Boomtown 2025: Residing within the Energy of Now [Event Review]

Boomtown has at all times defied straightforward definition. It isn’t merely a music competition, however a whole metropolis constructed from creativeness, theatre, and neighborhood spirit, underpinned by a number of the most adventurous line-ups within the UK. For 2025, the Hampshire spectacular felt much more formidable. Its sprawling set design, storyline-driven performances, and kaleidoscopic forged of artists created a weekend that proved why Boomtown continues to occupy a singular area in competition tradition.

The centrepiece of this evolution was the debut of the Lion’s Gate principal stage, changing Origin and setting the visible and thematic tone of the weekend. The stage’s unveiling additionally introduced affirmation of the following step in Boomtown’s narrative: Chapter 5 “Radical Redesign”, which can see the competition return to its 2015 roots with the resurrection of the colossal Lion’s Den. For longtime followers, it was a symbolic second that signalled each progress and a return to heritage.

This 12 months’s theme, “The Energy of Now,” threaded via your complete weekend. It was greater than only a slogan. From the opening ceremony to the closing fireworks, the message was clear: immerse your self, be current, and let the town take over.

Thursday

Arriving on Wednesday gave time to soak up the brand new map and put together for what was to return. By Thursday night time, Boomtown’s streets and woods have been alive with sound. Within the newly unveiled Anara Forest, Prozak opened proceedings earlier than Breaka b2b Surusinghe laid down a livid session of pace storage, breaks, and bass that introduced the competition had actually begun.

The primary actual goosebump second got here with Boomtown veteran Inja, who has turn into virtually inseparable from the competition’s spirit. Performing his self-styled This Is Inja set on the new road venue Sub Bus stage, he seamlessly MCed and DJed by himself, dropping mega freestyles, forthcoming materials and the bangers we all know and love him for together with his and Serum‘s remix of Badger“Yapa” to the now-iconic “Shanice” that has turn into it is personal launched single and lighting up crowds all summer season. It was uncooked, emotional, and celebratory, a reminder of Boomtown’s capacity to show a efficiency into one thing deeply communal.

Elsewhere, Spectrum 360, curated by Mandidextrous, pushed the more durable and quicker finish of the spectrum, whereas the brand new Reactor: Crimson Bull Selector stage flipped conference on its head by handing monitor choice over to the gang. Inside a reactor-like construction, dancers waved pink or blue wristbands to decide on the DJ’s subsequent transfer, with Chloé Robinson orchestrating one of the interactive events of the weekend.

Friday

Friday marked the competition’s official opening, starting with a spine-tingling opening chapter efficiency of “Energy of Now” by Inja, Emily Makis and Kreed on Lion’s Gate while Eva Lazarus and Grove delivered their subsequent stage opening on Grand Central. As fireworks shot into the sky, the message to stay absolutely within the second rang out earlier than Born on Highway took the reins with a high-octane two-hour set, filled with dubs, edits and visitor MCs Inja and Carasel that ensured the weekend began at full throttle.

The day continued with explosive vitality throughout the positioning. Gardna drew a packed Grand Central stage crowd together with his distinctive mix of bass and lyrical dexterity, whereas Hidden Woods hosted a soulful set from DJ AG, who invited Eva Lazarus and Ayadadream to affix in. Over in Space 404, Badger drew such a crowd that the Mistaken Facet of the Tracks stage turned gridlocked, delivering an emotional golden-hour set that balanced playful pop edits with heartfelt drum and bass reworks, together with a hovering remix of Coldplay’s “Repair You”.

Later, Anara Forest turned a haven of reggae, dancehall and bass with Mungos Hello Fi, Eva Lazarus and Aziza Jaye, adopted by a heavyweight sequence from Flowdan and Common Levy & Associates that left the timber shaking. The night time carried a bittersweet edge as My Nu Leng introduced their break up earlier this month, turning their Boomtown set right into a farewell drenched in nostalgia. Closing on the era-defining “Shizam”, it felt like a curtain name for a duo who helped outline a technology of UK bass music.

By night, the tempo lifted once more. Kurupt FM lastly graced a serious stage, bringing their tongue-in-cheek storage vitality and tongue-twisting bars to Grand Central. They have been adopted by Rudimental, who headlined Lion’s Gate as a part of BBC Radio 1’s Dance takeover, rounding off a day of emotional highs and frenetic vitality.

Saturday

Saturday unfolded as a masterclass in eclectic programming. On Grand Central, drum and bass pioneer Goldie commanded the stage together with his stay band and singers, mixing uncooked jungle energy with soulful thrives that highlighted his enduring affect. The Hydro stage adopted afterward with a twist, as Serum swapped his typical DnB arsenal for a particular 90s rave set, reviving breakbeats and euphoric synth traces for a crowd wanting to lose themselves in nostalgia.

