Pale Waves to headline Sonic Boom Festival

Pale Waves will headline Sonic Boom Festival 2026, as the free, open-air event returns to Burton upon Trent, with thousands of music fans expected to descend on the town centre for a full day of live music.

Fresh from its shortlisting for Independent Festival of the Year at the UK Festival Awards, the festival returns for its third year on Saturday 12 September, 2026.

It continues to build momentum as one of the region’s most distinctive live music events, transforming Burton upon Trent into a town-wide stage and championing original artists at every level.

Headliners Pale Waves, fronted by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Heather Baron-Gracie, have achieved a string of Top 10 singles, with their second studio album ‘Who Am I?’ reaching number one on the Official Independent Albums Chart.

Joining Pale Waves on the Main Stage are The Lilacs, The League of Rebelz, Vona Vella, Terrianne and The Missing Diamonds, forming a lineup rooted in discovery and emerging talent.

This approach remains central to Sonic Boom’s identity, with the festival designed to spotlight artists at a pivotal moment in their careers.

With no ticket price, the festival brings together dedicated music fans, local audiences and visitors from across the region in a shared free live experience in the heart of the town.

BBC Radio 6 Music’s Chris Hawkins returns to host the Main Stage, bringing his experience of supporting independent and emerging artists to a festival that continues to grow in confidence and reach.

Chris Hawkins said: “Sonic Boom is exactly the kind of event Burton deserves – free, forward-looking and entirely about original music.

“Every time I come back, the ambition has grown. The lineup this year is brilliant and I’m proud to be part of a festival that puts real opportunity at the heart of what it does.”

Produced in partnership between East Staffordshire Borough Council and Sonic Boom Music CIC, the festival is funded by East Staffordshire Borough Council.

Chris Baldwin, Sonic Boom Music CIC director added: “Pale Waves headlining Sonic Boom Festival 2026 is a statement - a not just about one band or one organisation, but about what Burton upon Trent is becoming. A place worth coming to.

“Alongside them, we’ve curated a main stage that reflects exactly what Sonic Boom Festival stands for: original music, real voices, and a platform that moves from local roots to global momentum.

“This isn’t a local festival punching above its weight. This is the right lineup, on the right stage, in the right town, at the right time. See you down the front!”

Following the Main Stage, Sonic Boom Festival 2026 will see the return of the Aftershock programme, with live music continuing across venues throughout Burton upon Trent. Full lineups and further announcements will be revealed in the coming months.

Further 2026 festival announcements are available on the website.