COLLEGE students faced the music when they performed in a live festival in Ipswich to prepare them for a career in the industry.

Simon Tomlinson

COLLEGE students faced the music when they performed in a live festival in Ipswich to prepare them for a career in the industry.

As part of their course, they have formed various bands or embarked on solo ventures which were unleashed to the public over the weekend at the Steamboat Tavern.

The Love Music Festival, organised by Suffolk New College, should not be confused with The Evening Star's soon-to-be-launched lovemusic24 website, which will be celebrating musical talent in the county.

The two-year national diploma in music performance, run by Suffolk New College, aims to put the students through their paces in readiness for the challenges of life in music.

They will be going on to work with business students at the college to understand the financial side of the career.

Course leader Jo King said: “They have spent the last year learning all the skills they need and this task has put them in a real-life situation.

“This is the best way to get them into the real world and learn to work with the public.”

The festival spanned over three days and featured a wide range of acts from death metal and punk to acoustic soloists and choral work.

Singer-songwriter Brendan Ware performed a solo set, as well as soul choir Suffolk New Voices and band ND1 Quartet yesterday.

He said he hoped the course would give him a platform to gaining a record deal.

Mr Ware, 30, from Kesgrave, added: “The teaching is first class and we have learned how to project ourselves on stage.

“A lot of us aren't working at the moment with the jobs the way they are, so we are trying to find as many gigs as possible.

“My dream is a record deal. Music is my passion and my life.”

Meanwhile, this year's StowFest went ahead at the Stowmarket Recreation Ground yesterday despite the poor weather after last year's was cancelled due to the rain.

The free event, which puts an emphasis on youth, featured acts as young as 11, which have been supported by the Amplitude workshops in Stowmarket and the surrounding villages.

Other acts included the best of the Suffolk music scene such as Angry vs the Bear, Paul Bullen and Hoss.

For more pictures from StowFest see tomorrow's Star Weekly.

- Did you attend either event? What did you think of the bands? Write to Your Letters, The Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.