The 3rd Woodbridge Ambient Music Festival was held on the banks of the beautiful River Deben in the beautiful town of Woodbridge, Suffolk on the Autumnal Equinox weekend 20th - 22nd September 2024. Follow us on socials and get involved with a celebration of all things ambient, in the place it all began - Woodbridge, Suffolk - We will be back Sept 19-21 2025.
Here are a collection of pics - lots more on social media #WoodbridgeAmbientMusicFestival - Thanks to everyone!
Joe Field Horner designed the poster for the Woodbridge Ambient Music Festival! Thanks Joe.
FRIDAY 20th September 2024
5.00pm-9PM - in the historic TIDEMILL -
"When the dog days were drawing to an end " **SOLD OUT**
Festival Reception - words, music and moving images celebrating WG Sebald’s book ‘Rings of Saturn’. ( On Thursday the Riverside Theatre showed the film "Patience (after Sebald)"
5PM Will Ferguson played piano with recordings of Trams in Bremen on the Sebaldsbrück to open the evening.
6PM Silent Dinners - ambient music and slow films from Mark C Sargeant and Jan Pulsford shown in the Tidemill with wine from the Angel and Pizza from Woodyard outside overlooking the beautiful river and sunset.
7PM We welcomed film maker and author John Rogers to talk about Sebald’s famous walk around Suffolk and show his film "Sebald's walk from Southwold to Dunwich"
8PM Digitonal with Andy Dobson. Beautiful music and projections finished the first evening of the weekend, with a red moon rising over the river and stunning views - Sunset at 6.57PM plus the Space Station went over the river twice during the evening! A fascinating evening - The TideMill has been looking over the River Deben and milling grain for over 800 years!
Sponsored by Clare Perkins-Lightfoot and Jan Pulsford Music. Films and incidental music curated by Mothership.Voyage Thankyou to the Tidemill for their hospitality.
SATURDAY 21st September 2024
10.00am ‘Floating Equal’ on the RIVERBANKS
An informal walk celebrating the beautiful ambience of the area with words and music dotted along the river bank between Kyson Point and the Deben Cafe (HMS Vale)
Led and sponsored by story teller Bards Aloud, this annual event highlighted the 'Save the Deben' movement started by Caroline Page. We met in Whisstock’s Place 10am and enjoyed the beautiful weather.
11am-4pm - WHISSTOCK’S PLACE
Ambient DJs and lIve music echoed over the river with Aartwork, Tom Greig, Clevberger, Subskile, Merlyn Bruce and colourful art from Lamoi, Geoffrey Thomas brightening the vibrant square. Food and drink from Woodyard Pizza, BoatHouse, Hopsters, Coffee Link and the Coffee Pod.
We explored the Historic Riverside, Woodbridge Museum, The Saxon Ship and the Tapestries in the Longshed to the sound of ambient music.
Huge thanks to Sea Folk Arts for sponsoring the Square (FREE COMMUNITY EVENT)
11-4pm - GI-MAC IN THE GRANARY
Live ambient music, art, words and moving images ... Gary Leach asked 'What is Ambient Music?' Fjorten & Amy Wragg mixed Live Poetry & Electronic Music. Thanks to Giles for opening his Mac studio for the talks.
Particle Magician Tuna Oddfellow joined us on line from Canada In Virtual Worlds. Tony Gerber Explored A I with Poetry & Music.
SATURDAY - 4.00pm - ST MARY’S CHURCH
Pianist Tom Rogerson and Friends. Peter Chilvers is best known for creating the iOS applications Bloom, Trope, Scape and Reflection with Brian Eno. He gave an enthralling talk and performance, joined by guitarist Ted Morcaldi.
Members of the London Ambient Orchestra played concepts, shapes, and colours conceived by its collective musicians. So lovely to hear improvised instruments using the Church acoustics and involving the audience's voices.
Tom Rogerson, who recorded the beautiful 'Finding Shore' album with Brian Eno, as well as being a solo artist and founding member of Three Trapped Tigers, finished the stellar and enthralling afternoon with an inspiring solo piano performance.
Special thanks to St. Marys Church for all your help and support.
