22-05-2025
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 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 are working towards putting on a two-day festival in 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 Joscelyne, 18, helped select and book the band and will be part of the Tune Up team managing the event on the 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 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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