AJ Tracey will be live and direct at smaller venues

AJ Tracey, a well-known rapper, is set to embark on a new tour that will take him to smaller venues, much to the delight of his fans. This tour includes stops at places like The Baths in Ipswich and Bedford Esquires, which are significantly smaller than the large arenas where he typically performs. AJ Tracey expressed that he chose these locations based on requests from his fans, some of whom he has never performed for before. Joe Bailey, the CEO of Brighten the Corners, which operates The Baths, shared his excitement about having such a prominent artist visit Ipswich. He stated, 'We are really excited to have such a large, contemporary artist like AJ Tracey come to Ipswich - it's incredible, especially to a grassroots venue like The Baths. ' He hopes that this concert will introduce new audiences to Ipswich and demonstrate that major artists can perform in smaller towns. The intimate setting of the venue, compared to his usual arena shows, will create a unique experience for fans, making it feel like a special moment they can cherish. AJ Tracey will perform at The Baths, which has a rich history as it was once a swimming pool. The venue has a sign that reads 'The Baths' in white letters, welcoming music lovers. In addition to Ipswich, AJ will also perform at other similarly sized venues, such as The Joiners in Southampton and The Exchange in Bristol. This tour comes at a crucial time for grassroots music venues, as a recent report revealed that 43. 8% of them are currently operating at a loss. This trend is concerning, as it indicates that between 1994 and 2024, artists have increasingly focused their tours on a limited number of cities, leaving many smaller towns without live music options. Mark Davyd, the CEO of Music Venue Trust, emphasized the importance of getting more artists to perform in under-serviced towns and cities. He remarked, 'It's vitally important to get more artists out to more great venues in under-serviced towns and cities. We have fantastic live music communities all across the country desperate to see great artists, and this initiative is exactly what needs to be done to meet that demand. ' Bedford Esquires has been a regular stop for Tom Grennan since the beginning of his career, and Gareth Barber, who manages the venue, is hopeful that AJ Tracey's tour will set a positive example for other artists. He expressed his excitement, saying, 'It's very exciting to see AJ Tracey come to town as part of this tour, and I have massive respect for him, going out and playing so many grassroots spaces as opposed to the usual cities and venues. ' Gareth hopes that AJ's decision will encourage other artists to be more adventurous in their touring plans, allowing them to reach wider audiences while also supporting smaller venues. He humorously added that it would be nice to have someone else to share his thoughts about football with. This tour represents a significant opportunity for fans in smaller towns to experience live music from a major artist, highlighting the importance of grassroots venues in the music industry.