Burton upon Trent's free Sonic Boom festival returns on Saturday 12 September, with Aftershock gigs across the town centre after the Market Place Main Stage finishes at 8pm.
East Staffordshire Borough Council and Sonic Boom Music CIC confirmed the Aftershock line-up as part of the 2026 festival. No ticket or wristband is needed for Aftershock, and the venues sit a few minutes from the Market Place.
The free open-air festival is in its third year. Pale Waves headline, with BBC Radio 6 Music's Chris Hawkins hosting again. Music runs from midday until late.
Confirmed Aftershock venues include The Campus at Burton and South Derbyshire College from 8pm, with Zebedee, Willow Bay and Marseille in a live BBC Introducing East Midlands broadcast hosted by Dean Jackson; the Barrel Stage at Burton Caribbean Association from 9pm; EMOM at Burton Library from 9pm; Arcadia in Abbey Arcade from 8.30pm; and The Rock Bar at The Brewhouse from 9pm.
During the day the Burton Albion FC Brewers Stage runs at the Market Hall from 1.30pm to 7pm, with Andrea Kenny, Ashton Spiby-Wood, Stacey Lynn, Dear Lily and Carl North.
Chris Baldwin, co-founder and director of Sonic Boom Music CIC, said: “Sonic Boom is a celebration of everything Burton has to offer. When the Main Stage closes, the Aftershock begins, with venues across the town opening their doors, all free and all original music. That's what makes Sonic Boom special: the whole town is the venue, and the town is making it possible together.”
Councillor Paul Walker, cabinet member for tourism and cultural development at East Staffordshire Borough Council, said: “The Council is proud to be working together with Sonic Boom Music CIC, and it's fantastic to see the festival developing year on year. Events like this bring real footfall into our town centre, give local businesses a welcome boost and put Burton on the map as a place to enjoy live music. It's a great example of what we can achieve when the Council, organisers and the community all work together.”
The festival is produced by Sonic Boom Music CIC with the council and funding from Arts Council England. Event tickets and updates are on events.sonicboom.org.uk and festival.sonicboom.org.uk.
