Ipswich Music Day 2010

Kicking things off early on in the afternoon were IP1 favourites Rob Castellani and Anna Pancaldi providing a set of chilled out tunes; a perfect soundtrack for the summer. Their short but sweet set certainly sealed Castellani’s reputation as one of the finest local guitarists around, but much more than this Pancaldi was given plenty of opportunities to shine.

Up and coming funk trio Crab Meat Moon played a purposeful set of upbeat funk workouts reminiscent of early Chili Peppers. This band are clearly at ease with what they do and prove today why they’re worthy of local and national radio airplay, none more evident than in their cover of ‘Everybody Dance Now’.

Established Essex pop band The Floe (previously AloneMe) have come through adversity to perform for the expectant Radio Suffolk stage audience and deliver a fine set of piano driven commercial pop numbers. On the strength of this set their album ‘No Looking Back’ is well worth a listen with a mix of upbeat and mellow songs, suiting this event perfectly.

Blacktop Harrison are a local hard rock/ metal force to be reckoned; with mixing infectious vocal grooves in the style of Reef and Alter Bridge with some of the finest guitar riffs that Pantera and Black Label Society never wrote. One of the tightest bands of the day, Black top Harrison clearly are experienced at performing live and with the band clearly enjoy themselves, they round off an enjoyable set.

Indie band Ideals have had huge success so far including support slots for Babyshambles and The Automatic, and on the evidence of this set it’s clear just why. Mixing a retro pop sound with their own unique indie sound via some interesting brass parts, this band have the potential to be as huge as The Killers or Franz Ferdinand.

By far one of the day’s most popular artists is
Framlingham acoustic singer songwriter Ed Sheeran who defies genres mixing funk, R n B and pop. The comparisons to artists such as Newton Faulkner and Jason Mraz are inevitable but his music speaks volumes about his success.

Rounding off the day are Caution Horses with a healthy forty minute set of retro pop numbers ending a laid back event in a suitably chilled style. With this event getting bigger each year, all eyes are now on next year to see just how this year’s line can be bettered!