New music festival to support local artists

A new festival celebrating local artists has been announced.

Brighten the Corners and Ipswich Central say the All Dayer Festival on 25 April will be a free “grassroots” event across venues in the town centre.

Organisers promised “a vibrant celebration of local and regional live music” with more than 40 artists, and said they hoped to make it annual.

It comes months after Brighten the Corners announced its own festival would pause in 2026 before returning next year.

Live music will be hosted across Three Wise Monkeys, CHIp Studios, Arcade Tavern, the Halberd Inn, The Thomas Wolsey, the empty Superdry unit in the Buttermarket Centre, and BTC-run venue The Church.

The All Dayer has been sponsored by BTC Ipswich Central, with additional support from Arts Council England, PRS Foundation and the University of Suffolk.

The line-up is due to be announced in the coming weeks and local emerging artists can apply for a chance to take part.

Marcus Neal, Head of Programming at Brighten The Corners, said: “We’re proud to continue contributing to the creative ecosystem here in Ipswich, and grateful to Ipswich Central for their support in making this happen and for linking us with these brilliant venues.”

Ipswich Central said the festival would bring “significant footfall, support the local economy and encourage local people to visit independent venues and businesses on their doorstep”.

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