MUSIC

(Thur 11-Sun 14 Aug) Boomtown Fair is a festival on the up. This year it took place from 11-14 August, showcasing over 700 acts and catering for the tastes of over 10,000 festival goers from all over the country. Those who attended were treated to international and well-known artists such as Bad Manners, Ms Dynamite, Gogol Bordello and Congo Natty; an expansion of Glastonbury’s Shangri-la-inspired late-night mayhem, with countless venues open until 4am; and a stronger emphasis on the quieter, greener side of things, with an impressive kids’ area and workshops for those inclined towards copper banging, chalk sawing, hat making, glass staining or massage, to name but a few.

Beginning life as a humble cider festival in a field in Bath in 2006, on one field, one stage and one day, crew were generally unpaid, unknown, or both. Re-emerging in 2007 as Recydrate the West, after a year off, it finally found its current identity as Boomtown Fair in 2009. Boomtown is now in its successful third year, and third location, each time a little bigger, a little longer, and a little more diverse. Crew and artists may now be, in some cases, better known (and, perhaps, better off), but as a larger festival, it retains something of the essence of the first few years, with the help of loyal bands and punters, and a lot of giant butterflies. Boomtown is a party, complete with loud colours and loud music.

The vision, according to the organisers, is “to go above and beyond the horizon; to venture out into the unknown; to promote otherworldly experiences that will tantalise the senses”. Leading off from the Town Centre (or Main Stage), revellers are invited into Mayfair, where they can check into The Park Hotel or The Gentleman’s Club, if suitably attired. Downtown entertainment includes a casino, a cinema and a roller disco; and in Old Town the Gramophone Disco is worth a look en route to the Leisure Centre, which offers fitness classes and gold­-sprayed gym equipment. Many other venues are scattered throughout the different parts of town, each with its own soundsystem and atmosphere. Further afield are the Dance Off, where all are welcome to showcase their moves; the terrifying Wall of Death, where motorcyclists can be seen climbing vertical walls on their wheels; and a variety of fairground rides for the fainter hearted. And constantly moving, the Arcadia stage is a giant crawling beetle, arriving to spread its wings and reveal a dark underside of music and dance. Being at Boomtown is certainly an interactive experience.

Its triumph remains the music. On the main stages, highlights this year included the energetic Los Albertos and First Degree Burns; incredible beatboxing by Reeps One; the club atmosphere Ms Dynamite managed to create; jumping about to Babylon Circus; hearing good-time classics by The Selecter; hearing them again in a new and no worse form from True Beat; and the amazing voice of Nuala Honan (pictured) performing with Smerins Anti Social Club. Superlatives were also flying around all weekend upon mention of Slamboree, The King Blues, Babyhead, the Carny Villains and many other acts. And, of course, Boomtown would not be so without The Invisible Circus acts, delighting the audience with daring shows.

Asking members of Los Albertos, the Carny Villains and First Degree Burns why they are loyal to Boomtown, the same answer was voiced in different words. Boomtown is unpretentious, a fun and friendly place to discover and dance to all manner of music. It is now much more than a cider festival. However, if cider, or copious amounts of butterflies, dazzling fireshows, good music and smiling people are your thing, Boomtown Fair is one to watch. (Claire Higgins)

Copyright Claire Higgins 2011