Post Boomtown Blues
Boomtown is famous for its mind bending stages, characters and setting; an alternative way of living for 4 days that challenges its ‘citizens’ and even itself as this year’s storyline wasn’t afraid to expose its own inevitable hypocrisy. ‘Behind The Mask’ followed on from last year’s Chapter 8 theme of revolution started by the man behind the mask; a faceless, steam punk figure. This year the festivities of rebellion had been profited on by Bang Hi Industries “The name you can trust” as the fat cat CEO proclaimed from electronic billboards followed by a sickeningly smug smile. This was clearly an allegory for current UK politics, Bang Hai’s message that business and government are not only equivalent, but that business is better for all was a terrifyingly homogenising and all to relatable concept.
The first night’s adventures led us to a group of police officers sporting the signs ‘EVERYTHING IS ILLEGAL’ in front of an entrance; once inside we were greeted with stripper police officers behind bars under washes of pink and blue lights. One pulled a truncheon from his pants and licked it; it was a surreal, sadistic display that we never wanted to end. The next day another mysterious door opened up Boomtown’s secret, underground plot lines as we were ushered into a tiny opening, sat down and interrogated for information for the revolutionaries working to abolish Bang Hai Industries. Whirring machines, wires and computer parts were set up with three operators who needed a USB from someone in Old Town; we were told to use the code ‘Do I Know You Friend?’ and sent on our merry way.
However it wasn’t just the actors providing the stimulus to explore and create; when visiting the Psychedelic Forest we stumbled upon a bubble wizard. Dressed in a rainbow cape and producing massive bubbles and stick tricks he gave endless fun, with our feet in the sand we boogied to psy trance with dreadlocked hippies, keeping bubbles alive for as long as possible. We watched civil engineers, teachers and managers enjoy their glittery, wiggly freedom without stress, fear or worry. It was beautiful.
Although Boomtown lacked organisation at their West Gate entrance that opened 3 hour late and had a dangerously long and cramped crowd (it took us 7 hours to enter) which they need to improve for years to come, the festival itself was a nonstop adventure that freed its inhabitants entirely from their day to day normal.
This post is entitled Boomtown Blues because I feel myself pinning for that weekend, as i’m sure many others do… there is always next year… The Machine Cannot Be Stopped.
Big Love, Kerry x