EAFN23 – The EAFN Show 2023

The following is  a list of all the excellent businesses and organisations who exhibitied at the EAFN Show 2023 in the Grand Hall of Ipswich Corn Exchange at the EAFN show this year.  They were also listed in the Show Programme on the day:

EAFN Show 2023 Exhibitors:

App Studios (STAND 16) builds beautiful affordable apps, to elevate the experience of event and festival attendees while giving event and festival organisers their own platform to connect with their audience.

Festivals are unique in their own way, and we’re here to help your festival shine!

Let’s put our heads together and design the perfect app for you.  hello@appstudios.io

http://appstudios.io/

 

 

 

Blue Yonder Events (STAND 4) – Event production and event management experts.  Managing events from inception to completion.  Qualified safety managers and advisors working in live entertainments continually for 33 years.  An Award winning industry supplier as best UK safety supplier festival awards 2021 and shortlisted in 2022.  Competitive pricing, competent qualified staff  and creative thinkers.  https://blueyonder-events.co.uk

 

Note: Sadly Blue Yonder Events couldn’t exhibit on the day due to the dreaded Covid – we wish Ken all the best and hope he’s recovered.

BoMoJo (STAND 5) delivers fresh ideas and quality digital media for every conceivable type of client, industry and purpose for businesses and organisations of all sizes. With local, national and international clients, digital media in the form of film, video and audio for TV or the web is within the reach of even the most modest budget. We love what we do and are dedicated to providing a personal service tailored to meet the individual requirements.  To discuss your specific needs, please give us a call 0774 615 2244 or contact BoMoJo to help your business succeed. https://www.bomojo.com/

 

Colourplan Print (Stand 7) are an Ipswich based print company offering a wide range of services to customers across East Anglia. Part of the Mansion House Group which also includes Grapevine Live/Magazine,

colourplan.co.uk

 

 

East Anglian Festival Network (STAND 20) – The EAFN provides a framework to connect East Anglian Festival, Fair and Funday Organisers, Workers, Suppliers, Traders, Venues, Performers and Festival goers across the region.  The EAFN aims to help build the relationships that will support our local economy and culture, publicise our region’s events, services and facilities and reduce environmental impact and promote well-being and safety at our region’s events. http://www.eafn.co.uk

 

Falcon Fire & Rescue (STAND 17) – Aviation, Event, Film and TV fire, rescue and medical service, a complete all round safety solution. Over 25 years in the industry covering East Anglia and the UK. Other services include first aid, fire Marshall and aviation fire fighting training, fire risk assessments and Much more, come and see us
http://www.falconfire.co.uk/

 

 

 

Foolhardy Circus Arts (STAND 9) will be at the EAFN Show with a Circus equipment stand, a free workshop and demos.

They can offer the following in any configuration:  Performances; Big Top hire; Seating hire; Walkabout characters to suit your event; and Bespoke online content, including circus tuition and performances. More Information at  Foolhardy Circus

 

Gofer Ltd (STAND 8) – The complete power management service (EAFN Show 2023 Headline Sponsor) Whatever your requirement, regardless of scale; Gofer ensures your power hire runs smoothly, providing a professional service and supplying reliable power. Gofer offer a complete power management service and if required their team of qualified engineers are available to assist with technical set-up and on-site support.  https://gofer.co.uk/

Grapevine Live (STAND 7) Since 1991 Grapevine Magazine has been listing, reviewing and reporting on LIVE entertainment in the region.   Today over 17,000 copies of Grapevine Magazine are distributed to over 500 locations throughout East Anglia.  The magazine regularly lists over 1,000 events per month.  Performers and venues can add their events to the listings for FREE by registering online at GrapevineLIVE.co.uk  “The Grapevine” as it was first known, was first published in 1991. It is part of the Mansion House Group which also includes Colourplan Print.  It came about because three musicians felt it would be useful to have all of their local events listed in one place.  Two of those three musicians are still involved with the magazine today.  Live Music is at the core of what we do: gigs, concerts, fesitvals – but these days we also cover theatre, dance and comedy too.
http://www.grapevinelive.co.uk/

Link Radio Services (STAND 12) – Sales, Hire, Servicing and installation of communications solutions for over 30 years.
Specialise in providing short term solutions for the events industry.

Two Way Radios & Walkie Talkies | Sales & Hire | Norwich, East Anglia (linkradioservices.co.uk)

 

Mr Bean Entertainments (STAND 3) –

Static/walk about entertainment, workshops & circus tent hire.

