Why it matters: The BTC All Dayer will bring over 40 local and regional artists to pubs, community hubs and other town centre spaces – all at no cost to attendees, thanks to headline sponsorship from Ipswich Central, the town's Business Improvement District (BID).
The details: Curated and programmed by Brighten The Corners (BTC), the festival 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.
Additional funding comes from Arts Council England, PRS Foundation and the University of Suffolk.
What they're saying: Marcus Neal, head of programming at Brighten The Corners, said: "This ambitious new event gives audiences the opportunity to discover over 40 regional artists in seven town centre venues, free of charge."
"We're proud to continue contributing to the creative eco-system here in Ipswich, and grateful to Ipswich Central for their support in making this happen and for linking us with these brilliant venues, which we can't wait to see packed out for our first ever BTC All-Dayer."
Lee Walker, chief executive of Ipswich Central, said the festival would "generate significant footfall, support the local economy and encourage local people to visit independent venues and businesses on their doorstep."
The bigger picture: The event forms part of BTC's wider mission to support and retain local talent in Ipswich, alongside the recently announced Baths Regeneration Project. BTC intends to run the All Dayer annually, sitting alongside its flagship summer festival, which returns in June 2027. The full line-up of artists and DJs will be announced in the coming weeks.
The bottom line: Free entry, seven venues and over 40 local and regional artists taking over Ipswich town centre for the day – the BTC All Dayer is a fresh and welcome addition to the town's spring calendar.
