A bumper Ipswich Music Day line-up packed with festival favourites and new talent is expected to draw tens of thousands of people to the town.

Ipswich Star: Thousands of people flocked to Christchurch Park for Ipswich Music Day 2016 - bosses hope to smash records this year. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNThousands of people flocked to Christchurch Park for Ipswich Music Day 2016 - bosses hope to smash records this year. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

More than 50 homegrown bands and singers from East Anglia are to perform across six stages next month during the region’s biggest one-day music festival.

Around 40,000 people are predicted to flock to Christchurch Park for the event on July 2.

From Tony Shelvin, Colourblind Hedgehogs and Soul Kitchen to Elephant in the Room, Kid Mojo and Exit 13, organisers hope the line-up will cater for all music tastes.

Ipswich Borough Council leader David Ellesmere said: “It is the jewel in the cultural crown of Ipswich.

Ipswich Star: The Landed - pictured here on the Town 102 stage in 2016 - are making a return this year. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNThe Landed - pictured here on the Town 102 stage in 2016 - are making a return this year. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

“I believe Ipswich Music Day is the biggest one-day music event in the country.

“It has been going for many years now and tens of thousands of people come here to Ipswich to enjoy the day.

“It is a chance for the town to really showcase what it has to offer in terms of musical talent, our parks and our shops.

He added: “The day is one of the biggest events – if not the biggest – in the summer programme but there are also lots of others in the pipeline.

“The weekend after is the Indian Summer Mela.”

Now in its 27th year, the event will also have fairground rides, a craft market, a range of caterers and an inflatable obstacle course for children.

Alongside the main six stages, sponsored by the likes of BBC Radio Suffolk, Town 102, Suffolk New College, Grapevine and Audi Sport, there are other performance areas in Christchurch Mansion and the Bethesda Baptist Church for folk and classical fans.

Suffolk superstar Ed Sheeran made some of his first public appearances at Ipswich Music Day, performing at the event in 2009 and 2010.

It has been running for nearly 30 years and this year hopes to smash attendance records to draw more than 40,0000 people into the town.

Ipswich Central chief executive Paul Clement said: “Events such as Ipswich Music Day help promote Ipswich and raise awareness of all the other things to do in our town.”

To event is free to attend and to see the full line-up, go to the Ipswich Entertains website.