Circus skills, drumming and balloon modelling workshops.  Magic shows, balloon modellers, circus performers, stilt walkers & more.  https://www.mrbeanentertainments.co.uk/

 

Out Loud Music (STAND 15).  In 2019 Arts Council England approached Out Loud Music after identifying Ipswich as an area of need for live music.  ACE NPO Sound City Liverpool invited them to organise the inaugural Sound City Ipswich multi-venue festival.  The sold out, 1 day event shined a spotlight on Ipswich, utilising under-used performance spaces and proved audiences exist to sustain new music venues that the town had long called for.  It returned in 2021 with a 2 day festival at The Baths plus St Stephens Church, which was refurbished through a major capital project thanks to a £300k grant from SIGIF and support from Ipswich Borough Council.  They relaunched as an independently run festival with a new name Brighten the Corners (BTC) across 3 venues The Baths (thebathsvenue.co.uk),  St Stephens Church and the Smokehouse in 2023 .  BTC is back on 14-15 June 2024 at the same venues  plus Ipswich Corn Exchange and free outdoor stage on the Cornhill. Out Loud Music

Phoenix Events (East) (STAND 13) bring you a simple, effective and professional service.  We are your reliable partner for all your car parking, traffic management and other event support needs.  As well as Security Guarding, CCTV Monitoring and Mobile Patrols.  We also understand that most events may require a bespoke service and would be delighted to discuss your individual needs during an onsite consultation.  http://www.phoenixeventseastltd.co.uk

 

Portable Space (STAND 11) is a Leading UK Supplier of Shipping Containers and conversions, Portable Cabins, Modular Buildings and steel Storage Containers – Available to Buy and Hire Online.

Selling throughout the UK, hiring across England and delivering containers and container conversions all over the world, we have the products and knowledge to solve your portable storage and accommodation requirements. Using our own fleet of 13 purpose-built delivery vehicles, operated by trained in-house drivers, our high-quality products are matched by outstanding customer service, from the initial order through to delivery and installation.  https://www.portablespace.co.uk/

Support Medical Group CIC  (STAND 19) is an event medical and urgent care social enterprise provider based in the East of England.  As an organisation we cover Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge, Essex, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire but also in Lincolnshire and London.  We have a wide range of expertise covering different types of events, from small village fetes to larger festivals, along with everything in between.
http://supportmedicalgroup.co.uk

 

The Amazing Anthony (STAND 18) is a Multi Award Winning entertainer: Winner Vera Smith Cup for Stage Magic 2018, Britain’s Got Talent Norwich Heat Winner 2018, National Book Entertainment Awards 2020 Regional Winner and National Finalist, Mind Reader of the Year London & South East 2021,Wedding Mind Reader of The Year 2022, Tarot Reader of the Year 2023.  He can entertain your guests with Mind Reading and Close-Up magic walking amongst your guests; or giving a show (introducing company themes if you so require).  He can also provide Contemporary Intuitive Tarot Readings, Character Analysis and Pendulum Divination if these aspects appeal.  By the time of the EAFN Show you may have also seen him on television as he has just completed 5 shows for one of the major Channels.  UK Based Magician & Mind Reader – The Amazing Anthony

The Carbon Charter (STAND 14) supports low carbon business practices across Norfolk, Suffolk and beyond. Our logo tells your customers that you have been independently assessed on sustainability, while our website offers a host of free resources to all. We have worked with festivals including Folk East (Carbon Charter Gold) and the Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival (Pathfinder Partners) to reduce impacts and promote their green credentials.
Call 01473 350 370 to discuss how we can help – including free and impartial advice for all Suffolk businesses – or check out the free resources at http://www.carboncharter.org/

 

THE POWER OF EVENTS (UK) (STAND 10) is a not-for-profit company established to deliver a comprehensive platform that for the first time provides an overview showcase of the UK Events Industry.

It will also provide event analysis and data evaluation to support the UK events community.

THE POWER OF EVENTS (UK) – Showcase, Respect & Value the UK Events Industry

 

 

Vibrant Colour Print and Promotional Merchandise (STAND 2) have been working with outdoor events – primarily in Scouting and Guiding – for the last decade. Let us translate our experience of providing impactful, high quality, affordable event branding, print and merchandise to your festival.  We can help with:
– pre event promotional material
– site banners, temporary signage and branding
– programmes, maps and access lanyards
– team clothing and hi-vis
– souvenirs and merchandise
We understand the importance of deadlines, value and sustainability, and can work with you closely to remove the hassle from all your event print needs.  http://www.vibrantcolour.co.uk

We are Blueshed (STAND 1) are based in the centre of East Anglia and are passionate about offering excellent equipment available for hire and the very best in technical support, whether it be a full scale theatre show or just a simple acoustic gig at your local we are here to help. With our extensive experience we understand what makes a brilliant event and use the latest equipment to provide stunning results. Our team works with you from start to finish and provide unparalleled levels of support to ensure you stick to budget and find a way of creating a great final result.  We have a large and always growing in house stock holding covering Sound, Lighting, Power, Stage, Drape and video to suit all needs.
https://www.weareblueshed.co.uk/

Woodbridge Festival of Art and Music (Stand 6) is a community-run internal eco event that showcases ambitious, diverse and quality international line-ups, encouraging local talent and allowing emerging artists to share a platform with established national and international acts.
https://www.woodbridgefestival.com/

 

 

Applications to exhibit are now closed for the EAFN Show 2023. 

