Sonic Boom Festival hailed a success as thousands of music fans descend on Burton upon Trent

East Staffordshire Borough Council and Sonic Boom Music CIC put live music within reach of everyone, by delivering Burton upon Trent’s town-wide music festival Sonic Boom.

Now in its third year, the event returned on Saturday 12 September and has been hailed a roaring success by organisers East Staffordshire Borough Council and Sonic Boom Music CIC, as thousands of music fans descended on Burton upon Trent.

A main stage headlined by Pale Waves and hosted by BBC Radio 6 Music’s Chris Hawkins, included international, national and regional artists The Lilacs and League of Rebelz, playing alongside homegrown artists Vona Vella, Terrianne and The Missing Diamonds.

Alongside the main stage, a new Brewers stage, supported by Burton Albion Football Club featured a line-up of the best local up and coming artists, alongside a merchandise and retail market.

Following the mainstage a series of Aftershock gigs, featuring over forty artists took over venues across the town, with programmes curated by local and regional promoters alongside BBC Introducing.

Alongside the live music, a Turbo learning and education programme, delivered in conjunction with Burton and South Derbyshire College welcomed a cohort of over fifteen young people aged 15 to 25, giving hands-on experience and supporting next generation get started in the live music and creative industries.

Sonic Boom Festival’s approach was recently singled out in the Government's national music strategy, Turn It Up: Our Plan for Music, which featured the festival as a case study in grassroots music investment.

The report found that Sonic Boom generated £2.34 of economic value for every £1 spent in 2025, with its free and inclusive model helping draw more than 10,000 visitors and over 80 local and national acts into Burton town centre, since 2024.

Its return in 2026 was backed by funding from East Staffordshire Borough Council and part of £99,570 funding from Arts Council England, secured by the Council to develop cultural activity across the borough through 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, whilst rejuvenating the town rich history of original live music.”