Boomtown 2011 takes place 11-14 August: over 700 acts on 25 stages; international and well-known artists to include Bad Manners, Ms Dynamite, Gogol Bordello and Congo Natty; and revellers arriving on buses from all over the country. Drawing over 10,000 people, Boomtown is an enchanting place, where drinking all day is encouraged, mechanical horses carry children through the crowds, the music is mad and the people are smiling.

Boomtown began life as a humble cider festival in a field in Bath in 2006, and since then has metamorphosed through many stages. In the beginning there was one field, one stage and one day. Most of the crew were either unpaid and unknown, or little-paid and little-known, outside of the field.

From exclusivity in 2006 to the messiness that was Recydrate the West somewhere near Hay-on-Wye in 2007 - when it was all about the cider - Boomtown finally became a fully-fledged festival with a new name in 2009, when it was held in the Forest of Dean. Many will remember that year for the heat, the lake, and the Babylon Circus headline act, which left the crowd begging for more. In 2010 Boomtown Fair had outgrown itself again, and migrated to Buckinghamshire, where the combination of muggy weather, sweet cider and stunning countryside meant the buzz was even louder - thanks to the wasps. This year will see the festival move once more.

The rise and rise of Boomtown so far is all credit to the team. Together they have kept their priorities clear, and the festival is known for its loyalty, its strong identity and its vision. It is a tight team, with the the majority of the same organisers, site set-up crew, steward managers and sound engineers returning every year. The bands and the punters are just as loyal, as word of mouth, Facebook and festival scene, means that Boomtown has a solid reputation.

Boomtown is still relatively young for a festivals, still forming an identity. For many this seems to begin with Bristol. Combine the graffiti scene reflected on many of the installations with the incredible Bristol-based Invisible Circus and add acts such as First Degree Burns, the Carnyvillains, DJ Derek, and Smerins Anti-Social Club, who have all returned more than once, and it may be hard for some to believe they are not in a strange parallel version of the city. Not to mention the massive influx of Bristolians.

But there is more to Boomtown than Bristol. It is keen to establish itself as its own town, offering many festival-goers the sense of escape from reality that they are after. The idea is to enter into a labyrinthine town reminiscent of Shangri-la at Glastonbury Festival. This year will see the town divided into parts, to include Mayfair, complete with casino and restaurants; Downtown, frequented by zombies and gangsters; and Old Town, the delapidated part of town which will hold the old school discos, and possibly the Dance Off and the Leisure Centre, which was a bit hit in 2010, offering gold sprayed gym equipment and medals for the winners of the obstacle courses.

Undeniably a bit Bristol, yet undeniably utterly unique, to enter Boomtown is to interact and partake. As regulars First Degree Burns put it, many people attending this year will be proud to be a part of the Bristol family.

The vision is 'to go above and beyond the horizon; to venture out into the unknown; to promote otherworldly experiences that will tantalise the senses', and this is achieved through a unique combination. Firstly, there is a commitment to producing world-class sound - and the vibrant international music never stops blaring, or thumping, out of ultra loud speakers.

Boomtown now provides an incongruous but incredible mix of swing, ska, reggae and gypsy-jazz, along with the jungle and drum n bass staples, all designed to keep the crowd dancing. Revellers will notice that their photo souvenirs contain vivid colours, as bright outfits, butterflies, a circus theme, fire shows and golden girls posing on burnt-out cars are never far away. Boomtown prides itself on the outrageous and ridiculous, achieved through good connections on the festival scene, favours from those loyal friends, a lot of hard work, and a cavalier attitude.

Although it may be a bit rough around the edges, the overall vibe is always a positive one. The music is mental, and the people and what they wear are even more so. Anything goes, from flouncy, flowery dresses, stilts and superhero outfits, to nothing but body paint. And everyone - some things don't change - is still drinking cider all day. Boomtown may be growing up, but for fours days straight, thousands of party-goers can forget that they have to.

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(c) Claire Higgins 1 August 2011