BoomTown 2013

[atomised]

Its a valid point about the capacities of different stages. A complaint I've heard from friends who've gone before is that some get packed very quickly and if the capacity of the festival is increasing I would hope they are addressing that too

[5co77ie]

Another clever move by Boomtown:

Split the music arenas into two, at the top and the bottom of the hill - and then charge people to stand any chance of seeing the acts they've already committed 140 quid to see.

I also like the (not so headline) news that it's now 30,000 people. It was stated previously that the capacity would not rise again this year. Lion's Den is bigger, but are the other stages also bigger to cope with another 8k (I think) people.

Clearly the lineups are getting bigger each year, but at what cost?

[Dukeicon]

I think the lift is going up the side to where the kids area is - It's no bigger capacity - it was at 28,000 last year I think that's capacity for Matterley (:unsure)

[mr flow]

There was 30k on site last year if you include the crew etc

I don't think you'll see a noticable increase this year of people compared to last year.

[dorlomin]

and then charge people to stand any chance of seeing the acts they've already committed 140 quid to see.

[random_man]

The lineups a stonker once again!

http://www.efestivals.co.uk/news/13/130207h.shtml

Although the Marley's are missing off of the official poster

[5co77ie]

give it a week and they'll be there....

[random_man]

give it a week and they'll be there....

[si_t]

I can't go to this now.

Lineup looks ace. doh.

Atleast I know I'll have no probs selling my ticket.

[random_man]

A few more additions today:

[dumski]

Although the Marley's are missing off of the official poster

[eFestivals]

is this the special guest?

it might be (Stephen &/or Julian).

[sonny]

Might try this in the absence of Guilfest, God rest its soul

I do like a bit of Ska

[si_t]

looks dead good - can't argue at the depth of lineup - alot of very good acts.

I thought they'd have gone massive on a headliner though - Manu Chao or Damian Marley or something....

[eFestivals]

it might be (Stephen &/or Julian).

it's now looking like it's not these btw, despite them being included in the first (but quickly withdrawn) Boomtown line-up press release for this year.

[eFestivals]

I thought they'd have gone massive on a headliner though - Manu Chao or Damian Marley or something....

I had a chat with the organisers about 3 months ago, and they actually said they planned to downsize the bands they were booking rather than upsize.

Personally I'm looking at the line-up and seeing it in about the same place.

[si_t]

fair enough I suppose - I think they've established enough of a presence, and sold a lot of tickets early doors, so they don't need the massive names (ie your headliners for a 30k event) to tempt new people along - those punters who have already been will do that for them by telling friends etc

The genius i guess is in investing in the unique infrastructure that can then be built on year on year.

I had a chat with the organisers about 3 months ago, and they actually said they planned to downsize the bands they were booking rather than upsize.

Personally I'm looking at the line-up and seeing it in about the same place.

[eFestivals]

their rationale for not going for bigger acts is that there's just too few of them in the genres they present - so if they went there, they'd quickly find they had no one of that large appeal to book.

To me that smacks of a very smart realisation, and it's refreshing for a promoter not to just want to get forever bigger.

What bugs me on a personal level about that is that it does sort of cement in place no acts ever really getting bigger. The acts need the big platform no less than a big platform being offered to acts.

[si_t]

they seem to be very smart - It seems the development over the last few years has been pulled off excellently.

Getting Arcadia was massive too. If that continues I can't see them ever struggling to shift tickets.

Only thing is that you're already getting repetition of lineup.... but hard to avoid with those genres, like you say.

[eFestivals]

Only thing is that you're already getting repetition of lineup.... but hard to avoid with those genres, like you say.

less hard to avoid if they didn't swerve as much 'heritage' reggae as they do. I say 'swerve', but it's probably really them just booking what they know and not what they don't know.

[random_man]

Are you going to pop along this year Neil?

The line-up is already quite repetitive, I would say most of the acts have appeared at least once in the past 4 years but that's what I kind of like about the festival - its a chance to see all the smaller festival circuit bands every year on a bigger stage, not just tucked away in a corner somewhere - as well as a few random gems that Boomtown tend to throw in!

[eFestivals]

Are you going to pop along this year Neil?

I'm definitely considering it. I haven't finalised my festie plans yet.

[jmcevoy2]

It says on the website that you're only allowed 16 cans and no spirits to be brought in. Are these rules seriously enforced or will you be fine to take a couple of crates in for personal use? Regardless, what are pint prices like on the site?

Thanks!

[jmcevoy2]

Already seen pint prices, 3.80 a pint 3.70 with eco cup, not bad.. still, question remains if anyone could answer. Thanks

[si_t]

I have seen it enforced - I have seen periods where its not so much.

Your best bet is to have a blatant crate of 16, and a few / many stashed away elsewhere.

Also, there are sniffer dogs at boomtown, which is nice.