Saturday
1pm – The Detour
The Detour are an East Anglian based four-piece alt-rock/grunge band, who mix the sound and energy of 90s grunge with the psychedelic ambience of stoner rock. Having played at venues such as The Smokehouse (Ipswich), Three Wise Monkeys (Colchester), and The Hunter Club (Bury St Edmunds), whilst sharing a stage with acts such as AFTERDRIVE and She’s in Parties at England’s largest free music festival: Ipswich Music Day 2025.
The original 2022 line-up consisted of George Johnston (Lead Guitar), Sam Ritchie (Drums & Backing Vocals), Briony Rose (Bassist) with Noah Wright (Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar) joining in early 2024 and the group have been bringing high energy performances to audiences ever since. Influenced by the distorted and raw 90s era of artists such as Pearl Jam and Nirvana – The Detour mix these sounds with stoner rock and alt-rock bands such as Queens of the Stone Age and Radiohead. This unique blend of music creates moving, metaphorical lyrics and mind-bending, catchy riffs that draw in crowds and keep people moving. With their debut E.P. ‘Green Acres Disease’ released in Spring 2026, and more releases on the way, this isn’t a band you’ll want to miss out on.
2:30pm – Fox Academy of Dance
Fox Academy of Dance are delighted to be performing at Stowmarket Carnival . We opened our doors in September 2017 and since then have seen our classes grow and thrive. We offer a wide range of classes from our very own studio premises in Needham Market. The dancers in our Junior and Senior Company train in a variety of styles across our timetable, from ballet, to lyrical, to acro. We are extremely proud of our dancers and look forward to sharing the results of their hard work. They have been rehearsing alongside their regular classes and in their own time to get their numbers performance ready and in that time have bonded as a team, showing each other support and encouragement. Our students are very excited to be dancing today and we are grateful for the opportunity to once again be a part of Stowmarket’s Carnival. Thank you to our students for being so passionate and committed, to our wonderful parents, chaperones and excellent team of teaching staff- we couldn’t do this without your help, and finally to Stowmarket Carnival Committee for organising such a wonderful event! Enjoy the show!
2:45pm – WeDrum
WeDrum improves lives by empowering and enabling our participants to collaborate, create, and perform contemporary drum and electronics-focused music. We provide a regular, solid source of purpose and guidance in young people’s lives, offering progression, longevity, and a leap into the extraordinary. www.wedrum.co.uk
3pm – Born Into Rhythm Dance School
3:15pm – Fickle Pickles
Fickle Pickles are an energetic covers band based in Suffolk. Known for their high-energy performances, they specialise in a nostalgic mix of rock and alternative genres, often described as a “Kerrang! Classics”. Bringing a high-volume blend of nu-metal, skate-punk, grunge, and rock. Their sets frequently feature “party like it’s 2005” anthems from bands such as Green Day, Foo Fighters, Nickelback, Nirvana as well as some Indie & Metal anthems to cater for all. They are a staple of the Suffolk live music circuit, regularly performing at venues such as The Pickerel and Gladstone in Stowmarket, The Black Horse in Ipswich, and many more across Anglia. They are known for “heating up mid-winter gigs” and encouraging “head banging goodness”. In addition to pub gigs, they perform at festivals and are available for private parties. Check out their socials @ficklepicklesband on either Facebook or Instagram for more.
4pm – Procession Prize Giving
Followed By – Diamond Sky
Followed By – Suffolk School of Samba
Established in Ipswich in 1994 by a handful of keen individuals with knowledge in abundance and drums from a drum kit, we are proud to call ourselves the
original Samba group of East Anglia. From our modest beginnings, the band has slowly gained momentum (as well as
members!), along the way, being joined by the dancers in 1998.
Our rhythms have been taught to hundreds of people, over the years, and we take great pride in being able to acknowledge performing to hundreds of
people at hundreds of events over the years.
We are NOT professionals. Our ritmistas (drummers) and our passistas (dancers) come from all across East Anglia, to meet every Thursday to rehearse
the very rhythms you hear us play at events!
We love to drum, and we love to dance and if you’re interested, anybody can learn, just come along to a rehearsal, and we do the rest!
Like a lot of the schools in Brazil, a lot of our members are not professional performers, some having never drummed our danced before.
Our members just want to have a bit of fun and make some great friends whilst doing it.
Samba is for everybody, we enjoy having fun doing what we do, and love to make people smile!
4:45pm – The Annex
The Annex burst out of nowhere in 2024 to take East Anglia’s previously undiscovered electro-art rock scene by storm. With pumping riffs by bass players Richard Bassett and Ju Brooks welded to hypnotic beats, vocalist/lyricist Ben Sharratt nails the melodrama and jeopardy of small town life. Prepare yourself for earworm melodies, wry smiles and unforgettable choreography that has had many calling us the best fiftysomething indie boyband north of Stonham Aspal. Highlights so far in 2026 include appearing at the John Peel Centre and having our single Too Young featured on Angelle Joseph’s BBC Introducing show. Our sensational debut album, Suffolk punch, is out now on Bandcamp.
5:30pm – CDC Street Dance
6:30pm – Charlie Law
Hi! I write songs about my life, and I write songs with community groups and teach songwriting too. I think everyone should write songs, it’s been like therapy for me.
I perform gigs, both my own songs in venues and covers at functions & weddings with my own PA system as well.
In all my work, I am passionate about using music to re-connect to the soul.
I grew up in Suffolk, cut my teeth busking in London & Melbourne in my 20s, and then moved back home to start a family. I love the sea breeze, the nature and the people of East Anglia. There is an ancient feeling here that I wasn’t able to find elsewhere.
May music fill up your heart,
Drink with me your flowing glass,
Sing with me for all that’s nice,
For joy in music is joy in life. – Charlie Law
7pm – Rude and Reckless
Sunday
10am – Bill Pipe
Bill Pipe – A murder of one
Originally from Essex, Bill realised that music was something special thanks to the Beatles. After several years of learning guitar he cast it aside for over 20 years until 2000 and started songwriting a couple of years later. He plays quirky, tongue in cheek originals and obscure covers that represent the diverse musical influences in his life. Not folk, Not Blues, Not pop, Just Bill!
10:30am – Ken
Hope you are well. I am Ken(female) originally from the Philippines. I am a musician, songwriter and a vocal and ukulele coach. I have been playing music/gigging for a decade in different establishments and have also been to China and Hong Kong to play music before coming to England for good.
Since coming to England, I have played in several occasions like birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and etc. In addition to that, I played at Primadonna in 2023. Costa drive-through 14th 2024 and Stowfiesta 25th of May 2024. I have also played in John Peel for Thursday foodie market, and Stowmarket christmas fair. I am also a vocalist in Chilton Hall Community Church at present.
I have got a music page if you are willing to have a look through please when you get the chance, though I have only just started on that so please bear with me. I am as well working in school so I mainly play music at the weekend or half terms or summer holidays.
11:30am – Stowe School of Dance
11:45am – Not A Chance
1pm – Carnival Car Show Prize Giving
1:15pm – Samuel Taylor
Samuel Taylor is a Suffolk-based indie folk artist. At just 23, his debut EP, Lost & Overgrown, has been described as a “beautiful collection of songs” by Andrew Davie of Bear’s Den. Samuel spent his childhood teaching himself to play his dad’s banjo from old bluegrass records, which has since developed into his indie folk songwriting. He has been described as “enchanting” by Clash Magazine and as having “a rare ability to turn solitude into song, and song into solace” by Atwood Magazine.
2pm – Stowmarket Concert Band
