FAQs
Saturday 13th September 2025, in Burton upon Trent. The free Main Stage runs midday to 8pm, followed by our ticketed Aftershock venues from 8pm until late.
Sonic Boom is packed with over 50 artists across the Main Stage and Aftershock venues. The free Main Stage in Burton Market Place runs from midday to 8pm with sets from Joel Foster, Leah Wilcox, Better Joy, The Clause, Prima Queen, K.O.G and headliners Everything Everything. BBC Radio 6 Music’s Chris Hawkins hosts, and its completely free.
From 8pm the Official Aftershock events takes over the town, with live music at the Brewhouse Arts Centre (BBC Introducing stage), Burton College (This Feeling stage), Burton Town Hall, Burton Library, Tower Brewery, Burton Caribbean Association and more. Expect national festival names alongside brilliant regional rising talent, plus acoustic sets and signings in the Market Hall during the day.
Full lineups, set times and venue details are on Clashfinder.
The free Main Stage is in Burton Market Place. Aftershock venues are spread across the town centre: Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton College, Burton Town Hall, Burton Library, Market Hall, Tower Brewery and more.
No. Main Stage is completely free and open to everyone. It starts at midday and closes at 8pm with Everything Everything performing from 7pm.
Absolutely! The Main Stage is for everyone, kids included. It’s family friendly, totally free, and open all afternoon, so bring the little ones and make a day of it. After 8pm, things move into the Aftershock venues, some are 16+ or 18+, so the evening is more for the older children and grown-ups.
We’d recommend you don’t bring pets. The festival is busy and the music can be loud close to the stages, which isn’t fair on animals. Assistance dogs are of course welcome.
There are no barriers or ticket gates, Burton Market Place is open to everyone. Music starts at midday, but you can wander along any time during the day.
Yes. After 8pm you’ll need a Sonic Boom wristband to get into any of the Aftershock venues.
Wristbands are available in advance through Gigantic. On the day, you can only buy them from the Market Hall. The Market Hall opens at 11.30am for wristband sales and collection.
Yes, we’ve subsidised a limited number of £10 wristbands for people on low incomes. These tickets are only available in advance from Dice, not on the day. Both gigantic and Dice sell exactly the same wristband tickets.
No, wristbands will not be sold at venue doors. The only place to buy them on the day is the Market Hall.
The Main Stage is all ages and family friendly, and children are welcome. Aftershock venues have varying restrictions: some are all ages, some are 16+, some are 18+, and under-16s cannot enter. All venues that serve alcohol operate a Challenge 25 policy, and under-18s must be accompanied by an adult.
The Main Stage closes at 8pm. Aftershock venues run from 8pm. Most venues have curfews at 11pm. Some venues run until 2am. Check the venue map for closing times.
Use our interactive map at map.sonicboomfestival.co.uk
Click a venue to get walking directions from your location. The Map is colour coded so when locators are green, the venue has space, when they are amber the venue is nearly full, when they go red, the venue is full.
Set times are published on our website and Clashfinder. They may change on the day, this is a live show so keep an eye on our website and social media for live updates.
Feel free to bring along snacks and soft drinks for the Main Stage, it’s an open town square and we want you to be comfortable. We just ask that you don’t bring alcohol. Instead, enjoy our two brilliant festival bars: Shep’s Bar in the Market Hall and the Sonic Boom Bar on the Market Place, both serving local beers, ciders and more.
Please don’t bring glass bottles, camping chairs, barbecues, gazebos, inflatables or anything that could block space or cause safety issues. Alcohol can’t be brought to the Market Place, but you can bring soft drinks and snacks to the Main Stage. Assistance dogs are welcome, but otherwise please leave pets at home.
Yes. The Main Stage and Market Hall are accessible, and most evening venues are too. Free carer tickets are available on Gigantic. We have an accessible viewing space inside the Market Hall overlooking the Main Stage. We cannot install a viewing platform in the Market Place. Venue-by-venue access details are on the map and on each listing. Blue Badge parking is available in all town centre car parks. For specific needs, email accessibility@sonicboom.org.uk.
There are several town centre car parks within 3–10 minutes’ walk of the Main Stage. Set your sat nav to Coopers Square Car Park ///unable.charmingly.rigid. From there it’s a two-minute walk to the Main Stage through a covered shopping centre.
Trains run direct from Derby, Birmingham and Nottingham. Burton train station (BUT) is a 10-minute walk from the Main Stage (past plenty of good pubs). Buses stop in the town centre and local taxis are easy to book.
If you’re driving, roads around the Main Stage will be closed. Set your sat nav to Coopers Square Car Park ///unable.charmingly.rigid. From there it’s a two-minute walk to the Main Stage through a covered shopping centre.
Burton has plenty of hotels, B&Bs and Airbnbs within walking distance of the festival. You’ll find chain options like Premier Inn and Travelodge, as well as independent guesthouses. There’s no camping at Sonic Boom, so you’ll need to book local accommodation.
Go straight to the Market Hall Office – https://w3w.co/image.passes.crowd - it’s the hub for lost property and our designated lost children point. Security and event staff are trained to help and will make sure people and belongings are reunited quickly. If you lose a child, staff will help and, if needed, announcements from the stage PA.
Tickets are non-refundable. If plans change and you can’t make it, you can resell your ticket securely through Gigantic’s resale system. The festival goes ahead rain or shine. The Main Stage is outdoors, so bring waterproofs if rain is forecast. The Market Hall is indoors if you need shelter.
Tickets are card only. Most bars and stalls also take card, though some merch sellers may prefer cash. Bring a little just in case, but card will work for almost everything.
Every penny from wristband sales and donations goes back into Sonic Boom Music CIC’s work with young people and the local music scene.
You can donate on our Goodhub page https://www.goodhub.com/go/sonic-boom-music-cic
Artist applications will open later in September. Sign up to the newsletter and follow us on social media for updates and details on how to apply.