Why it matters: Grassroots venues give bands and artists opportunities to establish themselves within music scenes, with local artists describing them as fundamental to their development and the town's cultural identity.
The details: The Smokehouse, operated by Brighten The Corners, opened in 2016 and has since hosted hundreds of local and regional bands. The venue has become a space where emerging artists find their footing and audiences discover new bands.
Sam Milne, a local singer-songwriter, said: "The Smokehouse has helped us as a band massively, from being the first ever venue we played at (for both iterations of our band) and the first venue we ever headlined. I think, personally, the Smokehouse is the greatest music venue in Suffolk, and is so important to not just us, but loads of other local acts, as it gives every band a platform, no matter the status, talent or age."
The venue's intimate setting creates a connection between artist and audience that larger commercial venues cannot replicate, with the stage positioned close to tightly packed crowds.
What they're saying: Local promoter Mincer said: "The Smokehouse has been a place we could go to since we were teenagers. It's affordable and straightforward to put on gigs there, and having an all ages venue has been great, especially for our younger audience. The Smokehouse along with other great venues such as The Steamboat Tavern are always a part of our gig promoting toolkit, and it's good for the punk scene that there are always low/no hire cost venues in Ipswich."
The bigger picture: Brighten The Corners operates three dedicated venues for live music and performance in Ipswich: The Smokehouse, The Church and The Baths. These venues provide crucial platforms for local artists, promoters and those interested in live music, strengthening the town's cultural identity and ensuring its music scene continues to evolve.
What's next: To celebrate Independent Venue Week, Brighten The Corners will host gigs across its venues from Thursday, 29 January to Saturday, 31 January. DJ and producer Jaguar Skills will perform at The Church on Thursday, 29 January. Matt Storm, with support from The Rabbitts, plays The Smokehouse on Friday, 30 January. Happy Mondays' Bez will DJ at The Baths on Saturday, 31 January.
The bottom line: Grassroots venues like The Smokehouse don't just support artists, they create shared experiences and ensure Ipswich's music scene continues to develop from within the local community, whilst playing a vital role in the town's culture.
