September 2024
FREE WiFi in Stowmarket
Evening Concert at the John Peel Centre now SOLD OUT…
…but you can still purchase an Evening Concert ticket for the Royal British Legion via our Friends at the John Peel Centre. Follow the link below which takes you to our Evening Events page and from there, links you to the John Peel Centre box office. https://www.eatmt.org.uk/evening-events-21st-september-traditional-music-day/
LIMITED FREE PARKING FOR DAY VISITORS!
If you don’t mind a short (12-15 minute) walk, the owners of The Cedars’ Hotel (Needham Road, IP14 2AJ) which is undergoing renovation, have given us permission to offer their car park to our day/evening visitors to the town.
Mike Norris is a long term EATMT Friend and Supporter. He is former Chair of the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) and now presents their weekly Folk Show – Classic Folk – which is broadcast every Tuesday.
On Tuesday 17th September, Mike’s show will feature artists who are appearing at Traditional Music Day on Saturday 21st September. Mike is also our MC for the John Peel Centre evening concert. There will be an opportunity to listen again via the archives.
https://www.efdss.org/about-us/folk-player/listen-classic-folk
Final Week of the Jig Doll Tour
Our final week takes us to Bury Street in Stowmarket and the Jig Dolls’ final stands take pride of place at Heathers’ Soft Furnishings – a wonderful shop featuring a traditional haberdashery store to the rear of the shop and Style at Stow – a shop with some real treasures in – gifts, fashion and home decor.
This 8 week tour of the town has been part of Stowmarket on Show – EATMT’s Community Development project which was funded by Mid Suffolk District Council and as a result has enabled the daytime events of Traditional Music Day to be offered to all FREE OF CHARGE. We’ve interacted with mostly independent stores within Stowmarket but it by no means covers the shops, restaurants and services that this town has to offer.
The Jig Doll frames were made by Stowmarket-Meadlands’ Mens Shed and they are taken from our event’s logo – Mr Jolly Boy – an Edwardian English made dancing doll. The logo was designed by East Anglian Artist and Musician Karen Cater. You can see some dancing dolls in action during the day on Saturday 21st September.
Tinkler’s Quest Art Trail
Storytelling paintings that connect memories, spark conversation and promote action – place, people, nature.
Tinkler’s Quest was created in 2023 and is an Art Trail that covers 9 venues across the town. This art project was supported by National Heritage Lottery, Stowmarket Town Council, Suffolk Archives and Nurture Together. The Art Work is now owned by Stowmarket Town Council but is still displayed in venues across the town.
Stowmarket on Show – Jig Doll Tour weeks 5, 6 and 7
Week 7 and 3 shout outs to businesses on Station Road West. Our Jig Doll tour continues and one of our the statues can be found at independent opticians Peel & Gudgin – which also happens to be where EATMT’s supporter Chris Wilbraham is based.
Chris is half of local folk band The Larks and also is the “Folk” contributor of the Music/Arts Guide that appears in the local weekly newspaper The Bury Free Press. Here’s his piece for this week (wc 7th September).
The other Jig Doll is sited right on the corner of Station Road West which meets Gipping Way – Stow Frames – bespoke picture framers who have been framing for the Stowmarket community and beyond for nearly 40 years.
The Queen’s Head can also be found on Station Road West and Dee and her team will be welcoming the Morris from 11am throughout the day who will be dancing in the front garden and also Jack & Molly Bishop – a local brother and sister duo – who will be performing from 9pm-10pm in the pub.
Week 6 ventures into the Market Place where Bella Sorrento has a commanding view of the Market Place – this will be bustling all day with stalls for the monthly Farmers’ Market and dancers, storytellers and musicians. Bella Sorrento will be happy to serve you their delicious Italian fare during the day and into the evening.
Zarkeys is our regular go to for engraving – specifically for our Stepdancing Awards. You find the Morris Dancers just outside here in the Meadow Centre from 11.00am until 4.00pm. Asda’s Community Champion Emma Buxton has been instrumental in allowing the dancers to take part in this corner of the town.
