Get ready for new music website

MUSIC lovers get ready - a brand new website is about to hit the scene celebrating all the fantastic, talented musicians we have in Suffolk.

MUSIC lovers get ready - a brand new website is about to hit the scene celebrating all the fantastic, talented musicians we have in Suffolk.

The music scene across the county is about to get a huge boost with the new website lovemusic24.co.uk, run by The Evening Star and its sister paper The East Anglian Daily Times.

The site is being launched on Saturday June 20 all day gig at The Steamboat Tavern in Ipswich which is free to get in.

It will feature just a selection of the great bands who play in the county.

Val Bint, owner of The Steamboat Tavern in Ipswich, said: “This will definitely be good for the live music scene.

“Anything that highlights and promotes live music and young original bands in the town has got to be good.

“It is not only about promoting gigs but keeping everyone in touch with each other so everyone knows what's going on.

“There is a lot of talent in Ipswich and has been for many years.

“There have been lots of different individuals and bands involved over the years in trying to push the music scene but this will something more co-ordinated and will appeal to younger people who are online. I am delighted to be involved in it and think it can only be a good thing for the town.”

Richard Robinson, owner of Qjam, the town's newest live music venue, said: “I think it's a great idea. I hope it can push live music in Ipswich. Although Ipswich has a good live music scene, it does need to raise its profile.”

Damian Royal, manager of The Swan in Ipswich, which regularly holds gigs, said: “The publications where you get listings from at the moment need updating. It will be nice to have something modern and more accessible.

“Ipswich's live music scene is getting better but we need a bigger venue here like Norwich and Colchester.”

Scot Lewis, manager of Sound Attak, one of the biggest suppliers of drum kits in the UK based in Colchester, said: “There is nothing really like this out there at the moment. There needs to be something like this for bands to get themselves known.”

Steve Hicks, a presenter and producer at Ipswich Community Radio, which is providing the PA systems and engineers for the launch gig, said: “The more things available for young bands like this, the better opportunities there are to promote original music. Part of the idea of this is to give the bands as much information and advice as possible.”

What do you think this will do for Ipswich's music scene? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

Some of the bands who will feature at this year's launch gig on June 20 at The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich

Lisa Ambrose (acoustic)

Stand Still Kid

Crab Meat Moon

We Slay Skies

Cosmic Sands

A Fate Untold

Stratosfire

Mr Happy Chainsaw

Underline The Sky

THE WEBSITE WILL INCLUDE:

A comprehensive gig guide

Information on bands

Information on the venues where they play

Gig reviews

A great new online talent contest which will culminate in a battle of the bands competition.

Whether it is a band trying to get their name out there or someone deciding where to go for a night of live music, lovemusic24.co.uk will be the site for them.

n. In tomorrow's Evening Star find out all about the great new online band contest which will end with a fantastic battle of the bands contest.