IT'S the largest, free, one day music event in the East of England. Today JAMES MARSTON previews Ipswich Music Day.

James Marston

IT'S the largest, free, one day music event in the East of England. Today JAMES MARSTON previews Ipswich Music Day.

IT was back in 1991 that the first music day took place in Christchurch Park.

Since then the event has grown and grown.

Now part of the Ip-Art festival, this year there will be six stages, as well as a poetry tent to delight and entertain the thousands expected to flock to the park from midday to 8pm.

Music fans will be hoping that the predicted Sunday showers are fairly few and far between.

Among the acts in this year's line up are Asa Jennings, Hannah Scott, The Racketeers, The Knock and Kiss the Mistress.

Musician Juliana Meyer is returning from her UK Summer Festival Tour to take part.

This follows performances this past weekend at Glastonbury Festival where she performed on the Leftfield, Rabbit Hole and Shangri-La Stages.

Earlier this month Juliana Meyer and her band headlined The Barn Stage at the BBC Sponsored Beach Break Live Festival in Cornwall.

A keen supporter of the Ipswich music scene, she will be on the Acoustic Stage at 1pm on Sunday for a solo performance where she will accompany herself on guitar and piano.

Following the release of her Debut Album 'Holding Up The Sky' in 2007, Juliana will be previewing some of her new songs.

Ipswich-based band Rosalita are set to take to the SGR stage at 7pm, one of the final acts of the day.

Keyboard player Ben Groom said: “We are really looking forward to it. We've finished our spring and summer tour and we're heading off again in the autumn but in the meantime we've got a number of gigs and festivals.”

Ben said the band has played at Ipswich Music Day for the last two years.

He said: “The first time we played had an amazing effect and really built up our home town fan base. It's a great day, there's a great atmosphere. This is the third time we will have performed on the SGR stage and we're really looking forward to it. It's often the first time people have been to see live music and it's a chance to convert people into gig goers.”

Ben said the band were hoping for better weather than last year's event which saw music day goers brave summer showers.

He added: “Last year there was a bomb scare so we didn't finish our set. We're hoping we will this year.”

With jazz, soul, blues, classical, punk, dance and rap as well as rock, the music day will also offer craft stalls, children's fairground and refreshments.

A spokesman for Ip-art said: “Ipswich Music day is one of the highlights of Suffolk's event Calendar. It's a recognisable date that everyone knows, and they come back year after year.

“It's such an important event for the local and wider community as it brings people together in perfect park surroundings with some of the best local musical talent around. We've ensured it stays as a free event to keep it open to as many people as possible!"

- Are you a fan of Ipswich Music Day? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

- Ipswich Music Day Band List

SGR Stage

12 noon - Absent kid

1.00pm - The Bronsons

2.00pm - The Unremarkables

3.00pm - Storm

4.00pm - Copper Pilot

5.00pm - Hipshot

6.00pm - The Knock

7.00pm - Rosalita

National Express

12 noon - Exit hibernation

1.00pm - Just Blues

2.00pm - Raindance

3.00pm - Sleeper cell

4.00pm - Caution Horses

5.00pm - Pin Money

6.00pm - Kudos

7.00pm - Whisky Chaser

CSV Stage

12 noon - Kiss the mistress

1.00pm - Edwardian Uncle Norm

1.30pm - Missing Andy

2.30pm - Pixel 8

3.00pm - Small Town Bullies

4.00pm - Thermal Detonator

5.00pm - One Day Life

6.00pm - Black Top Harrison

BBC Radio Suffolk stage

12 noon - BBC Introducing James Severy at the circus/Hannah Scott/

Some Best Friend

1.00pm - URB

2.00pm - TBC

3.00pm - South O'The Border

4.00pm - The Humdingers

5.00pm - Soul Town Chic

6.00pm - The Racketeers

Acoustic Stage- suffolkonboard.com

12 noon - The Stowe Valley Stompers

1.00pm - Juliana Meyer

1.00pm - Jon Lowe

2.30pm - Asa Jennings

2.55pm - Louisa Gaylard

3.30pm - The Gary Morling Band

4.30pm - Saltshaker

5.20pm - Hazy Days

6.15pm - AloneMe

Co-Op Stage

12 Noon - Co-op Jazz Band

12.50pm - Pity the Fool

1.40pm - Loose Juice

2.30pm - Co-op Juniors

3.00pm - Ipswich & Norwich Co-op Band

4.00pm - Co-op Juniors

4.30pm - Nxt Generation

5.20pm - Skin The Fish

6.10pm - Songs from the Blue House