Due to increased financial pressures on the events industry, the Global Rhythm organisers have made the tough decision to cancel this year’s event. This was an incredibly difficult decision with numerous funding opportunities and partnerships and options being explored, but unfortunately, despite best efforts, we were unable to achieve the financial support required to proceed.

Last year over 11,000 people attended and we enjoyed 3 amazing stages and a workshop tent in our 14th year. To each and every person who attended, and every artist who went on stage, all the crew and all the supporters we love you and we wish you a bright and beautiful summer.

 Play a tune and dance in the park and think of us.

 Very best wishes, Global Rhythm.

Comments

Facebook

missilesound@gmail.com

What an absolute shame, the community will miss this event. (Louise Henry)

Thats a real shame, lovely event enjoyed by many. (Michelle Whalen)

Sorry to hear this mate that’s a shame. (Adam Burrows)

Sad news indeed. (Doug Coombes)

That’s a real shame looked forward to this every year. (Jackie Dwyer)

Thats was possibly the best festival in Ipswich Last year. (Alex Stadler)

Such sad news – Global Rhythms has been the summer high spot for many years… PLEASE come back next year. (Pete Myatt)

That’s typical, disappointing and an obvious control thing!! No doubt there will be other events that the council, etc, will put insitu that will not be of much interest to the majority of the 11,000 people inclusive of myself, who attended last year. (V.M)

Sorry to hear this Skippa as Global Rhythm’s always kick-starts my summer. You’ll come back with this event bigger and better. Shame on IBC for not supporting this event as it brings so much to Ipswich and surrounding. Keep the faith (K.P)

This is sad! One of the best festivals in Ipswich. Massive thank you to Daisy for allowing me to host and perform. Global Rhythm Festival thank you for everything you’ve been amazing!!! (Martell Richards)

This was great the other year (Samantha Ellen)

Oh I love going to these events with my children. Hope you can make a come back in later years thanks for the memories. (Kerry Leanne)

Awww what a shame I was looking forward to it 😞..it was suchhh a happy place to be in every year ! And everyone coming together was Sooo neat. (Norah Lay)

This is sad! One of the best festivals in Ipswich. Massive thank you to Daisy for allowing me to host and perform. Global Rhythm Festival thank you for everything you’ve been amazing!!! (Martell Richards)

This was great the other year (Samantha Ellen)

Let’s see if the Indian 1 still goes ahead n the music in the park also Alexandra 1. (Trev Burnett)

WHY DONT THEY BE HONEST AND TRUTHFUL? JUST TELL EVERYONE THAT GLOBAL RYTHMN WILL NO LONGER TAKE PLACE AS ITS UNAFFORDABLE. THIS CLEARLY TELLS ME IF THERE IS NO FUNDING NOW, THERE WILL NOT BE ANY FUNDING IN THE FUTURE… IT’S A CRYING SHAME AND EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING. NO PUBS, NO CLUBS, NO SHOPS AND NO OVERALL ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO MANY PEOPLE, YOUNG AND OLD LOOK FORWARD TO THIS DAY IN THE PARK… WHAT HAS BECOME OF IPSWICH I ASK MYSELF 🤔 (Bernadette Manners)

That’s a shame and I’m sure if people were charged a few pounds each entry fee maybe £2 each 11 thousand people that would help towards the event??? (Tracey Scrubey)

Oh dear, the one event that pulls people together ❤️. A huge thank you for all you have done over the years Skippa J Mckenzie . You have smashed it for many years and now it’s time to move forward with no regrets. There is more to life than IPshit .thanks again hun you’ve been incredible hosting these events. (Kerry Mussington)

Sad sad times ..Ipswich is dead on the ground.. we need councillors and maybe some funding from other sources. (Paula Hart)

Thank you Global Rhythm Festival for your entire help and support! It was a pleasure to work with you and we’re grateful for unforgettable memories!❤ Looking forward to working together in the near future! Best regards, Ipswich Romanian Community 🇷🇴

Could you charge an entrance fee? Sad news that event is much loved annual event. (Ashanti Baldeo)

You are so much more than just a music festival. (Eva Lindsay)

So sad to hear this. Such a terrific event, showcasing the very best Ipswich Community has to offer. Reading everyone’s response to this news shows how much this festival means to people. How can we prevent this happening again? (Katie Emma)

Heartbreaking – always a wonderful day – please return next year (East Coast Jazz)
It strikes me how this festival went on for years without asking for entry fees from visitors to pay. Perhaps if people paid their way in that would save the event in the future… hard to tell what would be the best. (Viktoria Balda)

It’s a sad day. Hopefully Global Rhythm will return one day if and when public finances are in better shape. Well done to everyone who helped make this festival happen over the years. Great times. (Neil Bateman)

A great shame; we drove up from Sussex and thoroughly enjoyed the day. Kanda Bongo Man, Tippa Irie, Hank Wangford and Maroon Town were all great! Plus others… (Clive Cutter)

Lets hope Ipswich music day still takes place. (Peter Dixon)

That was possibly the best festival in Ipswich last year. (Alex Stadler)

Such sad news – Global Rhythms has been the summer high spot for many years…. PLEASE come back next year. (Pete Myatt)

That’s a shame- look forward to this every year! Hopefully it will make a come back! (Kayleigh Pooley)

East Anglian Festival Network Please have a look at the Association of Independent Festivals new initiative that may assist in your return https://www.aiforg.com/fallow-festival-fund

Absolutely gutted about this the only reason I attend the park that day is for missile. (Tina Louise Humphreys)

