Boomtown has revealed the line up for the 11th instalment of the 66,000 capacity music festival taking place over 7th – 11th August at the Matterley Estate nr. Winchester. Mixing up a huge range of musical genres with other worldly set design and an immersive storyline to provide a festival experience unlike any other, the 2019 line up is a perfectly hand crafted mix of all genres from reggae to punk; techno to folk, and so much more!
Headliners include; the seminal style and sounds of Ms. Lauryn Hill for rock-rap supergroup Prophets of Rage who combine members from Rage Against the Machine, Cypress Hill and Public Enemy, pioneers of alternative hip-hop meets garage The Streets, leading reggae revivalist Chronixx, drum and bass royalty Chase and Status with their RTRN II JUNGLE takeover, British electronica duo Groove Armada,with their epic live show, barrier smashing all-female rap crew Salt-N-Pepa, Britain’s most successful reggae band UB40 ft. Ali Campbell and Astro, unapologetic punk from Slaves and the very welcome return of the riotous Gogol Bordello for their third appearance at Boomtown.
‘This is by far the most eclectic and diverse lineup we’ve ever had, it’s even more ‘Boomtown’ than ever before. There is something really special about completely different artists, who are at the top of the genre they represent all together together on the same bill. It feels like a true privilege to be able to introduce thousands of people to a huge amount of totally different music from all over the world and the entire spectrum of musical tastes.’Boomtown Organisers
Boomtown’s uniqueness comes from the different ‘districts’ that make up the ever evolving ‘city’. Each district is a mini festival in its own right, with a main stage, smaller venues and an interactive theatrical experience as part of the overarching festival storyline and its own unique mix of genres represented.
On the main live stages in the ‘Town Centre’, ‘Whistlers Green’ and ‘Copper County’ districts which feature folk, world, jazz, roots, ska, punk, balkan, hip-hop, two-tone, Americana and more… Artists include; ethereal sounds of Swedish electronic quartet Little Dragon, multi instrumentalist Xavier Rudd; poet, rapper, playwright and novelist Kate Tempest; Canadian reggae influenced Bedouin Soundclash, the enigmatic and high energy Ozomatli Ft. Chali 2na from Jurassic 5, beautiful and soulful contemporary folk from Hampshire This Is The Kit, blends of hip hop funk, reggae, jazz, folk from Michael Franti and Spearhead. Malian artist Bassekou Kouyate; dub, dancehall and ragga of Asian Dub Foundation; bluegrass, old time, country American trio The Devil Makes Three, Nu Jazz and Tru Thoughts label stalwart Alice Russell, serene sounds of acoustic folk from Johnny Flynn, festival legends Dreadzone and electronic outfit Kosheen, led by singer and founding member Sian Evans.
Also performing throughout the 5 days on the folk, world, jazz, and ska live stages will be Nostalgia 77, Nubya Garcia, Hak Baker, Mumu Fresh, Seth Lakeman, Beans On Toast, Breabach, Submotion Orchestra, Brass Against, BCUC, Joe Armon-Jones, Skinny Lister, Ashley Henry, Yazmin Lacey, Elephant Sessions, She Drew The Gun, San Salvador, Goldie Lookin Chain, Stella Donnelly, Talisk, Dizraeli (new live band), The Breath.
Over on the reggae, dub and roots live stages; ‘Lion’s Den’ and ‘Hidden Woods’ accompanying the headliners Ms Lauryn Hill, The Streets, Chronixx and UB40 will be the original don dada Super Cat; innovative singer, songwriter, DJ, producer, Alborosie & Shengen Clan; two of the finest female vocalists in reggae history Marcia Griffiths & Tanya Stephens with Mafia & Fluxy and The Black Seeds will be bringing their distinctive New Zealand infectious reggae roots melodies.
Other roots, reggae, jungle and dub artists include conscious revolutionary lyricist Kabaka Pyramid, Boomtown crowd pleasers Gentleman’s Dub Club, Stylo G, Naâman, Iseo & Dodosound, Manu Digital Ft. Lt Stitchie, Natty & The Rebel Ship, General Levy, Sister Nancy & Legal Shot, Mungo’s Hi-fi, Sevana, Jada Kingdom, Naomi Cowan, Kanka, Alicai Harley, Marcus Gadd, Channel One, Iration Steppas, Nick Manasseh, Dreadsquad, Born On Road Ft. Earl Gateshead, Illbilly Hitec Ft. Kinetical, Gardna & Parly B, Skitz Ft. Joe Burn & Jman, Fleck.
The heavier side of live music has a firm place at Boomtown; from acts on the ‘Town Centre’ down to the dedicated metal, punk, ska district ‘Diss-order Alley’. Trailblazing veterans Killing Joke, will be bringing their eclectic show, spanning post-punk to industrial metal. Joining them are; American punk rock icons Pennywise, Northern Irish alt-rockers Therapy? and digital hardcore, anti-fascist punks Atari Teenage Riot. Legendary independent label Earache Records are back with their venue ‘The Earache Factory’ which will feature grindcore pioneers Napalm Death, Swedish melodic death metal masters At The Gates, Brummy industrial metallers Godflesh and more. In ‘Hangar 161’, the district’s squatted ex-military aerodrome, expect energetic crust-punk from Leftöver Crack, pioneering dub punk from Inner Terrestrials and hardcore punk from Russia’s The Svetlanas and Siberian Meat Grinder as well as the return of Moscow Death Brigade with their unique politically charged blend of techno, rap and punk.
