GLASTONBURY it might not be but when it comes to the best of live music in East Anglia there is no better place to be but Ipswich Music Day.Yesterday, for a 12th year Christchurch Park became home to the some of the best and most talented musicians, bands and artists the region has to offer.

GLASTONBURY it might not be but when it comes to the best of live music in East Anglia there is no better place to be but Ipswich Music Day.

Yesterday, for a 12th year Christchurch Park became home to the some of the best and most talented musicians, bands and artists the region has to offer. And tens of thousands of people once again swarmed to the park to soak up the mini-festival atmosphere which the event has developed over the years.

Dark clouds may have periodically loomed overhead throughout the afternoon but the overwhelming variety and quality of the music was enough to keep the rain away. The sun even found time to make the odd appearance to shine down on what was undoubtedly an already bright event in ambience alone.

As much of a cliché as it, Ipswich Music Day once again proved it truly is an event with something for everyone. Big band, classical, pop, rock, reggae, country, soul, R&B, dance, punk, folk…the list of music covered by seven stages in eight hours was seemingly endless.

Old and young, black and white, family, friends and lovers – this was somewhere for everyone to gather for one day. Tattooed rockers mingled with youngsters whose musical knowledge normally extends little further than the singles charts, punks sporting brightly-coloured hair with older couples with more sedate, classical tastes, friendly pet dogs with the many inflatable aliens and giant Disney teddies which were being won on the side stalls.

This was a time and a place for all social boundaries to come down and for people to join with one thing on their minds – a mutual appreciation of great music.

For many Ipswich Music Day meant the formulation of a game plan, a carefully scheduled itinerary of which stage to be at to see who and when. For others it was a case of setting up deckchairs or laying a blanket in one spot and staying there for the duration to enjoy the sounds their chosen place may bring. For others still it was an opportunity to take a chance on what there is to offer, to wander round the park and stop only when a sound they like catches their ear.

And with many people bringing their own refreshments, others making use of the many food concessions set up round the park there was plenty of fuel and sustenance to keep energy levels up.

Whatever the agenda for the day for the thousands upon thousands of people who once again made the journey to Christchurch Park from far and wide, as the crowds began to filter out of the park toward the end of the day the enjoyment on people's faces was clear.

They may have been tired but they were happy. And who can blame them? Great atmosphere, great musicians, great music, great location – great day!

N What did you think of Ipswich Music Day? Write in to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or visit the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk