Director Chris Baldwin says “we believe the best live music should cost nothing to experience”.
East Staffordshire Borough Council and Sonic Boom Music CIC have announced two new live music events at Burton Market Hall, which they hope will enable them to make the whole of this year’s Sonic Boom Festival – on Saturday 12 September – free for all.
With Pale Waves confirmed to headline of the main Festival line-up, and BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Chris Hawkins returning as host, Sonic Boom continues to grow as a cultural event rooted firmly in the town and communities.
This year has seen ‘Rumble’ events organised by Sonic Boom CIC added to the calendar, and now two Legends events will help to extend the festival’s impact beyond just one day, bringing the community together through music while serving as a foundation of the town’s vibrant cultural future.
The first of the Legends events arrives next month, on Saturday 18 July, with DJ Neil, Miles Dosher and Rose Melba, returning to the decks for an unmissable throwback, celebrating the records, venues and nights that helped shape Burton’s music identity.
The second Legends returns to Burton Market Hall on Saturday 22 August, with lineup details to be announced.
Money from these two events will support Sonic Boom Music CIC to offer free ‘Aftershocks’, a programme of gigs, DJ sets and late-night events that take place across venues throughout Burton after the main Sonic Boom Festival stage closes on Saturday 12 September.
Chris Baldwin, Co-founder and Director of Sonic Boom Music CIC, explained that “we believe the best live music should cost nothing to experience”.
We want to make a clear statement that access to culture shouldn’t depend on what someone can afford, we want to expand the scope of what’s possible and build on what we have already. When you remove the barriers, you create something different, a town full of people discovering music together in the same spaces.
Events like Legends help turn Sonic Boom from a singular festival into a year-round music scene, demonstrating the growing demand for live music in Burton beyond September. Delivered with the support of East Staffordshire Borough Council, the event forms part of a wider ambition to establish Burton as a recognised music town throughout the year.
The festival is produced by Sonic Boom Music CIC in partnership with East Staffordshire Borough Council, whose continued support has enabled the event to expand its reach.
Councillor Paul Walker, Cabinet Member for Tourism and Cultural Development at East Staffordshire Borough Council, celebrated that “Sonic Boom has quickly become an important part of Burton’s cultural identity”.
The festival brings energy into the town centre and supports local businesses as well as demonstrating how accessible cultural events can strengthen community. We are proud to support an event that is ambitious, inclusive and focused on creating long-term opportunities for the town and its people.
Hosted by Chris Hawkins, whose support for independent music has made him one of the most respected voices in British broadcasting, Sonic Boom continues to advocate for original artists and free shared live experiences over commercial exclusivity.
Further lineup announcements and details surrounding the wider town-wide programme will be revealed in the coming months.
Tickets for Legends events at Burton Market Hall are priced at £10 (standard). On the door tickets are priced at £15 on the night. Tickets for the 18 July event are available now from buytickets.at/sonicboommusiccic.
For ticket release dates for the 22 August event, full lineup updates and event information, visit www.sonicboomfestival.co.uk or follow Sonic Boom Festival on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and X: @sonicboom.org.uk.