Our town’s beloved grassroots music venue, The Smokehouse, is marking its 10th birthday with a fantastic month-long programme of gigs, events, and creative collaborations. To make the milestone even more special, the celebrations are being sponsored by the University of Suffolk, which is also proudly celebrating its tenth anniversary as an independent university this year.
Smokehouse 10: Championing Local Music
Dubbed ‘Smokehouse 10’, the upcoming September programme will feature a series of gigs dedicated to showcasing grassroots and local creatives. It’s a wonderful opportunity to support our hardworking promoters and artists whilst celebrating the vital role the venue has played in our local music scene over the last decade.
Joe Bailey, CEO of Brighten The Corners, shared his excitement about the partnership: “We’re really proud to be partnering with the University of Suffolk for our Smokehouse 10 birthday celebrations. We have worked with the university on our last two festivals and it made sense to link up for this exciting run of events that marks both of our first 10 years. Both organisations are forward-thinking and have a love for supporting communities and showing the best Ipswich has to offer.”
A Decade of Unforgettable Gigs and Volunteering
Operated by the dedicated team at Brighten The Corners, The Smokehouse first opened its doors in 2016, transformed by a renovation project funded by a Biffa Award grant and match funding from local councillors. Since that opening day, it has hosted around 850 gigs, providing an essential platform for over 2,500 bands and artists.
Crucially, this success wouldn’t have been possible without the community. Hundreds of local volunteers have generously given their time to keep the music playing, and thousands of you have stepped through the doors to discover your new favourite bands. For young people, it has been an invaluable space to get involved behind the scenes, learning hands-on skills in live events and music production that can kickstart future careers.
What’s On This September?
The anniversary lineup is looking spectacular! Across September, you can expect a broad series of gigs, including a brilliant young artist showcase from Brighten The Corners’ youth project, Tune Up. There will also be events promoted by alumni from the project, culminating in a special birthday party on Saturday, 26th September. This celebratory bash will feature live music, DJs, and delicious street food—perfect for a community get-together.
With more events being announced soon, be sure to keep an eye out and book your tickets by visiting the Brighten The Corners website.
A Shared Civic Pride
A thriving cultural life is incredibly important for everyone who lives, works, and studies in Ipswich. Professor Jenny Higham, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Suffolk, perfectly captured this shared civic pride: “We are proud partners with Brighten the Corners and The Smokehouse as we recognise their vital work in providing a platform for local, regional, and touring artists to perform in Ipswich, as well as creating cultural opportunities in the live music industry for young people. This aligns with our own aims to foster young creative talent through our arts courses and support cultural excellence.”
We couldn’t agree more! Happy 10th anniversary to both The Smokehouse and the University of Suffolk. We can’t wait to see you all at a gig this September to celebrate the best of Ipswich’s creative community.
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