FESTIVAL FAQs

Brighten The Corners is run by Sounds East CIC, a not for profit organisation set up by the team at Out Loud Music CIC. Brighten the Corners promotes gigs, operates venues and is the name of the annual town centre festival in Ipswich, Suffolk. BTC also runs training projects for young people wishing to gain event production experience and has over 80 active volunteers.

The Brighten The Corners team is made up of a small group of passionate people who love live music. We all share the same determination when it comes to making Ipswich a viable touring destination and rejuvenating the music scene in our town.

The journey all started with The Smokehouse opening in 2016, the community-loved 70-cap venue that boasts an intimate atmosphere and versatile space. Then came The Baths a few years later, the 300-cap fan-favourite venue. Now, we are opening our third venue - the beautiful St Stephen’s Church. We were granted funding to transform the historical church into a fully-equipped music venue - and a cafe during the daytime.

Wristbands need to be collected from the festival box office at Ancient House. The ticket purchaser will need to bring their e-tickets (printed out or on a mobile device), as well as some ID, to pick up their wristbands. The box office will be open on Friday 14th 10am-9pm and Saturday 15th 10am-9pm. Ancient House will also be home to our Talks Programme. A weekend wristband or a Saturday ticket will give you entry to the Talks Programme.

Please be aware your wristband does not guarantee entry due to small capacities at some venues. Please be aware there may be queues so make sure to get to a venue early to avoid disappointment!

Box Office & Wristband Collection
- The Ancient House, 30 Buttermarket, Ipswich IP1 1BT
- what3words: /// loops.magic.renew

All of our venues are wheelchair accessible. Please note The Smokehouse is a smaller venue so please let us know if you will be attending this venue so we can try to make your experience as easy as possible. If you require a companion ticket, you can either do this via DICE or get in touch with us via info@brightenthecorners.co.uk

For wheelchair access to the Grand Hall at The Corn Exchange, there is lift access for public use through the Customer Service Centre entrance on Princes Street.

St. Stephen's Church has step free access from the front entrance. The Baths has ramp access at the entrance.

We want to make the festival as accessible as possible, if you have any concerns please get in touch so we can aim to make your visit as easy as possible: info@brightenthecorners.co.uk

The festival is across five stages, including The Smokehouse, The Baths, St Stephen’s Church, the Corn Exchange, and the outdoor free stage on the Cornhill.

Corn Exchange: 850 cap
- King St, Ipswich IP1 1DH
- what3words: ///hill.note.bolt

The Baths: 300 cap
- 2 Civic Dr, Ipswich IP1 2QA
- what3words: ///grace.drums.grow

St. Stephen's Church: 200 cap
- St Stephens Ln, Ipswich IP1 1DP
- what3words: ///hush.rather.result

The Smokehouse: 70 cap
- South Street Studios, 6 South St, Ipswich IP1 3NU
- what3words: ///alive.clap.flops

Cornhill: outdoor stage
- Ipswich IP1 1DH
- what3words: ///jelly.soil.lungs

You can buy tickets here.

Weekend Tickets - £54 +bf

Friday Day Ticket - £30 + bf

Saturday Day Ticket - £35 + bf

Please bring your email confirmation and ID to collect your wristband from the box office.

Depending on availability, tickets will be available to purchase at the box office at Ancient House during the festival. Please note they will be more expensive on the door so make sure to buy yours in advance!

We’re thrilled to be in partnership with Adnams again, offering great beers including the brand new BTC lager, classics like Ghost Ship, Mosaic and Kobold. Once again Adnams will have a beer truck situated on the Cornhill where you can grab a drink in the sunshine! The Adnams truck will be open from 1.30pm on Friday and 12.30pm on Saturday. The Cornhill will also be home to food/coffee vendors.

Festival merchandise will be on sale soon.

Fancy getting involved? If you’re interested in volunteering for Brighten The Corners Festival, please click here.

Stage Times will be announced a couple of weeks before the festival.

Professional camera equipment is not allowed in any of the venues, unless you have a press pass or have signed up to be a volunteer doing photography or videography across the weekend.

We are a cashless festival.

Ticket holders must be 14+ and 14-15s accompanied by an adult in indoor venues. The Cornhill has no age restriction.