IP1 Magazine: Brighten The Corners Festival 2024 Review
Written by Sadie Rycraft
Brighten The Corners Festival 2024 tore through the streets of Ipswich this June, leaving a trail of wide-eyed grins in its wake. In only its second year, BTC has already established itself as a must-attend event, drawing in music lovers from near and far with its eclectic lineup and tastemaking ethos. This year, the festival reached new heights, with venues at full capacity and an energy to power the entire town.
Saturday night was dominated by the post-punk chaos of shame, whose headline set was nothing short of legendary. The band ignited the crowd with blistering riffs and unbridled energy, turning the front rows into a pit of swirling bodies, limbs, and the occasional beer-soaked photographer. Lead singer Charlie Steen was in his element, crowd surfing a sea of ecstatic fans, while keeping the momentum of the raucous performance alive.
Friday night saw headliners Ibibio Sound Machine take to the Corn Exchange stage, bringing with them a tidal wave of joy and infectious rhythms. Their Afrobeat-inspired grooves had the entire audience showing off their best moves and letting loose in a display of pure bliss. It was impossible not to be swept up in the vibrant energy they brought.
This year’s lineup was another incredible showcase of rising talent and hidden gems. Man/Woman/Chainsaw left a packed room breathless with their raw, visceral performance that balanced orchestral mayhem with haunting melody. Over at St Stephen’s Church, mary in the junkyard delivered a set that proved why so many have been championing their rise. Their sound, a blend of gritty indie rock and ethereal folk, is one destined for the ears of many.
Elsewhere, Jay Prince captivated the late-night crowd of St Stephen’s Church with his soulful vocals that poured directly from his heart, filling the room with warmth. Sam Akpro delivered shoegaze melancholy with fuzzed out guitars, while Art School Girlfriend closed out a late-night set with her electro-indie sound, a perfect blend of beats and emotion. To wrap up Friday night at The Baths, DJ Nabihah Iqbal spun a set of impeccable tunes, leaving the crowd dancing joyfully ‘til the early hours.
Come Saturday, NeOne the Wonderer brought unbelievable grooves that had heads nodding and feet shuffling, while Lambrini Girls delivered a completely fearless and politically charged performance. Divorce’s heartfelt set saw country-tinged and tear-swept indie rock after a last-minute venue change, harpist TATYANA turned the 70-cap Smokehouse into a club with her electronic beats, and many more gems were still waiting to be discovered.
Front-flipping bass players, mosh-pits, tear-inducing performances, a minor thunderstorm and power cut, carefree dancing, passionate crew, dance floor pizza, the heart of the Cornhill, superb artists, sticky floors and achy feet – it was all part of what has made BTC a staple in the music calendars of music lovers near and far.
As the final evening wound down for some, and had just kicked off for others, Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip delivered an intimate DJ set in The Baths. The final moments saw the remaining festival stragglers singing “working as a waitress, in a cocktail bar” over and over again, creating a strangely beautiful echo that lingered in the night air long after.
What made BTC24 truly special wasn’t just the music – it was the way the festival brought people together. There was unique magic in seeing strangers come together in one euphoric moment, dancing in the streets, embracing friends, and meeting new ones. The town was buzzing with the energy of shared experience, lit up in a way that felt new and exciting, like being part of something bigger, something that truly matters.
Brighten The Corners Festival has found its place in the heart of the town, and it’s on an upwards journey. Super Early Bird tickets for BTC25 sold out in less than two hours – come along for the ride in 2025.
www.brightenthecorners.co.uk
Photo by Ellie Koepke