Boomtown 2022 in pictures: Closing ceremonies cap off week of partying at Winchester festival

The festival, which started on Wednesday, August 10, drew in huge crowds who were keen to see the likes of Kool and The Gang, Gentlemans Dub Club and Mella Dee.

Returning to the Matterley Estate with a fresh storyline for the first time since Covid, Chapter One: The Gathering saw thousands pitch up tents for the five-day bash.

No stranger to adverse weather conditions, Boomtown had to contend with highs of 33C over the course of the weekend, with a Met Office amber warning in place for extreme heat.

People armed with water pistols, fans and various other liquid dispensers came together to cool each other down.

SEE ALSO: Thousands enjoy Winchester music festival

Some who couldn't hack the heat packed up early and left the festival before the closing night.

Those who stayed were treated to final performances from Four Tet and Break who went back-to-back with DLR Ft GQ & SP:MC at the two flagship stages - Grand Central and Origin.

The festival then finished as it started, with organisers once again delivering a powerful environmental message as they aim to hit their target of net zero by 2025.

Becky Buckle, 22, from London, stayed for the entirety of the final day. Having originally planned to attend the cancelled 2020 event, she instead opted to defer her ticket for this year rather than claiming a refund.

"It feels like this has been a long time coming," she said. "Originally, I was in two minds as to whether or not I'd be here as I first got my ticket two years ago, but I'm so glad I am.

Becky Buckle exploring some of the festival's hidden quirks

"It has definitely been a long five days in the heat, past 8.30am it's almost impossible to sleep because the sun is just so intense. Even so, I was always going to see it through until the end."

While Becky has been enjoying many of the eclectic artists on offer, she said she has also been spending plenty of time exploring Boomtown's alternative offerings.

The festival hosts a range of activities which attendees can enjoy during the day including yoga classes and wooden spoon carving.

READ MORE: Boomtown festival goers duped as anti-malaria drug sold as ketamine

Former dancer Jade Shaw was booked to deliver a workshop on astral projection, a supposed self-initiated out-of-body experience while sleeping. She has been teaching professionally for seven years and says she first started having experiences with astral projection as a child, later studying Transpersonal Psychology at university.

"I do what I do because I want to show people how to astral project for self transformation and self growth," she said. "This is a recognised definition is psychology, it's feeling like you are separating or leaving your body and being able to look back at it lying there while you're floating around in a ghost-like way. I often say to people it's a bit like Doctor Strange when I'm first trying to explain it to them."

Jade Shaw

While Jade has previously delivered talks at various festivals including Glastonbury, this is the first time she has been booked for Boomtown. She added: "This festival is unique in that it welcome something as 'woo woo' as astral projection, even though there are studies which recognise out-of-body experiences do happen. There are lots of open-minded people here wanting to learn more about themselves and the wider world, so I'm really glad they offer these kinds of things."

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