One of the large Jig Dolls has now taken up residence next to the Grand Piano in the Church of St Peter and St Mary and this is where it will stay until the big day. Jane and the team in the Church Office, as well as the Reverend Michael Eden have been as ever, welcoming and flexible to our needs. The Church is also home to the wonderful Osier Cafe which many of our visitors will remember from our Music Days at the Museum.
Week 5 of the Jig Dolls’ Summer Tour saw the Wooden Frames move further down the main thoroughfare – Ipswich Street. We decided to keep one in the window of the ArtSpace for the remainder of the tour – it’s in a prominent position and was grumbling about sore feet! As a result one of them went to look at shoes in Shoephoric and the other spent a week in the lovely Olive Branch where there is a lovely selection of gifts and cards and even clothes!
Did you know that Monday 23rd September is the second European Folk Day?
The traditional arts are an essential element of European cultural identity and diversity
Traditional Music Day is, of course, listed as an event joining this European Celebration of Traditional Music and naturally, we join a large number of other countries celebrating their musical heritage on the days surrounding this date.
Jowan Collier, catalogue assistant at the British Library will be joining us at Traditional Music Day with his sound recording equipment to make recordings of the day. These will be catalogued in the Library’s Archives for posterity.
Stowmarket on Show update
As part of our locally funded Community Development project, Stowmarket on Show, we are joined by five local singing groups who will be showcasing their singing in the Church of St Peter’s and St Mary’s at Traditional Music Day. From 10.45am through to 2.15pm – prior to a wonderful Harmony Singing Workshop with The Norfolk Broads at 2.30pm which is open to all – Let’s Sing, Stowmarket U3A Singing Group, Big Sunday Sing, Stowmarket Song Circle and VivaVoices will be giving us a taste of their musicianship in half hour slots. For more details see the TMD Artists Page.
Also on show are East Anglian Storytellers John Row, Dave Tonge and Chris Richardson who will be travelling around the town and popping up at various venues to tell a tale and then share news of a new Storytelling Club being set up in Stowmarket.
August 2024
Week 4 of the Summer Stowmarket Tour
The Old Fox Yard is the location for all three of our smaller Jig Dolls this week – half way through their Summer Stowmarket Tour. Located in the heart of Stowmarket’s town centre, the Old Fox Yard is a collection of niche businesses housed around the courtyard of a Grade II Listed Building dating back to the 16th century. Our social media pages this week focused on an article about the historic Inn that was once located here. This article was sent to us by Town Councillor Darren Dordoy, who is also an active member of the Stowmarket Local History Group.
The Fox Inn/Hotel – C1766-1984.
It is understood that a coach named The Regulator left at 11am to Bury St Edmunds from the premises in the 18th century. In later times during the 19th century, the Fox omnibus would meet every train and carry patrons from station to the hotel, no doubt trying to beat their rivals the Kings Head opposite.
The sales document above of 1878 has details of the buildings etc attached
Information sources: Stowmarket Local History Group Archives. Stowmarket, Combs and Stowupland Pubs Neil Langridge & Brian. A. Southgate.
From then to now – in Old Fox Yard you’ll find:
Pallet is an independent arts bar. Currently looking for new management – if running a bar is something you have always dreamt of doing?https://www.facebook.com/palletbarstowmarket
Fox Yard Studio is an art studio, gallery and overall hub for creativity and innovation. With regular workshops and exhibitions. https://www.facebook.com/foxyardstudio
Passione D’Amore is an Italian Café serving authentic Italian breakfast, lunch, coffee and desserts. https://www.instagram.com/passionedamore_stowmarket/
Turkish Barbers offer a high-quality, walk-in service with traditional Turkish Barbering techniques. https://www.facebook.com/…/Turkish-Barbers-Stowmarket…/
BeYouTiful is a hair and beauty salon offering a wide range of specialist services in the Old Fox Yard. https://www.instagram.com/be.you.tifulbeautysalon/
Little Nails is a specialist nail bar offering a wide range of nail treatments from their relaxing salon. https://www.instagram.com/littlenails_stowmarket/
Architect Modece is known for its highly sustainable approach to building design and its willingness to experiment and innovate with sustainable materials. https://www.instagram.com/modecearchitects/
Realise Futures is an organisation who offer employment and opportunities to adults who are disabled or disadvantaged.
