Sound City Ipswich to return in June 2023 with new name

The organisers of a town centre music festival have said it would return next year with a new name and at a different time of year.

Sound City Ipswich debuted as a one-day event in 2019 before it returned last year across five venues over two days.

It worked in partnership with Sound City Liverpool, which started in 2008.

The Sound City Ipswich team said after two "hugely successful festivals" it would return in June 2023 as an independent event.

Organiser Joe Bailey said the event, which had been held in October, would also return as an annual summer festival under a new name, yet to be revealed.

He said it would "shine a summery light on Ipswich" and would further establish the town as a national and international touring stage.

He said the partnership with Sound City Liverpool had been "fantastic and we've done what we've set out to achieve with them".

"We're now looking to take it to the next level, owning it, owning our name and progressing the festival," he added.

He said weather was a factor with moving the event to June. BBC Introducing in Suffolk had programmed music on a stage at the Cornhill last year, which was free to attend, but it closed due to heavy rain.

"The move to a June festival will give us a chance to show the town off in its best light and we look forward to sharing more details soon," the festival team added in a statement.

US songwriter BC Camplight, rapper TrueMendous and Working Men's Club were among about 60 acts to play the festival in 2021.

Organisers said 3,000 tickets were sold for the event that was held on 1 and 2 October.

The five venues included the newly reopened Baths on Civic Drive.

In the 1960s and '70s, boards were placed over the swimming pool of what is now the Baths so the venue could host the likes of Led Zeppelin, Cream and Rod Stewart.

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