It’s one of the most hotly-anticipated line-up drops of the summer. The full bill for Boomtown 2024 – Chapter 3: Revolution of Imagination is finally here, and it’s a sprawling mix of over 450 names heading to Winchester’s Matterley Bowl between 7th-11th August.
This year’s lineup isn’t just about sheer volume; it’s a vibrant showcase of incredible female and gender minority-inclusive artists that really has me buzzing. Boomtown is sticking to its roots of merging music, culture, entertainment, and activism, but this time with a lineup that reflects a broader spectrum of voices and perspectives. Alongside the immersive storytelling, modern circus acts, and jaw-dropping set designs, the diverse roster is a testament to the festival’s commitment to inclusivity. With such a dynamic range of talent, this is definitely one of my top 5 ones to watch!
The Glastonbury 2024 Emerging Talent Competition winner JayaHadADream has firmly landed on the scene with her praised debut EP ‘Redemption Songs.’ The 24-year-old independent artist brings narrative flow back to UK rap, offering versatile critical commentary on subjects such as youth culture and self-identity. “Ego needs to stay on the stage / the bars are the proof,” states Jaya Gordon-Moore. Her music, edged in deliberate lyricism and grounded strength, is nestled in a soundscape of sunset textures.
TNAM.UK fully supports her commentary on the fluidity of female rappers and the damage done by archetyping them into being roadman, sexy, or conscious – declaring, “I want to be all of those things.” JayaHadADream keeps her audience engaged by teasing freestyles and singles from her catalogue, often performing tracks in her bedroom adorned with a Jamaican flag and posters of artists like Bob Marley. Meanwhile, she’s also been gracing summer stages with performances, the Cambridge-born Jamaican-Irish artist now illuminated on LED screens.
This is undoubtedly the time to catch JayaHadADream as she takes her first steps into the spotlight.
Jaya will be performing on the Wednesday 18:30 – 19:30 on the Tangled Roots stage.
Remember the “You wouldn’t steal a car” advert that threatened the lives of late 90s early 2000s kids if they ever watched a knockoff DVD? That matrix-fused trip-hop dark-wave post-punk audio that I can hear so well while writing this is what I am certain the South East London four-piece were inspired by. The last time we spoke with Talk Show was back in November 2023 to chat about their album release, Effigy.
Since then, they’ve been hitting the stage hard with a slew of gigs. The album was met with roaring acclaim from publications including DORK and The Line of Best Fit, propelling the outfit into an extensive tour across the UK and EU in March, followed by a festival circuit in July and August. Fans attending this one can expect to be thrust into the mosh pit.
Over the past five years, the band has evolved their sound into a fresh dance take on the legacies of The Chemical Brothers and, hopefully, Sunday’s secret headliners, The Prodigy. If it’s not clear yet – you need to see this band live. Talk Show is committed to reviving the mid-80s DIY ‘in the moment’ performance, and I’d bet frontman Harrison will be as much a part of the crowd as he is on stage, swanning through the chaos with matched crowd energy.
Calling Liverpool home, it is hard to not envy such a vibrant five-piece revelling in fun and theatrics arguably imprinted from their musically rich city landscape including local predecessors Space. Gen and the Degenerates could quite literally summon a storm of thunder triumphant in its drama as they bare their souls on stage, nothing with this band ever appears half arsed.
I was first introduced the band after their 2022 breakout sharp playful seductive single ‘Girl God Gun’, which sits comfortably on my greatest 30 singles of all time. Since then, they have gone on to hit bullseye on underground old-school rock with aggravated, sure, confident and firm red-carpet bitch behaviour. Mix greater world liberal commentary using humour and colour to blur the line of darkness and political and self-despair they are genius in their collective character. They are a band that will dominate both loud rock and quiet acoustic spaces, and the perfect fit to round off the weekend.
Catch Gen and the Degenerates at Hanger 161 on Sunday at 18:30
If I were granted three wishes for this weekend, they’d be for big bands, brass textures, and no hangovers. Nubiyan Twist can make two of these come true, though they might challenge the third. This tight-knit, talented 9-piece ensemble is based in London and brings to life vibrant scenes reminiscent of Archibald Motley through their fusion of jazz, hip-hop, afrobeat, Latin, soul, reggae, and dance music.
It’s a dazzling experience that I anticipated enjoying in the daylight, but instead, it’s set to unfold in a special hour-long performance starting at 11:00 PM. This set will bid farewell to Friday with the rich texture and rhythmic reverence it deserves.
Fronted by Tom Excell, 2024 also welcomed a new voice, Aziza Jaye, who debuted with the eclectic group on their album Find Your Flame. This is a thrilling moment to experience the big band’s latest formation, showcasing their soul, spirit, and passion for music.
Nubiyan Twist will be performing at 11pm on the Nexus stage.
International nomad Natty Lou is the Drum and Bass DJ and Producer known for her stage performance in both decks and dancing. Having first been introduced DnB mixing through a friend while at Bristol University – it took Natty (real name Natalie) lessons halfway across the world in Hong-Kong and then a pandemic to find the break to learn her craft and she hasn’t looked back since. 2023 saw Natty drop liquid singles Alpenglow and Tempted to huge underground fan success, 2024 has seen her head dive into acid techno collaborating with the likes of Sebotage, Émilie Rachel and Axel boy.
You can catch up with Nattys latest in Drum & Bass and Jungle music play listing as a regular host on South London station Rinse FM but before then, go check her out this Thursday 21:00-22:00 at Hidden Woods.