https://www.instagram.com/realisefutures/
ArtSpace is a short art project run in 2023 promoting emerging local artists – offering them a free working and showcasing space. It currently houses some of the artwork created in another Stowmarket based art project called Stow Stories. More of this in due course. https://www.oldfoxyard.co.uk/artspace
The Fox Yard is one of our venues for Traditional Music Day. Curated by volunteer Peter Booth, we bring you a selection of musical buskers from 11.00am through to 5.30pm. There will be a pop up bar. If wet, this will be moved into The Pallet Bar in the Yard. See TMD ARTISTS page for more details. These busking spots have been funded by Stowmarket Town Council and we are grateful to Matt Bell of Modece for his support in enabling us to use this popular venue spot.
We have a buskers performing from 11am in the Yard outside the Pallet Bar on 21st September. Funded by @stowmarkettowncouncil
Week 3 of the Summer Stowmarket Tour
Week 3 of the Stowmarket Jig Doll Tour. This week they can be found with Baldwins of Stowmarket Department Store, Inces and Kelly’s Cabs – all on Ipswich Street.
Kelly’s Cabs has a very convenient spot for the Morris, Molly and Rapper sides to stop for a dance or two during the day…
Week 2 of the Summer Stowmarket Tour
Week 2 of the Jig Dolls’ Summer Tour of Stowmarket showcases food and drink on Ipswich Street. This week they visit the new in town Turkish Restaurant Meze Grill – a great addition to the town; Chinese Chequers, a firm favourite with locals and Traditional Music Day attenders who travel to Stowmarket and make a weekend of it and The Royal Oak where James and his team are ready to serve you.
Morris Dancing will be outside the pub on the main thoroughfare as well as in the pub gardens are certain spots throughout the day.
These are of course, just a small selection of places to eat and drink in the town during the day and in the evening!
July 2024
Jig Dolls on a Summer Stowmarket Tour
From the week commencing 29th July 2024, the Jig Doll statues, now fully painted, are moving around the town of Stowmarket over the summer – showcasing some of the local businesses and organisations as well as organising Traditional Music Day. The smaller statues are spending a week at each location. The larger ones will be located at key venues involved on the 21st September 2024 throughout the summer.
The Summer Tour starts at the end of Ipswich Street and home to EATMT – Red Gables – where numerous organisations use their Redwoods Library and Garden Room on a weekly basis. Just a stone’s throw away is The Mix, an organisation providing important services to local young people. It also happens to be home to the lovely cafe Cabbages and Kings. Over the road from The Mix is The Regal Stowmarket, owned by Stowmarket Town Council, The Regal is an independent venue with 3 auditoriums and a wonderful cafe bar called The 1936.
It’s worth noting that these three organisations are, along with EATMT, some of the members of the Stowmarket Culture Group – an organisation consisting of local arts and heritage organisations and venues working together to promote the town of Stowmarket.
June 2024
Stowmarket on Show
Earlier in the year, we applied to Mid Suffolk District Council’s Community Development Fund and in May we learned of our success. This success, alongside some other local funding, enables us to put on the daytime events across the town for free and covers much of our costs that we cover to bring this day to the town. We have also been awarded funding from Stowmarket Town Council (who are supporting us with the Pallet Bar musicians).
Stowmarket on Show is a project which involves us working with several groups within the town both leading up to Traditional Music Day and on the day. Watch this space for more news as the plans come together.
March 2024
Evolving Logo
From Karen’s design, we took it to the local Mens’ Shed (Stowmarket Meadlands Mens’ Shed) who have created several Mr Jolly Boy stands – some will head to the town centre and will feature in local shop windows over August and September and the larger displays will be standing outside some of the venues taking part in the day.
Next step – painting!
New Logo!
January 2024
We are incredibly grateful to wonderful East Anglian artist, Karen Cater for creating a brand new logo for this event – Mr Jolly Boy. Jig Dolls feature prominently during the day and we will be offering a free workshop and a chance to dance them alongside the stepdancing sessions.
