Boomtown - arguably the UK’s most colourful, creative and downright crazy music and theatrical event - is all set for an explosive return this August. But, with less than two months to go until the curtain lifts on the long-awaited latest instalment of this ever-evolving festival, the musical line-up still remains a closely guarded secret.
The event is a mind-blowing mix of over-the-top production, underground music, interactive theatre and mischievous mayhem. It transforms Hampshire’s bucolic countryside into a sprawling pop-up city, with dozens of venues and a multitude of woodland parties to discover.
Organisers had previously said they “made the bold decision to keep most of the line up a secret until just before the festival” because "there are many aspects to the way the music industry is run that simply don’t work for independent festivals”.
“The complex process of releasing a music line-up with exclusivity deals, billing and escalating costs have led us to decide that this is the time to rethink the way we approach it and explore new ways of doing things,” added the organisers.
For many festivals, the line-up is what sells tickets. Boomtown, however, is a very different beast, as is evidenced by the fact the festival has already sold out - with only resale tickets available - despite no line-up announcement being made.
The organisers say: “We have always been a creatively led festival and people attend Boomtown because of the overall experience, we will continue to book incredible headline artists, and all the festival favourites, but by approaching our programming announcements in this radical way, we can create line-ups that are even more phenomenal and diverse than we have ever been able to before.”
And so, with just weeks to go before Boomtown opens its ‘city’ gates, the line-up remains tightly under wraps. Instead, Boomtown is whetting appetites by releasing the full range of street venues that can be explored throughout the festival.
Rather than revealing its soundtrack, Boomtown is giving an insight into the story that will be spun as the festival unfolds. Because, unlike other festivals, Boomtown has a narrative plot.
Its decade-long story arc - a thought-provoking satire that mirrored the real world outside its city walls - reached its spectacular finale with 2019’s Boomtown Chapter 11: A Radical City. And now after a two year hiatus, Boomtown is back with a new story to share.
Chapter 1: The Gathering will begin telling its twisted tales between August 10th and 14th. It will unfold across multiple city districts, featuring interactive film-sets filled with twisted alleyways - and even more twisted characters.
There will be spaces familiar to those that have been before - such as the Job Centre and the Inconvenience Store - offering the beautifully bizarre interactive adventures that are so loved by Boomtown’s ‘citizens’. And its organisers have now revealed there will be eight new street venues for 2022, scattered around the city.
They say these venues will explore new ways of theatrical interaction, showcase musical talent and entertain visitors. These new areas are:
Obsidian
Making a steamy debut in Boomtown’s newest district Botanica, is the new street venue Obsidian. A collaboration by female and non-binary icons, Obsidian is presented by Booty Bass who will be playing music from around the globe set to make the audience sweat and dance, alongside Shade Cartel, who will bring high energy and provide queer parties with music to make people move.
Botanica Zoo
Also sitting within Botanica is a venue with a background; the Botanica Zoo. The idea is that a former zoo has been rewilded and inhabited by a new species of hybrid creatures - humans and animals that now co-exist in a utopian community.
This venue will be bright and vibrant with strong links to nature. Attendees can expect to see theatrics that will celebrate life in all its glory.
The Temple of Zero
The focus of the Temple of Zero is on mindfulness and nature. Presented by XNN Systems, participants will be able to immerse themselves in a ‘rebirth’ and experience mystic, minimalist electronic sound baths.
Ye Olde Cosmic Junkyard
One of the many theatrical venues at Boomtown, Ye Olde Cosmic Junkyard, set within Oldtown, will be providing outrageous workshops, games and activities hosted by ‘Cosmic Bin Men’ who have taken junk from around the universe and found new and crazy uses for it. People will be able to watch in amazement or learn for themselves how to turn cosmic tat into handy, useful (or useless!) items.
The Pyratrix Stage
Hosted by Pyratrix Circus, this will be all about creating weird and wonderful performances to entertain. The Pyratrix Circus will have an outdoor stage with a range of music and circus that aims to bring a ‘touch of delight’ to the audience.
They are usually found creating shows in interesting spaces such as churches and pirate ships, and now within the city walls of Boomtown festival.
The Traumaville Cabaret
Not for the faint-hearted, the Traumaville Cabaret performers will be found within the Oldtown district and will be showcasing some of the most outrageous cabaret to be witnessed.
Stiletto Disco
Presented by Bristol based barbers, Shambarber, the Stiletto Disco presents a seething den of dark corners, glittering disco balls and flesh, sitting within Metropolis. Music will represent some of Bristol’s finest house and disco providers.
Trash Club
The Trash Club is a professional network and community of upcycling experts. They will be working with Boomtown’s audience to transform the festival rubbish into high fashion clothing. They will be creating a series of digital content with Boomtown in the run-up and throughout the duration of the festival.
Megan Clifton, Street Venues and Theatre Producer for 2022, said: “The street venues offer some of the most weird and wonderful experiences the festival has to offer. Every venue is themed and forms a part of our city, the street venues and the characters populating them are one of the parts of Boomtown that sets us apart as a festival.
“We are so proud to bring together so many incredible crews who populate our districts with these venues, bringing their own storylines, characters, games to play and secrets to be discovered. I can’t wait to see how people interact with the characters and stories of our city, as this will help shape the future of the festival.”
Lak Mitchell, co-founder of Boomtown festival added: “We’re not releasing a musical lineup this year for many reasons, mainly because we want the audience to want to come to the festival and explore it on the basis of the ethos, values and essence of what Boomtown stands for, rather than who is at the top of a poster.
“It allows the audience to look further afield into the breadth of the immersive offering that we have. We have an immersive storyline that swims through absolutely everything and ties everything together.
“Exploring the street venues is one of the ways that the audience can immerse themselves into the various districts and worlds that we have dreamt up over the years. We’ve got some of the most spectacular circus shows that we’ve ever had this year and we can’t wait! ”
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