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AJ Tracey to perform at The Baths in Ipswich this May

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We publish the stories that matter and champion everything that's good about our town – without the ads, popups or tracking

The UK rapper brings his 'Not Even A Tour' to Ipswich on Monday, 19 May, with tickets going on sale next Friday and expected to sell out fast.

Why it matters: This marks AJ Tracey's return to the music scene after a three-year hiatus, during which he created his latest album, "Don't Die Before You're Dead".

The performance at The Baths will run from 19:30 to 23:00, and tickets are £20 plus a booking fee.

The performance is restricted to ages 14 and above, with those under 18 required to be accompanied by an adult.

AJ Tracey in new single Crush
AJ Tracey in new single Crush

What they're saying: "I want to showcase growth and hammer home that the UK is a melting pot of cultures. I'm proud to be British—no matter what people try to tell you," says AJ Tracey about his new material.

He describes the album as "a love letter to the UK," explaining that "I wanted to show this isn't just another braggadocious record."

For context: The new album explores themes of trauma, mental health, faith, and love, with tracks like "Friday Prayer" exploring the artist's journey with Islam and "3rd Time Lucky" addressing his mother's battle with cancer.

Despite the personal nature of some tracks, others like "Second Nature" and "Out of Sight" showcase what the artist calls his "signature swagger".

AJ Tracey poster
AJ Tracey is performing at The Baths in Ipswich on 19 MayBrighten the Corners

What's next: Tickets go on sale Friday, 4 April at 12pm via DICE and Ticketmaster. They're expected to sell fast, so be quick. You can find all the information you need at https://www.brightenthecorners.co.uk/events/aj-tracey.

The bottom line: AJ Tracey's Ipswich performance offers fans a rare chance to experience what he describes as "an unapologetically British statement of maturity, authenticity, and self-acceptance" on their doorstep.

Brighten the Corners

Brighten the Corners runs a diverse live music programme, training and education opportunities across three venues, and an annual multi-venue festival in Ipswich, Suffolk.

A gig at St Stephen's Church
Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

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Martlesham pub makes history with record-breaking pint pour

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Ipswich.co.uk Logomark in a circle

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We publish the stories that matter and champion everything that's good about our town – without the ads, popups or tracking

The Douglas Bader has etched its name in the history books after participating in the largest simultaneous pint pour ever recorded.

Why it matters: The Martlesham Heath pub was one of 114 venues nationwide to set a new Guinness World Records title, showcasing the growing demand for both traditional and alcohol-free draught beer options.

The Douglas Bader in Martlesham, Ipswich
The Douglas Bader in Martlesham, IpswichOliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk

How it happened: The nationwide "The Big Pour" event took place on 7 April, with publicans connecting via video call to pour pints of Heineken and Heineken 0.0 in perfect synchronisation.

  • Participants had just 10 seconds to complete their pours under the watchful eye of an official Guinness World Records adjudicator

  • The Douglas Bader was among pubs from across the UK, ranging from Scotland to Surrey, that took part in the record attempt

The bigger picture: The event celebrated Heineken installing its 1,000th alcohol-free draught tap in UK pubs.

  • This milestone makes Heineken 0.0 the most widely available alcohol-free beer on draught in the country

  • The company says it now has more alcohol-free draught installations than any other brand

What they're saying: Lawson Mountstevens, Managing Director Star Pub at Heineken UK, said: "Part of the ritual of going to the pub is watching your pint being freshly poured from the tap – the tilt of the glass, the smooth cascade, and mouthwatering anticipation of the first sip."

  • "This draught experience is central to pub culture, and for non-alcoholic beer to become truly mainstream, it needs to be part of that experience"

  • "It needs to be poured from the tap like any other pint, not just another option in the fridge"

The bottom line: The Douglas Bader's participation in this record-breaking event highlights Ipswich's place in brewing history while reflecting changing consumer preferences in the pub industry.

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

We can't do this without you!

If you value strong, free, independent local media that fights tirelessly for our town, please consider contributing just £24 per year

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