Ipswich teenagers arrange music festival and learn new skills
Young people getting hands on experience of putting on gigs and festivals have spoken of a town's "beautiful community" of bands, venues and audiences.Tune Up, a programme run by Brighten the Corners (BTC) in Ipswich, offers 10 free weekly sessions for 16 to 25-year-olds covering music production, programming, marketing and event management.Volunteers are working towards putting on a two-day festival in June.Kieran Holland, 17, said: "I now go to gigs and truly understand what's happening behind the scenes, the effort that's put into it - it's such an art form."
Ahead of the BTC festival in June, London-based electronic trio MADMADMAD are due to headline a launch party on Friday at St Stephen's Church.Hux Joscelyne, 18, helped select and book the band and will be part of the Tune Up team managing the event on the night.He said: "It's kind of dance, there's a little bit of guitar elements and there is a bit of rock... lots of drums. "It's very instrumental, I think it's perfect for a launch party 'cos it's quite upbeat. It's quite lively."
Growing cultural scene
BTC is a not-for-profit group that runs three venues in the town centre: The Baths (300 capacity), St Stephen's Church (200 capacity) and The Smokehouse (70 capacity).Along with the annual festival in June, there is also a new partnership for 2025 with Ipswich Central - the town's business improvement organisation - for a new free-to-attend festival in October.Ipswich was in the music spotlight recently with platinum-selling rapper AJ Tracey performing at the Baths and Ed Sheeran renamed a pub for a surprise gig ahead of his Portman Road concerts in the summer.
Jack Polanczuk-Jones, 16, said: "I've been learning how to mix live sound, being an artist liaison and how the touring system works."Bailey Ewers-Smith, 22, said: "This being a local festival in Suffolk, you're not in a field somewhere and it's miles away from your house - this is close by."If you're a local, and you love music, give it go!"Jett Aiello, 17, is encouraging others to join the programme: "Just go for it! You come along to the group and you find this community. "It's nothing but welcoming."
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