The EAFN Show is FREE to attend for East Anglian Event Organisers, Venue Owners/Managers, Event Suppliers and Event Professionals working in our region’s event sector.

The EAFN Show (Sponsored by Gofer Ltd) is an annual free one day event that brings together event organisers, venues and suppliers from across East Anglia to share expertise, network and identify a new supply chain of opportunities which can benefit the environment, the audience, the event industry and the regional economy…. and a chance to meet lovely people and have fun in the process!  (Pre-registration is required on our Eventbrite page).

Once again the EAFN Show had excellent musicians from our region for everyone to enjoy.  Jan Pulsford  provided a chilled backdrop to the Show in between conference sessions and we had four of our region’s finest singer-songwriters performing live on stage in the lunch time Showcase between Midday and 1.30pm.

(12.00 Gabby Rivers 12.20 Tommy Ashby 12.40 Jo Ash 13.00 Luke James Williams)

Gabby Rivers is a 20 year old singer/songwriter performing upbeat indie/alternative originals with soulful and powerful vocals.  She has a 5-piece band and so far in her musical journey she has performed at festivals including Latitude Festival, Reading Festival and the Secret Garden Party.  She has recently supported artists including Ellie Dixon, Coach party, Vistas and Tiny Umbrellas.  She released an EP called Headache in 2020 which has received support from BBC introducing and 6 Music. Her track UH OH released last year was BBC introducing Suffolk’s track of the week and she sold out her debut headline show in Norwich at Voodoo Daddy’s showroom in 2022.  Gabby is set to release an exciting project in October 2023 that has been funded by Help Musicians.

 

gabbyriversmusic.wixsite.com/my-site

 

Tommy Ashby is a Scottish musician and prolific writer with a distinct ability for capturing the innate beauty of everyday moments in his own euphony of ethereal sonics and hushed vocals.

Tommy has evolved his sound in a homemade studio experimenting with multiple instruments and recording techniques. His fascination with sound saw him complete a PHD in Spatial Audio studying the mind’s response to sound, and develop a unique partnership with Grammy-winning producer Sam Okell. Tommy’s musical graduation of listening to a diverse range of influences including Gillian Welch, Neil Young, James Blake and Jeff Buckley has led him to develop an appetite for a melodic and expansive sound that begins in the wilds of Scotland and comes to life on the clifftop coasts of Sam’s Cornwall studio.

Previous singles have seen Tommy’s profile grow to over 370,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, tours with Luke Sital-Singh, Jamie Lawson, Tom Speight and Nina Nesbitt as well as continued support across Spotify Editorial mood playlists, and a multitude of synchs at mainstream media including Grey’s Anatomy, Atypical (Netflix), Love Island, The Innocents (Netflix), and across various placements on advertising and film.
tommyashby.com/

Jo Ash is a captivating, award-nominated songwriter. Instantly recognisable, with unique vocals and intricate piano, her music is full of strong melodies and drama.

Jo’s songs are immersive. She comments on life as she observes and experiences it, sometimes with wry humour, sometimes with heart-felt introspection, and sometimes with both.

She is proud to have been reviewed by the Musician’s Union for her debut album ‘Constellations’ who said “Singer-songwriter Jo Ash’s debut demands that we take notice. Jo’s balladry is unapologetically dramatic with swooping vocals perfectly suited to her gothic tales”.

Musician Pianist Singer Songwriter | Jo Ash Music

Luke James Williams is an indie-folk singer-songwriter from Cambridgeshire. After releasing his debut EP, Luke gained the support of BBC6 Music’s Tom Robinson who made ‘Still In Bed’ his 6 Music Recommends Track Of The Week. The song was also played by Lauren Laverne, Steve Lamacq & Tom Ravenscroft.  In 2022, Luke released his “outstanding” (Folk Radio) debut LP, ‘Our Blood Is Red’. As well as picking up rave reviews from publications on the indie & folk scenes, Bandcamp made the album one of their ‘New & Notable’ releases which attracted new followers around the world.  Luke has received glowing reviews for his captivating and emotive live performances & has supported artists such as Thea Gilmore, Megson & The Little Unsaid.  After performing at Cambridge Folk Festival, Autumn ’22 saw him head out on his first UK headline tour. He is currently working on his second full-length album.  Drawing on a wide range of musical influences Luke has crafted a unique sound, painting pictures with words & singing them in his own distinctly English voice. 

lukejameswilliams.co.uk

Jan Pulsford presented the Woodbridge Ambient Music Festival from 22-24 Sep 2022 and on Wed 5 Oct she will be on stage in the Grand Hall of Ipswich Corn Exchange providing a chilled background to the EAFN Show throughout the day.  Her ambient music world streams daily on Radio Mothership, an indie station she runs for the local music community in Woodbridge, birthplace of the father of ambient music, Brian Eno.