The brand new techno focussed district, ‘AREA 404’, which was released back in December, will be hosting some of the genres most influential figures with headliners including none-other than the ultimate techno legend and one of the founding fathers of the Techno-House genre Carl Cox, the unstoppable Antwerp-born Amelie Lens and illuminating electronic sound from Four Tet. Friday will see Bugged Out takeover the massive new stage with Australian Lo-Fi House luminary Mall Grab, Ben UFO b2b Joy Orbison, Erol Alkan b2b Boyz Noize. Saturday will welcome Eats Everything, Dirtybird leader Claude Vonstroke, while the pioneering Skream is set to share the booth with fast rising and inspiring SAMA’. Swedish techno platform Drumcode, will bring its uncompromising sound to Sunday with sets from Dense & Pika, Enrico Sangiuliano and a special b2b session from La Fleur and B.Traits.
Neatly following on from techno and house is the ‘Metropolis’ district where the main house and disco stage, ‘Pagoda Plaza’ provides pure party vibes all day and night. Mella Dee’s label Warehouse Music will be taking over on Friday with a global bill featuring the cosmic techno of Tel Aviv’s Dr Rubenstein, Bristol based producer and label owner Shanti Celeste, Melbourne selector CC:DISCO! and Irish born, Berlin bred Sally C. Headlining is Detroit veteran, the skillful spinner, DJ Bone. On Saturday Horse Meat Disco return to the festival with a celebration of disco and electronic sounds from Mighty Mouse, The 2 Bears and legendary US house DJ Kenny Dope. On Sunday Patrick Topping makes his Boomtown debut with a world exclusive all day long set. Expect to be taken on a journey, with plenty of special guests on the way!
‘Barrio Loco’ will, as always, be reverberating to the sounds, rhythms and lyrics of hip-hop giants from all around the world. Queen of UK hip hop Little Simz makes a return to the festival after her electrifying guest appearance on the ‘Lion’s Den’ with Gorillaz last year. Self-styled ‘Brexit Bandit’ and proclaimed rising star slowthai makes an exciting appearance with his unique, experimental grime / punk stylings. The masters of Tongue-twisting, multisyllabic, complex rhymes Blackalicious will treat crowds with their own brand of West Coast hip-hop. Sunday sees the much anticipated High Focus Takeover including the likes of Four Owls, Dirty Dike and Jam Baxter. Off the back of her worldwide tour, Boomtown favourite Eva Lazarus, opens ‘Poco Loco’ on Friday and will also appear as part of a collaboration with UK producer Swindle who brings his fusion of jazz grime to the stage later in the evening. Other special mentions to garage and bassline producer and selector Flava D and the raw poetry of High Focus’ Ocean Wisdom.
This year sees Boomtown’s biggest ever DnB and bass music line-up, with heavyweight headliners spanning decades and subgenres across two main stages. DnB supergroup Bad Company UK make their Boomtown debut following Austrian visionary Mefjus and prolific producer Break. Liquid lovers can’t miss the mighty High Contrast who appears with another Boomtown debut and the soulful sounds of an interesting pairing; Lenzman b2b LSB ft. DRS. Headliners Chase and Status take over a day with RTRN II JUNGLE, a history lesson in jungle music with huge exclusive back to backs all day including Benny L b2b Shimon b2b T>, Kenny Ken b2b Nicky Blackmarket & Navigator as well as appearances from Brockie & Det, Clipz and Congo Natty. Other DnB allstars across the weekend include Calyx & Teebee, Black Sun Empire, Total Science b2b DLR as well as the biggest names from across the atlantic, Liondub b2b Marcus Visionary and an exciting showcase from the Legends of Moving Shadow.
Bristol label Gutterfunk have curated a diverse day takeover featuring Dub Phizix & Strategy, Addison Groove, Dismantle, Madam X and a 1995-2019 ‘archives’ set from label head honcho DJ Die. 25 years of Rinse FM are hosting a takeover with the best in homegrown bass music including Redlight b2b Zinc, Bushbaby, Emerald and dancehall luminaries The Heatwave. Boomtown favourites My Nu Leng return for the Sunday night closing set and promise to take everyone on a bass heavy, eclectic musical retrospective of their influences and career so far.
The festival’s psytrance offering ramps up yet another level, with hi-tech, psy-dub and psy-core communities coming together on the sandy dancefloors to celebrate a line up of international artists through to grassroots fresh talent. Infected Mushroom will be making a welcome return for a headlining retro live set, leading producer in the New Zealand psy scene Grouch Live Band, the multi talented Swiss artist Ajja and psychedelic trance and world wide sensation Liquid Soul with his distinctive fusion of trance and psychedelic trance are set to light up the open air stage. The multifarious, collective, communal nature of Tribe of Frog will yet again be present with Killerwatts, Earthling the solo project of DJ Celli, Lucas with his diverse quality sounds, Materia one of Europe’s most groundbreaking psytrance artists and UK producers Antispin with their evolving atmospheric psychedelia setting the dance floor on fire.
The dystopian future of Boomtown in DSTRKT 5 will again be the central hub for the thunderous beat of harcore techno, hardtek, gabba and jungle techno. Acid Techno DJ / Producer and head of underground label Stay Up Forever Records Chris Liberator leads the way, with the legendary party crew Bangface going head to head with our very own home of the Hardcore, The Scrapyard with Bangyard and the likes of The Speed Freak, Luke Vibert vs Ragga Twins and Vandals vx Zone 33.