Decision details

Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) are planning a high profile “Welcome Back Weekend” that will attract visitors to the town over the weekend of 11th to 13th March 2022.

The weekend will involve a range of activities including live music at St Stephens Church.

Procurement of organising and managing a “Welcome Back Weekend” live music event within Ipswich Town Centre including a mixture of local, regional, and national bands.

A procurement exercise has been undertaken by officers from the Council’s Economic Development team.

3 quotes were obtained and a validation process was carried out by officers from the Economic Development team. The quote submitted by Sounds East CIC for organising and managing a “Welcome Back Weekend” event of live music within Ipswich Town Centre was found to best demonstrate value for money and best deliver the ambitions of a local music event that will attract people back to the town centre. The quote includes production fees which include, artist fees, PA, monitors and experienced industry staff. The quote also includes infrastructure costs including toilet rental, security, bar staffing and project management.

The details of the event are:

The 2 day event will take place at St Stephens Church on Friday 11th March will run from 6pm - 11pm with 3 live performances including a mixture of local, regional and national artists.

Saturday 12th March will run from 10am - 7pm with 6 live performances throughout the day.

The project is 100% funded by external sources (i.e. the Welcome Back EDRF Fund administered via the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) and as well as complying with the Council’s contract standing orders, the relevant ERDF rules have been followed in reaching this decision.

To fund Sounds East CIC £24,967 for them to run live music across the weekend of 11th to 12th March 2022 at St Stephens Church St Stephens Ln, Ipswich IP1 1DP.