In an unfortunate turn of events, breakbeat and Drum & Bass pioneers The Prodigy will no longer headline Winchester, UK-based Boomtown festival this weekend.
Today, the electronic band’s PR team shared a message on Twitter stating that they have been forced to cancel their sets at Dreambeach Villaricos Festival and the aforementioned Boomtown, as MC Maxim recovers from a temporary back injury.
The statement reads: “This isn’t a decision the band takes lightly and they apologize to all fans who are traveling to these shows. We will update everyone on his progress and future shows as soon as possible.”
The 1990s icons were scheduled to perform on Boomtown’s Grand Central stage this Sunday, making a full-circle return to the Winchester region for the first time since 1992’s Vision Rave festival.
The Prodigy was a major booking for Boomtown’s 15th anniversary this year, with the festival saying it took a “decade-long pursuit.”
Upon locking in the band for this year’s festival, Boomtown co-founder Luke Mitchell said, “The Prodigy’s energy, immense production value, and influence in the rave scene” make them “the most Boomtown band on the planet.”
Following the band’s cancellation, Boomtown organizers released a statement that reads, “We are now working hard to bring this iconic band to Grand Central next year at Boomtown 2024. Until then we send Maxim our love and wish him a smooth recovery. This news brings a shift to our Sunday programming, rest assured, we’re working on this.”
Though not limited to just D&B acts, Boomtown is widely regarded as one of the most premier events for Drum & Bass in the UK.
Major D&B artists on the lineup for Boomtown 2023 include Andy C, Born On Road, Dimension, Sub Focus, and many more, alongside dance acts from other genres like Eats Everything, Mura Masa, and Interplanetary Criminal.
The Prodigy have unfortunately been forced to cancel their upcoming headline festival performances at Dreambeach (ES) and Boomtown (UK) under doctor’s orders, as Maxim recovers from a temporary back injury. pic.twitter.com/uiITsxhTcI
— The Prodigy (@the_prodigy) August 10, 2023
Featured image from Boomtown
