After a number of years of a declining availability and quality of live music venues in Ipswich, the team running the Brighten the Corners venues in Ipswich have created a resurgence in quality live music venues, which is giving local, national and international performers the opportunity to perform to audiences around the town.
The Baths
The Baths is the venue that Ipswich has been calling for. Located a stones throw from Ipswich Town F.C and the town centre, St Matthews Baths Halls were used for live music in the late 1960s and early 70s with boards being laid over the pool to make way for audiences.
The venue hosted legendary acts including Led Zeppelin, Cream and The Move before being modernised in the 1980s and repurposed as a social club and then a gym.
The Baths
4 Civic Drive Ipswich IP1 2AX
The Baths is the 340 cap black-box, low-ceiling music venue in the heart of Ipswich. It is run by the team at Brighten The Corners and brings touring bands to Ipswich.
Events with The Baths
- Fri 14th Jun 2024
- Tue 9th Jul 2024
- Fri 4th Oct 2024
- Fri 11th Oct 2024
- Fri 18th Oct 2024
- Sat 7th Dec 2024
The Smokehouse
Opened in 2016, The Smokehouse is an 80-capacity micro-venue in the heart of the most diverse ward in Ipswich and Suffolk. Hosting over 100 gigs per year (put on by external promotors and bands), The Smokehouse offers first rung opportunities to young and aspiring artists, promotors and DJs. The venue is driven by volunteers with a DIY aesthetic enabling artists to reach new audiences and further their potential. In addition to 3rd party hires we program over 25 shows in the venue per year.
The Smokehouse
6 South Street Ipswich IP1 3NU
The Smokehouse offers first rung opportunities to young and aspiring artists, promotors and DJs. The venue is driven by volunteers with a DIY aesthetic enabling artists to reach new audiences and further their potential.
Events with The Smokehouse
- Fri 31st May 2024
- Sat 6th Jul 2024
St Stephen’s Church
Since 2019, through test events and festivals, we have worked to prove the need for a next-step music venue for Ipswich.
In winter 2022, with a total of £450k investment from Ipswich Borough Council and SIGIF Grant funding, we will be making improvements to the Church in order to reopen as a 225-capacity music and arts venue in spring 2023.
St Stephen’s Church is in the centre of Ipswich and will bridge the gap between sister venues, The Smokehouse and The Baths. The Church enables the next level of touring bands to visit and further secures Ipswich on the national touring circuit. The venue will also have a daytime and twilight offer with a café/bar and space available to hire.
St Stephens Church
Saint Stephens Lane Ipswich IP1 1DP
Since 2019, through test events and festivals, we have worked to prove the need for a next-step music venue for Ipswich.
Events with St Stephens Church
- Sat 18th May 2024
Who wrote this about Ipswich?
James Kindred
James lives in Ipswich and has been a graphic designer and brand founder for the last 25 years. He specialises in branding, startups, guerilla marketing and effectively frustrating authority figures to deliver results. James is co-founder of Ipswich.love, co-chair of the Suffolk Autism Strategy board and a board advisor to R;ipple, a suicide prevention charity.
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