Businesses support Sax Music Fest as it announces headline acts for 2018

Following a surge in support and sponsorship from local businesses, the organisers of Sax Music Fest announced the acts performing at this year’s festival, which takes place on Friday 27^th and Saturday 28^th July.  This will be the first year this free music festival takes place at its new location in the grounds of Saxmundham Free School.

Terry Barrow, organiser of the festival, confirmed that Sax Music Fest’s line up for 2018 will have a broad spectrum of music across the weekend and is proud to present everything from Folk to Rock.

The headline act for Saturday is the sensational Tasha Leaper performing as Madonna (pictured). The headline act for Friday is one of Suffolk’s finest bands, Reno and Rome, a band that combines infectious melodies and ethereal pop-rock and are at the point of breaking through to a national audience.

Friday stays true to the essence of Sax Music Fest offering local bands the opportunity to use the event as a platform for them to showcase their talent.

Also, at the festival, which kicks off at midday on the Friday, there will be a range of local catering options included vegetarian options. There will also be children’s rides and entertainment, a range of stalls to browse and a large bar with draft beers, Pimm’s station, wines etc and a prosecco truck.

The 2018 Sax Music Fest was officially launched at an event attended by sponsors and supporters on Tuesday 10^th April at The Bell at Saxmundham. Guests were treated to live music from Ant McAndrew – who will be performing at the festival with his band ‘The Divide’.

Speaking at the launch event, Paul Mayne Director at headline sponsor, Infotex, said: “The class of acts for this year’s festival is exceptionally high. We’ve kitted the festival team out with a great new website to help promote this year’s festival. We’re very excited about the event and proud to be a part of it.”

Lin Barnes from Christies Care, another major sponsor for the 2018 event, explained: “The inclusive, community nature of this event is fabulous, warm and welcoming. It’s amazing to have such great acts right here in Saxmundham and the work the Sax Music Fest team are doing to develop the festival and fringe events is remarkable.”

Phillip Dunnett, Chairman of Saxmundham Town Council, added: “This has been such a fantastic event for Saxmundham as a community – Saxmundham Town Council are keen to support this ongoing event, where possible, in the future.”

Additional sponsors and supporters for the 2018 festival include: The Seckford Foundation, Ensors, East of England Co-Op, SAD CIC, Suffolk Escape Room, Ipswich Building Society, Marshall Hatchick, Leiston Press and The Bell at Sax.

The outline of the programme for Sax Music Fest 2018 will be announced shortly on the website and Facebook page. Find further information on Sax Music Fest, the acts, catering and entertainment here.

Group photo of sponsors and some shots from the launch event below. Photo credit: Simon Ballard

Left of the banner, L-R Danielle Waites (The Bridge Marketing), Lyn Jardine (Saxmundham Town Council), Mark Turner (Saxmundham Town Council), Lin Barnes (Christies Care), Ian Goddard (RNLI), James Robbins (Marshall Hatchick), Colin Dennison (Sax Music Fest), Jenni Armstrong (Suffolk Escape Room), Terry Barrow (Sax Music Fest), Hana Dickinson (The Bridge Marketing)

Right of the banner L-R – Shelley Curtis (Ipswich Building Society), Natasha Cracknell (Local Musician), Carl Page (Ensors), Nina Christensen (Infotex), Steve Palmer (SADCIC), Andrea Blake (Sax Music Fest), Kevin Armstrong (Suffolk Escape Room)