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Everything you need to know about the Wild Walls Festival closing party this Saturday

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Ipswich's Wild Walls Festival will wrap up on 5 October with a closing party at The Baths, featuring some of our town's top music talent.

The big picture: The event will cap off the four-week street art programme that has brightened up every corner of our town with new murals and street art, including the already-iconic "From Ipswich With Love" mural on the James Hehir Building.

‘ATMA Youth Mural’ on the James Hehir Building by ATMA during the Art Eat & Wild Walls in 2024
"From Ipswich With Love" by ATMAOliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk

Event details: The not-to-be-missed event is produced by Brighten the Corners,  and features some of our town's most promising, up-and-coming talent.

  • Doors open at 7:30pm at The Baths on Civic Drive, Ipswich

  • Native James, known for explosive live performances, will headline the party

  • Support acts include soulful singer Nina Arya and DJ Amy Nomvula

  • Tickets cost £5 and are available online

  • The event is for ages 14 and up (an adult must accompany 14-15 year olds)

Wild Walls Festival closing party poster
Wild Walls Festival closing party posterBrighten the Corners

Free public transport: Attendees can claim back their Ipswich Buses fare at the venue.

The bottom line: This closing party offers a final chance to celebrate Ipswich's urban culture and the success of the Wild Walls Festival.

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

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Has Fabio Wardley's 'dream' Portman Road fight moved one step closer?

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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 British heavyweight champion and diehard Ipswich Town fan could see his ambition to fight at his beloved club become reality after a new licence application.

Why it matters: Ipswich Town Football Club has applied for a variation of its licence at Portman Road. The application has requested boxing or wrestling entertainment to take place between 12:00 and 22:30 on Sundays to Thursdays, as well as 12:00 to 23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

West Stand at Portman Road stadium in Ipswich
West Stand at Portman Road stadium in IpswichHolly Woodard-Williams

What they're saying: Speaking with the BBC, an ITFC spokesperson said: "Following infrastructure improvements to Portman Road over the past couple of years, it will not be uncommon for the stadium to apply for various licences to host events across different sectors; this is just one of many that will start to appear."

For context: British heavyweight champion and Ipswich Town fan Fabio Wardley said it was his "dream" to fight at the ground.

In October 2024, Wardley told BBC Radio Suffolk he wanted to fight at Portman Road, saying: "It's still the dream and it's on the cards".

"If anything it's closer than ever now because being with Frank Warren my promoter, he's done stadium shows before and he knows how to put them on.

"When it happens is still a massive question but pieces are definitely falling into place for this."

Fabio Wardley at Portman Road stadium in Ipswich
Fabio Wardley at Portman Road stadium in IpswichAlamy

The bigger picture: Ipswich Town chief executive, Mark Ashton, said in November 2024 that the club had been in discussion with Wardley about appearing at the ground and that it was in the "pipeline" but not "imminent".

The details: The club has also requested to be permitted to include live music performances, playing of recorded music, dance performances as well as alcohol sales and late night refreshments.

Portman Road underwent a series of improvements last summer to prepare the ground for Premier League football, including new media facilities, more executive boxes and the introduction of safe standing areas at the ground for the first time.

What's next: Posters advertising the change have been put up in the area around the ground with people able to have their say on the change until 24 April.

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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