Sonic Boom Festival Aftershock will return to Burton upon Trent for 2026, with free late-night gigs across the town centre after the Main Stage closes. The event, confirmed by East Staffordshire Borough Council and Sonic Boom Music CIC, takes place on Saturday, September 12, with performances starting from 8pm at various venues.
Venues and line-up for Aftershock 2026
The Aftershock will feature a diverse line-up curated by different promoters and partners, spanning indie, rock, electronica, folk and club music, with every act playing original material. Confirmed venues include The Campus at Burton and South Derbyshire College from 8pm, featuring Zebedee, Willow Bay and Marseille in a live BBC Introducing East Midlands broadcast hosted by Dean Jackson. The Barrel Stage at Burton Caribbean Association starts at 9pm with Mollie Ralph and Death Of The High Street, hosted by The Herron Brothers, with an after party until 1am.
EMOM at Burton Library from 9pm will present King of Wands, Lilly Sphire and James Glew, in partnership with Circularity.org. Arcadia in Abbey Arcade from 8.30pm will host Rose Melba and Matt Kel. The Rock Bar at The Brewhouse from 9pm will feature Joseph Hooligan, Floodhounds and tealdeer, presented with Riffriot Promotions.
Daytime activities and festival details
During the day, the Burton Albion FC 'Brewers Stage', supported by a new partnership with the football club, will run at the Market Hall from 1.30pm to 7pm, showcasing local and regional talent including Andrea Kenny, Ashton Spiby-Wood, Stacey Lynn, Dear Lily and Carl North. Podsmith will be printing official festival merchandise live on site.
The free, open-air festival, headlined by Pale Waves and hosted by BBC Radio 6 Music's Chris Hawkins, returns for its third year, turning Burton upon Trent into a town-wide stage from midday until late. No ticket or wristband is required for the Aftershock, allowing festivalgoers to venue-hop around town, each within a few minutes of Burton's Market Place.
Economic impact and community support
Chris Baldwin, co-founder and director of Sonic Boom Music CIC, said: “Sonic Boom is a celebration of everything Burton has to offer. When the Main Stage closes, the Aftershock begins, with venues across the town opening their doors, all free and all original music. That's what makes Sonic Boom special: the whole town is the venue, and the town is making it possible together.”
Councillor Paul Walker, cabinet member for Tourism and Cultural Development at East Staffordshire Borough Council, added: “The Council is proud to be working together with Sonic Boom Music CIC, and it's fantastic to see the festival developing year on year. Events like this bring real footfall into our town centre, give local businesses a welcome boost and put Burton on the map as a place to enjoy live music. It's a great example of what we can achieve when the Council, organisers and the community all work together.”
The festival is produced by Sonic Boom Music CIC in partnership with East Staffordshire Borough Council, with funding from Arts Council England. Further announcements are expected in the coming weeks. Tickets for events are available now from events.sonicboom.org.uk, and updates can be found at festival.sonicboom.org.uk or on social media @sonicboomfest.
