Boomtown breathes to the sign of the times. Twice closed due to the pandemic, we had to say goodbye to the world crafted up to 2019 and, true to their ethos, rebuild. Quite literally starting with a new chapter in 2022, the festival, situated in the bowl of South Downs National Park, has since prevailed and celebrated a remarkable third birthday titled Revolution of Imagination. Showcasing new district designs, story missions, and both rising and established talent, TNAM was invited to take a cake slice.
Through light showers, our time at the 5-day event started on Thursday, just moments before the gates to the interactive city opened. Admittedly, I was moping—not because of the wet marks splotching my glasses, but because I had to miss the Wednesday forest sets from the likes of Mother Dubber, Mia Koden, and JayaHadADream. But it was time to toughen up because I was now at the Botanica Street party, standing on a picnic bench trying to get a view of the 400-strong early bird audience here to see Bristol-based DJ Salt.
Seasoning the crowd with UK funk, house, and a sprinkle of afrobeat, no foot missed a beat as everyone two-stepped their way through the early afternoon. For Salt (real name Solly Halt), her timing and positioning for the set were perfect. The sun peeked through the clouds, enriching the Aztec-painted blue stage as her beats dropped and built up again. We were all excited and rearing to go.
Once the city gates opened, the day moved quickly. A strict schedule left me brushing through performances from Genie Tunes and Chinese Daughter while also allowing time to explore the set designs of this year’s world.
I’ve always struggled to paint a picture of what lies inside Boomtown’s walls for those who haven’t attended. This year, eight city districts came to life, each with its own elected leader. We watched theatrics, trials, and tribulations as each district presented its vision for building a new, perfect world. Within these wildly unique and meticulously crafted districts are characters to meet, causes to join, and secrets to uncover around every corner. You can play the game as deeply as you want—interactivity is key—but you can also just pop in for a light laugh with friends.
“The aim of the game, if you choose to play, is to discover the stories unfolding all over the city and uncover the collective wisdom teaching us all how to transform our world.
Join us… start anywhere, follow everywhere.”
We ja lot about the sensory overload from actor’s quests and bass thuds coming from all horizons. Even with the event’s new structure of a condensed city, I still can’t comprehend how Boomtown’s most dedicated civilians manage to complete the back-alley storylines while also finding time to listen to the music.
Mollie Rush and Chicha Morada set the tone for my early evening, warming things up before our big stay at Hidden Woods, where we were in for a treat from international concrete junglist and DNB adrenaline shot, Natty Lou. Hidden Woods is a Boomtown staple—a stage nestled in a forest adorned with crochet lamps and structural treehouses.
Natty, who is also a professional dancer, led her sea of thousands into a rave that became the peak of the evening for most. Her presence shone as she defied predictability, dropping the bass a beat later than expected, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Bodies jumped rapidly, caught up in the excitement and disbelief of where the next wave would take them.
A last-minute switch brought MC Tiny K to the mic, and together with Natty, they bounced off each other like best friends from different cities meeting for the first time. Despite the distance between the stage and the crowd, Natty and Tiny K made everyone feel included, as if they were part of the same close-knit circle, even from hundreds of people away.
And in typical Boomtown fashion, when you think the night will end, it doesn’t.
More incoming