SuffolkNews’ guide to the best gigs across the county in 2024 including Sting and Tom Jones at Thetford Forest, Scouting For Girls at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds and Alfie Boe at the Ipswich Regent Theatre
Suffolk residents can gear up for a bumper year of music in 2024, with a host of well-known names set to grace the county’s stages, as well as some homegrown talent.
Last year saw the likes of Pulp, George Ezra and McFly rock music fans at the likes of Latitude and Newmarket Nights, and whilst the same events boast some big-name headliners this year, there are plenty of other events in the mix around the county.
Here is SuffolkNews’ guide to some of the best gigs to see this year:
Wet Wet Wet and Go West at Ipswich Regent Theatre on January 25:
Equipped with new frontman Kevin Simm, formerly of Liberty X and more recently winner of The Voice, Wet Wet Wet will be coming to Ipswich on January 25 with Go West in tow.
The two iconic bands will be visiting The Regent Theatre as part of their Best of Both Worlds Tour, performing classic hits from years gone by.
The two bands have 36 UK Top 40 hits between them.
Wet Wet Wet are perhaps best known for their singles ‘Love Is All Around’ and and ‘Sweet Surrender’, whilst listeners may know Go West for songs including ‘King Of Wishful Thinking’ and ‘Call Me’.
Doors open at 6.30pm.
Fuze at The Smokehouse, Ipswich on January 26:
Bury St Edmunds’ own Fuze will be opening the year at The Smokehouse in Ipswich on January 26.
Frequenters of The Hunter Club, the band are shifting town’s to Ipswich for their first performance of the new year.
Armed with their latest hit ‘Rigged For Last’ as well as another recent release ‘Nobody Listens To The Words Anyway’, Harvey, Oscar, Dec and Tom will be certain to rock their latest venue.
The Frestonians and Lost Movies will warm things up before Fuze hit the stage.
Doors open at 7.30pm.
Michael Ball/Alfie Boe at Ipswich Regent Theatre on March 30 and May 30:
Fans may have gotten used to seeing Ball and Boe together on stage, however the two will be visiting the county in separate shows this year, both at The Regent.
The Les Mis alums will perform in Ipswich two months apart from each other, on March 30 and May 30 respectively.
Fans can expect to hear a wide array of showtunes from the former Marius/Javert and Valjean respectively, with Boe particularly noted for his stunning performances of ‘Bring Him Home; from the musical.
Whilst Boe will be performing on his own, Amy Wadge will be supporting Ball.
Both events kick off at 7pm.
Sting at High Lodge, Thetford Forest on June 22:
The artist will be visiting in his My Songs tour as part of the Forestry Live gigs for 2024.
Fans can expect to hear the likes of ‘Every Breath You Take’ and ‘Roxanne’ from the rock legend.
Sting has won 17 Grammy Awards as well as being nominated for four Academy Awards.
The My Songs tour kicked off in September and will conclude a month after the Thetford Forest gig, in Lingen, Germany on July 27.
Tom Jones and Gabrielle at High Lodge, Thetford Forest on June 28:
Sting will not be the only famous face visiting Thetford Forest in June, as Welsh rockstar Sir Tom Jones will be leaving his hat on the High Lodge stage.
Best known for songs including ‘Delilah’ and ‘It’s Not Unusual’, Jones is widely considered one of the greatest singers and recording artists of all time.
He has sold more than 100 million records.
Gabrielle will be supporting the Jones at the gig, and is best known for hits including ‘Dreams’ and ‘Out Of Reach’.
The two will be performing six day after Sting, on June 28.
JLS at Newmarket Racecourse on June 28:
June 28 is going to be a packed day for Suffolk music fans, as boyband JLS are set to headline Newmarket Nights on the same day as Tom Jones at Thetford Forest.
The hitmakers behind ‘Everybody In Love’ and ‘Beat Again’ will be performing at Newmarket Racecourse as part of their ‘Summer Hits’ reunion tour.
The band said: “We’ve heard amazing things about Newmarket Nights and are so honoured to join the 2024 line-up.”
They first came before the public in 2008 on Simon Cowell’s X-Factor before going on to have a widely successful career, but split up in 2013.
More recently, fans will have seen band member Marvin Humes on ITV as he stepped into the Jungle for I’m A Celebrity, finishing in fourth place.
Busted at Newmarket Racecourse on July 19:
Newmarket Racecourse is to be the home of the reunions in 2024, as pop-punk legends Busted will be hitting the Newmarket Nights on July 19.
The reunion tour is part of the band’s 20th anniversary, and fans can expect to hear classics including ‘Year 3000’ and ‘Air Hostess.’
The group have sold 5 million records worldwide as well as scooping two Brit awards.
They said: “We had an unbelievable time on our anniversary tour this year and can’t wait to continue celebrations in the summer.
After a hiatus in 2019, band members Charlie Simpson, James Bourne and Matt Willis reunited to embark on their 20th anniversary tour ahead of recently released album ‘Greatest Hits 2.0’, and The Jockey Club Live are welcoming the group back for the first time since 2016.
Duran Duran, Kasabian, Keane, Nile Rodgers and others at Latitude, Henham Park from 25 to 28 July:
This list would not be complete without a nod to Suffolk’s premier festival, which is playing host to a plethora of big names this year.
Duran Duran were announced as the headline act in November 2023, visiting the county for their only festival of the year.
Other acts confirmed today for the 2024 festival include Texas trio Khruangbin, dance duo Orbital, acclaimed singer Rag’n’Bone Man and cultural icon Rick Astley.
Leicester-based band Kasabian will also be performing as another headliner, as well as London Grammar.
Sara Pascoe has also been announced as the first comedy headliner for the festival, well known for her appearances on Mock The Week and sitcome Out Of Her Mind.
Elvis Costello at Ipswich Regent Theatre on September 24:
Elvis Costello, along with his band The Imposters, will perform at The Regent on September 24.
Equipped with new album ‘Look Now’, it is Costello’s first release with The Imposters since 2008.
It is also his first album since 2013 after his collaboration with The Roots on ‘Wise Up Ghost’.
Whilst most songs on the album were written by Costello himself, ‘Don’t Look Now’, and ‘Photographs Can’t Lie’, were co-written with Burt Bacharach, who passed away in February but can be heard leading The Imposters from the piano on the two ballads.
Costello is performing a host of dates across the world with the new album in 2024, including the US and Australia, before coming to the UK in September, starting in Glasgow.
Scouting For Girls at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds on October 15:
The band behind the classics ‘She’s So Lovely’ and ‘This Ain’t A Love Song’, Scouting For Girls will be rocking The Apex on October 15.
The group has recently released their new album ‘The Place We Used To Meet’, and previously had many successful gigs in the county including at Thetford Forest and the 10th anniversary of Bardfest.
The new tour is described as being a brand new show with a brand new setlist, and a different selection of fan favourites.
Fans can also expect to hear ‘Love How It Hurts’ and ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’ amidst some new singles.
The band will also visit The Regent on November 1.
