A brand-new independent festival is setting out to challenge one of the biggest names in the UK festival calendar—the infamous Boomtown Fair. The Tarantarti Party, organised by well-known festival band Tarantism alongside their friends, family and associates, is set to run from the 8th to the 11th of August—yes, the same weekend as Boomtown.
The scheduling clash wasn’t exactly a deliberate dig at Boomtown as key organiser, and Tarantism frontwoman Mel’s daughter, Hannah Liberty Pink explains: “We chose that weekend as it started out as a birthday party for two band members who have significant zero birthdays in 2025—it was just the nearest weekend we didn’t have other commitments for.”
Realising that Boomtown and a couple of other well-known festivals were on that same weekend, they briefly considered changing it. But as Hannah put it, “There’s something good on every weekend in the summer holidays. We decided that we would offer something a bit different.”
And different it will be. Celebrating Tarantism’s 30th year on the festival scene, they have arranged a lineup that includes Los Albertos, China Shop Bull, Dogshite, RDF, Dissident Noise Factory, The Technicians of Spaceship Hawkwind, Chris Liberator, Chris Tofu, The Geezer, AON, and more spread across several stages, as well as Tarantism themselves obviously. The Tarantarti Party has a truly exciting roster that looks to be the best bet for fans of crusty, punky, rebellious music that weekend, potentially beating out Boomtowns Hanger 161 and Fools Leap Stages.
On the variety of acts, Hannah adds, “Punk in general is an ethos that we all live by and it influences our lifestyles and our music, but we have a wide range of musical tastes, and we want that reflected in the festival. Expect ska, progressive rock, folk, rage, disco, reggae, jazz, hip-hop, live rave, acoustic loveliness, and a dance tent featuring a mix of live dance acts and DJs spinning acid techno, drum and bass, funky house, and garage.”
But the music is only part of what sets the Tarantarti Party apart. Beyond the bands, Hannah points to the kid-friendly nature of the whole festival site—something that’s become a bit of a rarity at events like Boomtown. “We’ve kept it affordable, and we’re not charging extra for live-ins, and you can bring your dog!” she says. They’re also keen on encouraging acoustic music, with a fireside stage that will have a more intimate, laid-back vibe. “Having grown up on the festival scene it’s now a full circle moment to be able to organise our own”.
Perhaps their most ambitious idea however is the Disco Cabaret stage, which, according to Hannah, offers something she’s “never seen at a festival before”: a festival-based musical. But that’s not all—they’re also promising a range of entertainment that goes well beyond music, from a game show and drag queens to dancers, stilt walkers, fire breathers, comedy acts, and even belly dancing workshops. The aim is to create an experience that offers full-spectrum entertainment, not just incredible music.
The organisers are also trying to push the boundaries on the artistic front. As a brand-new festival, they’re building everything from scratch and trying to carve out a unique identity among similarly-sized festivals. “We’re aiming to be as ‘arty’ as we can,” Hannah says, hinting at plans for an arts and crafts area where their crew of talented artists can display and share their work. “It all depends on how many tickets we sell—the more we sell, the more we can put back into creating even better spaces.”
The future vision for Tarantarti Party is ambitious, with hopes for it to grow into an even more multi-genre event. “We’d love to be able to offer more world music and diversify the lineup even more in future years, but for that, we need to have a successful first year,” Hannah admits. However, one thing is clear—As for the festival capacity, and plans to grow: “it will ALWAYS remain intimate”.
Tickets for Tarantarti Party are available now for £90, with dog tickets at an extra £10. With a cap to ensure it always stays intimate, and with a promise of an inclusive, relaxed vibe, this one looks to be an incredible weekend for those seeking something a little different from the larger, more established festivals. Get your tickets soon—this one won’t stay quiet for long.
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