At this point there’s enough of us to do our own ting. (Hayden Carr)

That’s sad news Skippa. Well done for your efforts for the community over the years on delivering this event, Mjsoul

And now let’s see if the other park events still take place ?? I’m sure a small charge to get in might of helped as tight as Ipswich ppl are lol. A couple of quid for a great day out is nothing !! (Reo Wyte-Carr Empeh)

That’s a big shame, I’m not sure how much is needed but in all honesty I’d be more than happy to contribute into funding an event like that . This is literally our biggest summer event in Ipswich We need to keep this fest running whether I’m involved or not ! (Lion Pablo)

Won’t be the same, pity the community couldn’t come together to fund it. (Nero Diamante)

That is a great shame. I’ve been. Going to this event since it started. (Newman Chrissy)

Sorry to hear this news. It was a great community unity event. (Auraum Benneurt)

One of the Best music Day s we have for Ipswich . Love the vibes Food love seeing family’s get to together . Enjoying the music ! I’ve not miss one of these s Events ! Look forward to it every summer , so sorry to hear this , gonna miss the yearly meet ups with all our happy souls ☹️Thankyou Skippa J Mckenzie and the crew you smash it every year 👊 (Susanna Sadler)

Absolutely gutted about this. Been my favourite event for the last 14 years. Thank you for some great years and I hope something comes up for us all to enjoy x (Carla Spreadbridge)

This is such a shame we are really going to miss this amazing event. Thankyou for all the previous years 👊 (Graham Barker)

Gutted you are the highlight of our summer. (Chris & Shelly Edge)

What a shame me and Kelly look forward to that 😞 (Lesley Parish)

Sorry to hear this mate that’s a shame. (Adam Burrows)

Terrible!!! Something that people look forward to… that says it all. (Angela Gedge)

Hopefully the other yearly events in Alexandria Park for Bank holidays, and the main music event still going on, the band’s and radio stations, there’s usually at least 4 music events scattered across Ipswich, keep us posted..maybe some of the bands and Dj’s can play at other events 🙏.. (Shirley Layne)

It’s a real shame it’s come to this.. I really enjoyed them 😁 (Floyd Wright)

So sad it’s the one event a lot of people look forward to each year (Anne Fulcher)

Tippa Irie was sick last year tho but still disappointing 😞 (Jordan Munson)

That’s so sad, I’ll miss you. (Rosemary Harvey)

But can probably still have every other event going 🙄 (Jord Thompson)

Such a shame, always enjoyable and one of the very best events of the year that Ipswich had. Labour has told councils to save money they have no choice but to cut events. No reason why they can’t charge for an event. But I do think people in our community would be very shocked at the actual tickets price cost. Probably be about £50 a ticket. Especially: If the entry fee had to cover all event expenses. These free community events are not cheap to put on, and we have had it all free for very long time. We were lucky it was free for so long.. I know a few people in our community who rocked up and helped out for nothing more than the love of the event, and still would. Much love at Global rhythms I am glad our generation got to feel the love dance laugh and most of all be community together. (Julia Heathcote)

Agree, a charge would be reasonable if the pressures are there, and i would hope they’d charge for music day as well so that it wasn’t singling out this event. 👍🏻 (Mel Annie)

Why not charge a small entry fee. Council waste so much money on stupid things if they didn’t there would be more money in the kitty instead of charging hardworking people for everything. (Julie Smith)

As usual an article without any useful information or actual journalistic curiousity. What is the shortfall? Are there any options to close the gap? Material new regulatory constraints. It’s obviously a shame for the organisers to cancel and for people who enjoyed the event but this gives no useful information whatsoever. (Barbara Brannon)

Great one less thing Ipswich has each year. I personally don’t care as I don’t go but I know alot of families and kids that go and it gives them something to do not like Ipswich has alot going on. (Peter Jarvis)

What did people expect it is now costing £1.6 million a day for the Government to house /feed migrants and give them their special treats , free play stations medical care etc , so this has squeezed local Council budgets (Felix Carn)

That’s so sad.. always loved this more than music in the park but it wasn’t as good last year!! But the park needs to be used more for public events it’s a great place! (Denise Downing)

If the event cannot be financed by gate fees, site fees, and sponsorship, it wasn’t worth holding in the first place. (Matviy Davvd)

I think it should be disclosed who the actual accountants are for IBC as there seems to be a lot of financial problems which i recall were previously placed on the former government and of course we have no way of changing this council for possibly two years due to Labour Government changes. (Jim Turrell)

Another disgusting thing to happen to Ipswich. (Suz Susan)

Global Rhythm, Ipswich’s free festival of world and roots music in Christchurch Park Ipswich.

Three stages (Peppery Stage, Community Stage and Missile Sound Stage) will feature some fantastic sounds from many nations and cultures, including the Caribbean, Africa and Eastern Europe. The day will also include a range of free workshops where you can learn new skills with dancers and musicians from around the world.

You can dine from a range of food and drink stalls, or you could bring a picnic for a great family day out. Supported by Ipswich Borough Council and Arts Council England Lottery Funds.

Missile Sound was established in Ipswich Suffolk UK (1986) and built on the foundation of Jamaican sound system culture. With the migration of Jamaicans to the UK in the late 50’s & 60’s the tradition of ‘Sound Systems’ was also exported. During the ’70s & ’80s every area of London, every City & Town with a West Indian population had their local crop of reggae sounds and in Ipswich, you had one of the UK’s top International sounds, Daddy Missile Sound System.