Thousands of music fans visited Burton upon Trent as the free Sonic Boom Festival returned for its third year.
The town-wide event took place on Saturday 12 September, combining a main outdoor stage, a new Brewers stage and more than 40 performers appearing at Aftershock gigs in venues across Burton.
Pale Waves headlined the main stage, which was hosted by BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Chris Hawkins. The programme also featured The Lilacs and League of Rebelz alongside homegrown artists Vona Vella, Terrianne and The Missing Diamonds.
Local artists and venues join town-wide programme
A new Brewers stage, supported by Burton Albion Football Club, showcased emerging local performers and was accompanied by a merchandise and retail market.
After the main-stage programme ended, the festival continued through a series of Aftershock gigs. More than 40 artists appeared across participating venues, with programmes put together by local and regional promoters alongside BBC Introducing.
The festival also included a learning and education programme delivered with Burton and South Derbyshire College. Organisers said more than 15 people aged between 15 and 25 took part, gaining practical experience intended to help them enter the live music and creative industries.
Festival highlighted in national music strategy
Sonic Boom's free and inclusive model was recently featured as a case study in the Government's national music strategy, Turn It Up: Our Plan for Music.
According to figures cited by the organisers, the festival generated £2.34 of economic value for every £1 spent in 2025. They also said Sonic Boom has brought more than 10,000 visitors and over 80 local and national acts into Burton town centre since 2024.
The 2026 event was backed by East Staffordshire Borough Council and by part of £99,570 in Arts Council England funding secured by the council to support cultural activity across the borough during 2026 and 2027.
Chris Baldwin, co-founder and director of Sonic Boom Music CIC, said: “I'm immensely proud of this year's festival. Bringing nationally recognised artists into the heart of a town, performing alongside brilliant local talent, is totally unique and is helping put Burton upon Trent on the map, while rejuvenating the town's rich history of original live music.”
Councillor Paul Walker, East Staffordshire Borough Council's cabinet member for tourism and cultural development, said: “Sonic Boom Festival has become one of the town's most treasured cultural events. I was so pleased to see the town busy, supporting and celebrating the brilliant line-up of artists.”
He said the event showed what Burton could achieve when the council, organisers and local partners worked towards a shared cultural vision.
More information about the festival is available from the Sonic Boom Festival website.
The attendance estimate, economic figures, quotations and photographs were supplied by East Staffordshire Borough Council and Sonic Boom Music CIC.
