Burton Kia Fuels Summer Music with Electric Van for Sonic Boom Festival

When the summer sun rises over Burton upon Trent, a silent convoy of electric wheels is already humming through the town’s streets, ready to drop beats wherever they park.

Burton Kia has teamed up with local music nonprofit Sonic Boom Music CIC to launch a mobile music activation that will run the entire season. The partnership places a Kia PV5 all‑electric cargo van in the heart of the community, turning it into a free pop‑up music hub that will appear in town streets and public spaces ahead of the flagship Sonic Boom Festival on 12 September 2026.

The van will surface at a mix of scheduled stops and surprise locations, all revealed through the #SpotTheVan social‑media campaign. Residents can spot the vehicle in different neighbourhoods and enter monthly prize draws for music‑related items, while spontaneous live performances keep the town’s rhythm alive and build anticipation for the festival.

"This is Burton showing what it can do when people back each other," said Chris Baldwin, co‑founder and director of Sonic Boom Music CIC. "Every year we do this, it gets stronger and stronger. Our project is becoming something really special now, and people in the music industry across the county are watching our town very carefully to see how we do it. Kia Burton’s support goes well beyond sponsorship and we are incredibly grateful."

Harry Bullock, director at Burton Kia, added that the partnership goes beyond a logo on a poster. "Burton is our town and we’re proud to back the people building something real here," he said. "Sonic Boom has created genuine momentum around live music and we wanted to be part of that – not just as a name on a poster, but as an active partner out in the community."

Dale Bywater, business and commercial sales manager at Burton Kia, highlighted the technical fit of the van. "The van is exactly the kind of vehicle this activation needed – all electric, zero emissions, high capacity, and built for flexible urban use," he said. "It’s a great demonstration of what the technology can do, and the fact its mains functionality is powering free music experiences across Burton this summer makes it even better."

The PV5 is a battery‑electric van built on Kia’s E‑GMP platform. Designed for cargo and passenger use, it can be configured for a variety of roles—including leisure, refrigerated, and frozen transport. Its electric powertrain and spacious interior make it ideal for carrying audio equipment, lighting rigs, and other gear needed for on‑the‑go performances.

The Sonic Boom Festival itself is a free‑entry event set for Saturday 12 September 2026 in Burton’s town centre. The main stage will feature Pale Waves, while BBC 6 Music presenter Chris Hawkins will host the show. The festival will run from midday to 8 p.m., followed by after‑shock venues until late.

Burton upon Trent, a market town in Staffordshire with a population of about 76,000, has a long history of community events and local music initiatives. The partnership with Sonic Boom Music CIC and the use of an electric van align with the town’s growing focus on sustainable community projects and cultural engagement.

At this time the van’s deployment schedule and exact locations have not been published, but the #SpotTheVan campaign will provide updates through social media and local channels. The initiative is expected to continue through the summer, culminating in the festival’s opening day, and demonstrates how local businesses can support grassroots music projects while showcasing new electric vehicle technology.

In short, Burton Kia’s partnership with Sonic Boom Music CIC will bring a Kia PV5 electric van into the streets of Burton upon Trent to host free pop‑up music events throughout the summer, supporting the town’s annual Sonic Boom Festival that will feature Pale Waves and Chris Hawkins on 12 September 2026 and is expected to draw a crowd of 6,000 people. The partnership highlights the role of local businesses in fostering community music and the practical use of electric vehicles in cultural activation projects.