Ipswich festival Brighten The Corners announces first wave of acts for 2025, including Dry Cleaning, corto.alto and Lime Garden

A spoken-word post-punk powerhouse, an award-winning jazz project and an energetic and politically-charged punk band are some of the acts set to play at an Ipswich music festival later this year.

South London band Dry Cleaning have been announced as the first headliners for 2025’s Brighten The Corners Festival, which runs from June 13 to 14.

This year’s event promises an eclectic mix of genres and acts, including Lime Garden, with their mix of synth-pop, post-punk and indie rock and Glasgow jazz act corto.alto.

In addition, post-punk act DEADLETTER will bring their heavy basslines to the festival, alongside Machester’s W H Lung, JD Cliffe, Welsh indie band Gruff Rhys, and avant-pop duo Mermaid Chunky.

This year marks the fifth Brighten The Corners festival.

Marcus Neal, programmer for Brighten The Corners, said: “We are so pleased to announce the initial wave of artists for our 2025 event including Dry Cleaning, our first headliners, who we have been trying to entice to Ipswich since their first single back in 2019.

“The programme as a whole continues our tradition of showcasing a broad spectrum of emerging artists across a wide range of genres from indie to folk, electronic jazz to noise-rock and beyond.

“We look forward to unveiling further names, including our second headline act, in the coming weeks.”

The other acts announced in the first wave are:

► Oreglo, a jazz-electronic fusion band

► Rich(ard) Dawson – a folk act

► THE NONE – described as ‘explosive’ noise rock

► The Orchestra (For Now) – a seven-piece that blends art rock, progressive pop and breakdowns.