 

 

 

janpulsford.com

 Sadly Retune Duo who were booked to appear at the Show have had to cancel due to illness.  We wish them well and please take a look at all the great work they do. https://www.retunewellbeing.com/

The EAFN Show (Sponsored by Gofer Ltd) is an annual free one day event that brings together event organisers, venues and suppliers from across East Anglia to share expertise, network and identify a new supply chain of opportunities which can benefit the environment, the audience, the event industry and the regional economy…. and a chance to meet lovely people and have fun in the process!

The Conference Sessions took place in the Grand Hall of Ipswich Corn Exchange on Thu 5 Oct 2023

 

The sessions this year covered several current hot topics in the Events Sector including:  Mental Health and Wellbeing, Event Safety and Security, Women in Events and Recruitment Challenges.

There was a mix of presentations and Q&A’s with plenty of time for networking, visiting exhibition stands, refreshments and entertainment in the breaks in between sessions.

• 1000-1030 Conference Session 1 Mental Health and Wellbeing – Ellie Winch, Julie Long, Wendy Sheppard  Suffolk MIND ‘Introduction to Mental Health’ plus Chris Cozens Life Arts and Matthew Wilson Support Medical Group
• 11.30-1200 Conference Session 2 – Event Safety and Security – Phil Adams, Logic Safety Solutions Ltd and Anna Ryan Pheonix Events East
• 1330-1400 Conference Session 3 – Women in Events – Cat Kevern Chair of NOWIE plus Laura Locke from WAMfest and Daisy Ann Lees.
• 1400-14.30 Conference Session 4 – Recruitment Challenges and the Power of Events  – Simon Hughes, The Power of Events plus Cat Kevern and Mike Wilson.

We have some excellent sessions and speakers lined up for you again this year including:

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Our speakers at the EAFN Show are Ellie Winch, Marketing and Engagement Manager, Julie Long, Fundraising Manager and Wendy Sheppard, Corporate Relationships Manager from Suffolk MIND, Suffolk’s independent mental health charity. Working across Suffolk, delivering a wide range of services, supporting thousands of people every year. They use the Emotional Needs and Resources approach to wellbeing, using their knowledge and insights to train adults, workplaces, schools and children to look after their mental health. Their mission is to make Suffolk the best place in the world for talking about and taking care of mental health.  Julie joined Suffolk Mind in May 2022. Prior to that she worked for many years within the new parent/families, primary school, and EYFS sectors across Suffolk, both as an educator and also as a strategist. Wendy also joined Suffolk MIND in May 2022. Prior to joining, she worked in operational roles for 20 years, mainly within the private sector but working closely with public and voluntary sector groups across Suffolk, Essex, and Hertfordshire. Ellie has been with Suffolk Mind since 2017. Prior to joining she worked in marketing for luxury technology brands and further education.

Chris Cozens of Life Arts joins the Q&A panel.  Chris has 25 years of experience creating wellbeing events in East Anglia that have consistently grown into the most popular in the region. The events have a special energy and atmosphere that gives the public a unique immersion experience.  Chris came from a long career in the Royal Air Force and has been able to utilise his transferable skills, knowledge and experience as a manager by organising and facilitating weekend holistic breaks in Suffolk and running his own exhibitions in the region. In 1997 Chris began an alternative career as a complementary therapist and went on to teach many therapies across the UK, Spain and in the Caribbean. www.lifearts.co.uk

 

 

• Matthew Wilson has worked in the event sector from the age of 18, first volunteering with St John ambulance and later doing private event medical work.  He now runs Support Medical Group CIC.  He has worked on many events from large multi-day festivals to small one-day village shows, and everything in the middle.  He has worked for and helped manage and support many other companys.  In 2019 he started Support Medical Group after seeing how other companies run and work and taking all the things that were good, combining them and reinvesting heavily to deliver them.  Support Medical Group has now progressed to become one of the few medical Community Interest Companies in the East of England.

supportmedicalgroup.co.uk

Greg Camburn and Tom Ryder from Retune were scheduled to joining the Health and Wellbeing Panel as well as perform  but sadly Tom cannot attend due to illness – we wish him better  – please chack out the great work they do at https://www.retunewellbeing.com/

Event Safety and Security