude of awe-inspiring acts on this eclectic stage.
A line-up utterly impossible to predict, it spans from rock to ska to funk to country with blues, hip hop and jazz in tow. Every single act has the means to inspire a gut reaction, whether it be nostalgia or discovery, interest or wonderment with each booking reflecting the collective sounds that can be found across the festival. This is the place to go to give in to the multiple personalities of the many genres waiting to be found. Sitting at this stage is like experiencing a playlist shuffle in real life, it’s impossible to know what’s coming up next.
Topping the bill for Chapter 10 this August are; rap-rockers Limp Bizkit bringing body throwing nostalgia to the forefront of the stage, Enter Shikari ’s post-hardcore experimental rock and the anti-austerity punk of Nottingham hailing duo Sleaford Mills whose music seamlessly mirrors the festivals own immersive storyline and political ethos. Legendary UK R&B group Soul II Soul will be taking the audience back with hands in the air, sing along hits, whilst an infectious mix of blues inspired reggae will be supplied by The Skatalites and political music from 2 tone ska revival band The Selecter’s.
Hyperactive Californian band Fishbone provide humour filled punk funk with a social commentary edge and Dubioza Kolektiv bring Bosnian hip hop with a flair for folklore. Deluxe fuses electronica, funk, disco and swing with delightful live results and Dub Pistols are welcomed back with open arms for an eclectic show of big bad beats, as are firm favourites Molotov Jukebox . My Baby ’s foot stomping sounds mix blues and country and one of a kind festival favourites Slamboree deliver a show likened to a meld of the Rocky Horror Picture Show performing Moulin Rouge with a bassy back up.
Paying homage to the many characters, voices, sounds and ideas that make Boomtown a fantastic mix of personalities, visions and outcomes, The Bandstand returns with acts such as Lady Bird , a three piece punk act with a storytelling twist, Malawi muso Gasper Nali playing an infectious series of original afrobeats on a 3 meter, one-stringed, home-made bass guitar and razor sharp choreography from turbo-charged double act My Bad Sister to name but a few…
What town centre would be complete without it’s very own Job Centre? The much loved street venue will see an Off Me Nut takeover with sets from label boss Phatworld, garage producer Dr Cryptic, bassline boy Deadbeat UK as well as takeovers from Toad Reactor and Four40 . The beloved Boomtown Bobbies have an eye out for ruffians, keeping some order to the law and the good people at The Inconvenience Store will be doing their darndest to keep everyone who enters suitably amused and confused.
The purest depiction of the Boomtown world, the Town Centre is one of the festival’s original stages, around which an entire world has been built. Striking architecture runs throughout the site representing the Bohemian circus styles of Boomtown’s citizens, in an inspired section of society that pulls the best from each district into the most genre defying area of the city.
Limp Bizkit / Enter Shikari / Sleaford Mods / Soul II Soul / The Skatalites / The Selecter / Fishbone / Dubioza Kolektiv / Deluxe / Stereo MC’s / Dub Pistols / My Baby / Molotov Jukebox / Captain Ska / Slamboree / Meute / Dutty Moonshine Big Band / Electric Swing Circus / Sweet Life Society / Elvana / Cut Capers
THE BANDSTAND
Maika/ Fjokra / Lady Bird / Gasper Nali / My Bad Sister / Captain Hotknives / Sean McGowan / Emily Capell / Imperial Leisure / Gin Bowlers / Matiu Te Huki / River Roots / Roots Rising / The Tribe / Malavita! / Mariachi el Pinche Gringo / The Activators / Peanut Shuffle Band / Razzomo
THE JOB CENTRE
Off Me Nut Takeover: Phatworld, Charlie K-Orse N Basshound, Thorpey / Vital Techniques & MC Pean / Dr Cryptic / Deadbeat UK & Forca / Hadean / King Hydra / Mikey B / Shosh / Toad Reactor Takeover: Audio Gutter, Sample Junkie, Zenji / Four40 Takeover: Hybrid Theory, DevelopMENT / Culprate / Zero
STREET VENUES
Boomtown Bobbies / Behind Bars / Bad Apple Bar / Larry’s Lounge / The Inconvenience Store