Previews

The organisers Ip1zine are calling it a multi-media event which aims to provide a showcase for musical, artistic and film-making talent in Suffolk. The first one in January was sold-out in advance with 300 people there (BBC review and gallery on the right>>>).

It was restricted to The Venue, the bars and the Ipswich Film Theatre, but June's event will move into the Corn Exchange main hall as well to allow a capacity of around 800 people.

Rosalita at the Ipswich Steamboat

Ip1zine's deputy editor Kevin Murray hopes it can grow: "Before we had this idea, there was really nowhere to put on an event of this kind. We've tried to pull all the elements together."

"The first event [headlined by Charlie Brown and King Billy & The Marvelous] sold-out which was a surprise. This time we're trying to think big. It's part of IpArt and with it being summer, we're hopeful even more people will be looking for something to do."

The line-up

There'll be two stages - a rock/amplified stage upstairs and an acoustic stage alongside the art exhibitions in The Venue area.

King Billy at Braincandy #1

The main hall will feature Rosalita, Vinyl Dialect, Zeeb?, Bad A.N.D.Y, Birmingham Two and Luke Littleboy in the main hall. 

The acoustic stage features Carl Best & Joe Sharman, Nicky Lewin 'Esperer', Kimberley Moore, James Severy, Chris Lockington and Jumbled Up Words.

"It should great for bands who are only ever used to playing pubs. Up-and-coming bands such as Rosalita and Bad A.N.D.Y will get exposed to a larger audience in Ipswich, although they've both been gigging in London regularly."

Charlie Brown at the Corn Exchange Venue

The magazine

Kevin Murray says Ip1zine has a wider role: "We have the traditional print media in Suffolk which maybe doesn't target younger people the way they'd like to be targeted. Ip1zine aims to fill a gap and give people an outlet for writing. Braincandy is a side-project of that."

"We're hoping to do more tie-ins with the new college when it's up and running. There will be more demand for venues and live entertainment and we can be at the forefront of that offering events and an ongoing opportunity for people to write and get involved in the magazine."

BBC Radio Suffolk and www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk are supporting Braincandy. Tickets are available from the Corn Exchange box office on 01473 433100 or by using the following links ...