Boomtown have just announced their first wave of acts for Chapter 9, showcasing the festival’s signature mix of expansive genres, with unique acts spearheading a vast roster of talent. 

Joining previously announced 2 Tone ska legends The Specials are; M.I.A., Cypress Hill, Arrested Development, Sublime with Rome, The Original Blues Brothers Band, Ziggy Marley, Frank Turner, Toots & The Maytals and Skindred.

"We've known about playing Boomtown for some time & it's been really difficult to keep it secret. Everybody has been saying 'it would be great if you played Boomtown' & all we could say is 'yeah'. Well, we are playing Boomtown .....YEAH!!!" The Specials

Boomtown takes place from Thursday 10th - Sunday 13th August at The Matterley Bowl, Matterley Estate, Hampshire, SO24 0HY.  Boomtown is like no other festival in the UK with 12 discrete districts each with their on theme and 25 main stages (see video below).

Details of artists appearing by stage:
Lion’s Den - Agent Sasco & Dub Akom Band, Big Youth & U-Roy, The Bonner Brothers (Richie Spice, Spanner Banner, Snatcha Lion, Sheperd Bonner feat. Chaka Demus + Pliers), Cypress Hill, Earl Gateshead with Dawn Penn & Soom T, Gentleman’s Dub Club feat. Taiwan MC, Parly B & Eva Lazarus, Iba Mahr & Harar Band, Jah9, Lutan Fyah, M.I.A., Mr Vegas, Protoje, Raging Fyah, Runkus & The Old Skool Bond, Solo Banton & Horseman with The Upper Cut Band, The Specials, Stand High Patrol & Pupajim, Suns Of Dub feat. Randy Valentine , Stick Figure, Toots & The Maytals, Ziggy Marley

Town Centre - Arrested Development, Eskorzo, Frank Turner, Hepcat, Hoffmaestro, The Original Blues Brothers Band, Reel Big Fish, Sam & The Womp, The Showhawk Duo, Ska’N’Ska, Skindred, Slightly Stoopid, Smokey Joe & The Kid feat. Mystro, Sublime With Rome, Sugarhill Gang with Grandmaster Melle Mel & Scorpio’s Furious 5, Wax Tailor, The Wurzels

Old Mines - Alabama 3, Beans On Toast, The Breath, Bukahara, Chris Wood, Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band, The Furrow Collective, Heymoonshaker, Kumbia Queers, Lakuta, Mad Dog Mcrea, Mbongwana Star, Newton Faulkner, Kila, Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, The Showhawk Duo, 47 Soul

The Windmill -Benjamin Zephaniah & the Revolutionary Minds, Brinsley (Aswad) Forde MBE, The Comet Is Coming, Dub FX, GoGo Penguin, Jesse Royal, Nerija, Nomade Orquestra, Portico Quartet, Mike Love, SK Shlomo, Sons Of Kemet, Soweto Kinch, United Vibrations, Wrongtom meets The Ragga Twins

Old Town - Crash Nomada, Los Colorados, UFOSlavians

Rusty Spurs - Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind

Hidden Woods - Nattali Rize, Nice Up! Takeover, Reggae Roast ft Brother Culture, Randy Valentine

Psychedelic Forest - Astrix, Ace Ventura, Berg, GAUDI, Juno Reactor, Ott & The All-Seeing I

Devil Kicks Dancehall - The Dreadnoughts, King Prawn, Legendary Shack Shakers, Planet Smashers

Chinatown Courtyard - The Dualers

Poco Loco - AJ Tracey, Chali 2na & Krafty Kuts, Dea Players Vs Problem Child, Donae'O, Elf Kid, Loyle Carner, MC Taiwan, Ocean Wisdom, The Four Owls

Vamos - Ben UFO & Mr Scruff & Joy Orbison, Boddika, Booka Shade, Boys Noize, Carl Craig, Dave Clarke, Dusky, House Gospel Choir, Monki, Solardo

Bang Hai Tower - Black Sun Empire, Break, Exit Records Takeover, Kill Box, My Nu Leng B2B TQD, Optiv & BTK, Phace, Redlight, Rusko, S.P.Y, The Prototypes

Sector 6 - Butterz takeover (Elijah & Skilliam, Swindle & DJ Champion & MC Serious), DJ Luck & MC Neat, Heartless Crew, Holy Goof, Mefjus B2B Emperor, Shogun Audio Takeover, Shy FX, The Heatwave, Toddla T