Boomtown announces The Prodigy as surprise guest for 2023

Boomtown has just confirmed that The Prodigy will appear as a special guest this year's festival.

The Winchester-based festival confirmed the news yesterday (June 29), alluding to the booking being the result of a "decade long pursuit" to get the breakbeat pioneers to Boomtown due to "unprecedented demand" from fans.

Taking place from August 9-13, The Prodigy will help Boomtown celebrate its 15th birthday this year by closing the "Grand Central Stage" on Sunday evening.

In typical Boomtown fashion, this year's festival has been given a particular theme which will surely influence much of the 60,000-capacity event's set dressing — "Chapter Two: The Twin Trial."

Read this next: A treasure trove of rare demos and unheard music from the prodigy has been uncovered

The appearance marks The Prodigy's first in Winchester since 1992's epochal Vision Rave festival, in Popham Airfield.

The electronic outfit are set to play headline sets at a number of other festivals this Summer, both in the UK and further afield — including EXIT Festival and WE ARE FSTVL, a UK tour will follow this November, kicking off in Glasgow and finishing in London's Alexandra Palace.

Boomtown said that it had been trying to keep their new guests "under wraps, revealing in a press release that "the festival guards the secrecy of its full lineup, with the big reveal happening shortly before the event kicks off," but had teased the booking across social media in recent weeks.

Read this next: The Prodigy's Liam Howlett set to score new horror film

Co-founder Luke Mitchell said “The Prodigy’s energy, immense production value, and influence in the rave scene make them the perfect match for Boomtown, and I’m over the moon that we’ve been able to finally get this nailed down and can now share the exciting news. The Prodigy are the most Boomtown band on the planet."

Catch the legendary electro-punk fusion band at the Matterley Estate in Hampshire from August 9-13 — the final phase of tickets can be accessed here.

Tiffany Ibe is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Instagram