Brighten The Corners Presents American songwriter Kelley Stoltz, onetime Echo & the Bunnymen rhythm guitarist and Robyn Hitchcock’s current West Coast drummer, at The Church on Wednesday 21st October.
Support comes from Scott Lavene.
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Time: 7:30pm - 11pm
Venue: The Church, Ipswich
Tickets: £15+bf
Supports: Scott LaveneAge Restrictions: 14+ (14- 17s must be accompanied by an adult)
There is step-free access into the venue and the bar / accessible toilet / venue are all on one floor. For further information, please email info@brightenthecorners.co.uk so we can make your visit as comfortable as possible.
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Kelley Stoltz is an American songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and DIY innovator whose career stretches back to the late 1990s, when he began self-recording lush, psych‑tinged pop and garage rock in his San Francisco home studio. Born in New York City in 1971, and raised in Michigan, Stoltz has released a remarkable catalog of albums on labels including Sub Pop, Third Man, and Castle Face Records often playing all of the instruments himself and drawing comparisons to the melodic craftsmanship of the major 60’s pop auteurs and the quirkiness of lesser known 80’s power-pop & new wave.
After issuing his 18th album, La Fleur in 2024 to critical notice, he returns in 2026 with his 19th full‑length release, If You Don’t Know Me, Buy Now, a collection that continues his long exploration of hook‑laden psych‑pop, introspective lyrics, and richly textured arrangements that both honor his influences and push his sound forward, reinforcing his status as one of the most prolific and singular voices in underground rock. Guests Brigid Dawson of the Osees, Karina Denike of Dance Hall Crashers, Pete Straus of the Dwarves and Allyson Baker of Dirty Ghosts and other guests provide backing vocals on several tracks.
Long a favorite of MOJO, Brooklyn Vegan, and John Dwyer… Stoltz is also a onetime Echo & the Bunnymen rhythm guitarist and currently Robyn Hitchcock’s West Coast drummer. Stoltz is also now the host of legendary radio station KEXPs weekly Bay Area Music spotlight show, “Vinelands”.
——Scott Lavene is a British singer-songwriter and storyteller whose work blends kitchen-sink realism with dark humour, poetic grit, and a distinctly English sense of place. Emerging from Essex, Lavene has carved out a niche as a chronicler of the overlooked; his songs populated by down-and-outs, late-night wanderers, and small-town dreamers.
Lavene first began to gather attention in the late 2010s with early releases that showcased his knack for vivid character sketches and bleakly comic observation. His debut album Broke (2019) introduced listeners to his stark, narrative-driven songwriting, earning praise for its honesty and literary quality. Follow-up records such as Milk City Sweethearts (2021) and Disneyland in Dagenham (2023) expanded his reputation, refining his sound while maintaining the raw emotional core that defines his work.
His music is often compared to a lineage of British storytellers, Ian Dury, Elvis Costello, John Cooper Clarke, Jarvis Cocker and Robyn Hitchcock but, even so, Lavene’s voice remains singular. He has a gift for balancing melancholy with wit, finding beauty and absurdity in the mundane corners of modern life.
On stage, Lavene’s performances are intimate and magnetic, driven as much by his narrative delivery as by melody. Whether backed by a full band or performing solo, he creates a sense of closeness that draws audiences into his world.
Last year’s record, Cars, Buses, Bedsits and Shops was a classic, full of Essex, East End poetry, and classic ballads, the 4th solo album to add his growing, cult catalogue. The album tour was extensive, starting with an astounding show at End of The Road in August 2025, then on through the autumn and winter, finishing off in early February, with many of the shows sold out.
After a move across country back to the south east where he grew up and then some time setting up his analogue studio, Milk City Studios, Scott is back with another tour, Acoustic Songs and Stories, a run of intimate shows in some incredible venues across the UK and Europe.