7.30 -10pm AFTER CONCERT GATHERING - More music and pizza at the ANGEL with Sophia Space Agency and Elegy for Good Dogs
Big thanks to the ANGEL for all your help and sponsorship.
SUNDAY 22nd September 2024
A straight line from Market Hill down to the River - We hope you enjoyed walking through the beautiful town of Woodbridge and soaking up the ambience.
2PM-10PM - Ambient Electronic Music Open Mic at the ANGEL. The tradition continued as some of East Anglian’s finest electronic musicians descended onto one of the oldest pubs in Woodbridge for a day of live music. Music has been played here since 1153 ( pre-oscillators) The day was hosted by Charlie Law. We welcomed Anthony Awad, Tel Ambient, Special FX Dept, Phil Jackson, the Drips, Matt W Rose, Charlotte Jolly, Simon Holkam, Helder Rock, Hardwired, John Bowers, Tristan Burfield, Merlyn Bruce, Mark C Sargeant, Nick Nicholson and the RAIN waited for the end!
3PM - Piano Recital in the Church with Daniel Law in aid of the St. Marys Church building fund.
1PM - ALL DAY - RIVERSIDE Theatre and Restaurant - Sundowners played their Chilled Out DJ sets, close to the station for the last trains back to London and East Anglia.
Thanks to Mark C Sargeant for the photos!
A community festival by the community for the community! Thanks for all your support!
See you on the Autumn Equinox Weekend 2025
Press Release - Woodbridge Ambient Music Festival (under 500 words)
TUNE IN 9PM BST every Monday to Ambient Music World on https://felixstoweradio.org.uk Felixstowe Radio Mothership Mashups on https://mothership.voyage every Sunday 7PM BST. Music Makers send in your tracks! #listenlocal #ListenGlobal #communityradio
KEEP IN TOUCH with all the links on the linktree app https://linktr.ee/woodbridgeambientmusicfestival
COUNTDOWN to JULY 28th and the Prima Donna Festival at the Food Museum in Stowmarket ...
July 28th we took over PRIMA DONNA! - A festival for people who love books; ideas; interesting conversations; music in the sunshine; good food in a field; comedy and cabaret and workshops for the mind, body and soul.
Jan Pulsford presented a Woodbridge Ambient Music Festival takeover In the Medieval Barn at 1PM on Sunday 28th July at the Prima Donna Festival at the Food Museum, Stowmarket. A one-hour mini ambient music festival!
Bloom - generative music for relaxation.
Silent Dinners - ambient music for slow films with
Mark C Sargeant film maker and musician from Lowestoft.
The Drips - featuring words of Max Sebald - Rings of Saturn and the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayaam from Clare Perkins Lightfoot and Green Ipswich story teller Bards Aloud
Ambient Abyss - music from the river and Felixstowe with Phil Jackson Music
LATEST NEWS: Busy getting things together behind the scenes. Did you know that the NHS now recommends Ambient Music as part of relaxation techniques that can help relieve stress and gain a sense of well-being. At the festival we will be joined by Yoga and meditation showing ways to relax and unwind.
OPEN MIC: Join us every other Wednesday at the Angel in Woodbridge - all welcome, all styles including ambient electronica! See you there!
WEEKLY BROADCASTS: Every Monday we broadcast an 'ambient music world' on Felixstowe Radio at 9PM from the Mothership Voyage stream. We also have a chatroom which is a good way to catch up with the latest news as it happens - Such a lot going on behind the scenes! Do join us to chat and listen on https://minnit.chat/radiomothership
What is Ambient Music? Often described as ‘Music to quiet your thoughts’ and ‘Music that doesn’t get in the way’ it is mostly played on electronic devices and taps into the ambience and feeling of a place. We celebrate the Spirit of Place and the River which inspires so much beautiful art and music ... We invite you to be part of this special equinox weekend.
POSTER DESIGN: Joe Field Horner designed this poster for the 3rd Woodbridge Ambient Music Festival which opens on Friday 20th September - His designs have been a big part of the festivals and merchandise - yes there will be mugs and posters again! Thanks Joe.