From there, the vitality solely escalated. The tip of Women Don’t Sync led straight into one of many weekend’s most anticipated pairings: Skream b2b Partiboi69. The uncommon collaboration spanned storage, home, techno and bass, weaving in euphoric builds earlier than closing in mischievous trend with Dizzee Rascal’s “Bassline Junkie” – a quintessentially Boomtown ending that was as tongue-in-cheek because it was euphoric.

Boomtown’s pleasure usually lies in its rogue choices, and Dangle the DJs at Spectrum 360 proved precisely that. From bass-heavy mash-ups of Celine Dion ballads to impromptu crowd video games of musical statues, the set was equal elements chaos and catharsis, embodying the carefree spirit the competition thrives on.

Later, MJ Cole Presents: Honest on the Nexus stage stay delivered a dose of UKG heritage earlier than the Lion’s Gate turned the epicentre as soon as extra. Nia Archives closed her set to rapturous applause, seamlessly handing over to Clipz b2b Lens, whose jungle and drum and bass blends stood out as one of many weekend’s most electrifying highlights.

As Saturday night time deepened, Mandidextrous closed out the Hydro stage, providing a journey in pace bass and jungletek that pushed our bodies and minds to their limits. It was an training in underground sound and a fittingly ferocious send-off to Boomtown’s second night time.

Sunday

Sunday arrived with blistering warmth and the promise of one of many competition’s greatest bookings. After daytime firepower from OKO b2b DJ Restricted and the ever-energetic Basslayerz at Lion’s Gate, consideration turned to Grand Central, the place Sean Paul delivered what will likely be remembered as one of many defining Boomtown moments.

The sheer measurement of the gang spoke volumes, as hundreds packed the stage to bounce, sing and dutty wine to hits like “Get Busy”, “Temperature”, “Glue”, “Rockabye” and extra. His efficiency of “Darlin’”, his new collaboration with Luude and Brodie (who joined him stay on stage), underscored how seamlessly he can cross into the world of drum and bass. Because the solar set, the ambiance was euphoric, emotional and deeply nostalgic, a kind of uncommon competition moments that crystallises into reminiscence.

The nostalgia continued with Boney M, led by unique member Maizie Williams, whose disco anthems from “Daddy Cool” to “Rasputin” had the gang in full voice. Hidden Woods provided excessive vitality into the nightfall with Shogun Audio’s takeover, the place Emily Makis marked her birthday with a surprising, full throttle efficiency.

Because the weekend drew in the direction of its shut, the emotional weight grew heavier. Maribou State offered a soulful, vocal-led stay set that reminded everybody of Boomtown’s depth, whereas 4AM Kru delivered a powerhouse stay jungle efficiency at Grand Central. Accompanied by a dance crew whose stamina matched the music, they closed with “Ribena”, a feel-good anthem that epitomised the competition’s vitality earlier than the ultimate ceremony started.

Closing Ceremony and Past

For the primary time, we determined to expertise the closing ceremony unfold at Grand Central moderately than Lion’s Gate (beforehand Origin). The storyline revealed that The Collector, elected as chief in 2024, was not who he seemed to be, as The Community overthrew Mr Biga and emerged to share a message with the true Collector to avoid wasting Boomtown. For outsiders, the plot could appear summary, however for Boomtown’s neighborhood it’s integral, fusing theatre, politics, and spectacle into the heartbeat of the competition.

Accompanied by fireworks, lasers, pyrotechnics and a Prodigy-inspired jungle closing ceremony rating by Kreed and Pete Cannon, the finale encapsulated Boomtown’s artistic ambition. As the brand new map for 2026 and the “Radical Redesign” theme have been revealed, the gang erupted, excited not only for subsequent 12 months’s acts, however for the continuing story that ties this metropolis collectively.

Boomtown 2025 felt like a turning level. The growth of Lion’s Gate, the emotional weight of “The Energy of Now”, and the affirmation of Lion’s Den’s return all added to the sense of a competition each reflecting on its historical past and reaching into the long run.

If there’s one suggestion for 2026, it is likely to be a return to secrecy across the lineup, encouraging folks to attend for Boomtown itself moderately than particular person stage takeovers or artists. That shock has at all times amplified the competition’s distinctive magic.

But even with out it, Boomtown 2025 was a triumph. From Inja’s heartfelt Thursday night time set to Sean Paul’s roadblock Sunday, from My Nu Leng’s farewell to 4AM Kru’s euphoric finale, it was a weekend of highs, chaos and connection. Most of all, it was a reminder that the true headline act at Boomtown is the neighborhood itself, united, if just for just a few days, within the pure energy of now. An enormous shout out goes out to all of the artists, crew, acquainted and new faces, and new recollections made, uniting for this one particular weekend within the competition calendar.

Tickets for Boomtown 2026, going down on the 12–sixteenth August at Matterley Property, are actually on sale. Extra info is offered at www.boomtownfair.co.uk.

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