Why it matters: The festival's lineup reinforces Ipswich's growing reputation and status as a shining light in the UK's grassroots music scene, bringing together established names and emerging talent across multiple genres.
The big picture: Brighten the Corners Festival will return for its fifth year on 13 and 14 June, featuring performances across five stages throughout Ipswich. The event takes place across venues including The Smokehouse, St Stephens Church, The Baths and The Corn Exchange, as well as a free to attend outdoor stage on The Cornhill.
The details: The second wave of acts includes:
MOBO Best Alternative Music Act 2022 and Kerrang! Best Album Award-winning act Bob Vylan, whose latest album 'Humble is the Sun' was described as full of "simmering anger" by MusicOMH
Manchester-based rapper OneDa, who brings fresh drum and bass energy to jazz sampling hip-hop
Welsh Music Prize winners Adwaith, whose "beautifully sparse drone-pop" has received support with a remix from Manic Street Preachers' James Bradfield
Brighton-via-Hastings alt rock trio HotWax, who received a five-star review from NME for their debut 'Hot Shock'
UK experimentalists Waldo's Gift, described by Out of Rage as having "intense guitar riffs with crazy pinch harmonics" and "bass that will make your subwoofer cause an earthquake"
Peace Okezie's project Master Peace, heralded by the NME as "indie's new party boy"
Post-punk band Dry Cleaning to headline Brighten The Corners Festival 2025
Mercury-nominated corto.alto and NME-tipped JD Cliffe among first wave of acts announced for Brighten The Corners Festival 2025 in Ipswich, which will be headlined by post-punk powerhouse Dry Cleaning.
What they're saying: "We are proud to announce the second wave of artists for our 2025 festival, including our second headliners Bob Vylan who we are certain will bring the Corn Exchange to its knees with their infectious energy this summer.
"Elsewhere across the programme we continue to bring a broad and diverse range of performers to Ipswich, from OneDa's Mancunian hip-hop, Welsh language indie-pop from Adwaith, the hypnotic psychedelia of Mandrake Handshake and SILVERWINGKILLER's dystopian breakbeats," says Marcus Neal, Programmer for Brighten the Corners.
What's next: For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.brightenthecorners.co.uk.
The bottom line: Now established as a key fixture in the UK's independent festival circuit, Brighten The Corners continues to champion both emerging and established artists while cementing Ipswich's status as a leading live music destination.
