Support Original Music in Stowmarket

Stowmarket has seen some big name bands grace its stages in the past. In 1967 Pink Floyd performed at Stowmarket cricket meadows. In the seventies and eighties Stowmarket experienced a thriving punk scene. But what is our original music scene like now? Do the local bands and artists of today have the energy and motivation to maintain a successful independent music scene here in Stowmarket?

The music scene in Stowmarket

Bands and artists, who live, play and perform in and around Stowmarket will generally perform in pubs and clubs. Pubs such as the Pickerel Inn put on original bands almost every week. The Queens head also supports original artists. Some bands in the Stowmarket area find that there is a lack of suitable venues for original talent and that cover bands are favoured when it comes to the 'good slots'.  

"Decent size gigs are hard to come by because some venues simply don't want to risk putting on an originals band they've never heard of. It is catch twenty two, to get the good gigs you need to be known, but to get known you need to play good gigs." – Steve Richards – Stowmarket musician

We live in an age of cover band supremacy

There is no shortage of wannabe copycats and mimic artists in Suffolk and along with many, Stowmarket seems to have fallen prey to the cover band age. It is understandable that venues support cover bands, cover bands have reliable material usually with a repertoire of hits spanning through six decades, are usually well rehearsed, put on a great show and provide a reliable turnout for venues to make a profit. The safe bet that a cover band will draw a crowd is what attracts venues and booking agents to them, but what about the struggling originals bands who just want a chance to play on a 'big' stage?

What about the real creative talents?

Original bands and artists face a tough time getting gigs in decent venues. The sheer quantity of unsigned mostly unheard of bands and artists makes it difficult for venues to decipher which ones will bring in a crowd and which ones will leave punters lost and confused never to return again.

Original music is rife all over Suffolk and the U.K. But for local artists it can sometimes feel like an uphill struggle just to be heard.

"I think that although it is getting better in Stowmarket more needs to be done by councils and establishments to support local and original artists of all mediums." - Kevin Marley - Local Musician

The future of Stowmarket's music scene

The long anticipated opening of the John Peel centre for creative arts in Stowmarket is set to provide a well needed boost to the independent music scene. Original music promoters in the area such as the music event organisers in charge of the popular monthly Ipswich event 'Ultrazang' have already made plans to come to Stowmarket to put on shows in the John Peel Centre.

Established Stowmarket based bands such as the psychedelic three piece 'Butterfly' not only perform their own material they help other bands perform theirs by providing stage time at various events they organise in the local area. Butterfly front man, bass player and Ultrazang organiser Chris Hollands said.

"It's important to support original artists; they need to be nurtured and encouraged. I think that Stowmarket has a good opportunity now to create a more vivid and unified music scene than ever before, The John  Peel centre for creative arts will allow so many more unheard artists and bands to be heard and will inspire the youth of Stowmarket to get together and be creative"

Local art and music in all areas needs to be supported in order for a music community to flourish. The future of Stowmarket's independent music scene is definitely looking up but it may be a while until outsider musicians see and respect Stowmarket as being a place to be.

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