Free community music and art festival / Market Place, Ilkeston, Derbyshire
Ilkeston Glow Music and Art Fest Stage 2023-2026
From 2023 to 2026, HeathTech supplied the 8m x 6m main stage for Ilkeston's Glow Music and Art Fest. The Market Place setting called for accurate positioning between kerbs and surrounding town-centre features, while the 2026 event added sustained rain and thunderstorms to the delivery plan.
Project overview
A stage plan built around the event and its site.
Glow Music and Art Fest is a free community event organised by Ilkeston Life, bringing bands, artists and local audiences into Ilkeston Market Place. The main stage needed to support a full day of live music, carry the event's rear banner and remain a strong focal point against the surrounding town-centre buildings.
An 8m x 6m stage was selected to give bands suitable performance depth and to provide a covered working area throughout the programme. Bay Sound Systems supplied the sound and lighting, with HeathTech responsible for the trailer stage and coordination of its position and handover.
- Event
- Free community music and art festival
- Location
- Market Place, Ilkeston, Derbyshire
- Client
- Ilkeston Life
- Project date
- August 2023-2026
- Audience
- Approximately 1,000
- Hire period
- One-day event with same-night collection
- Stage configuration
- 8m x 6m trailer stage with a rear event banner and lighting rigged while the roof was lowered
Site and access
Working with the conditions on the ground.
The stage sits on concrete paving in Ilkeston Market Place, where kerbs and the fixed town-square layout limit the usable positioning and vehicle line. In 2026, heavy rain and thunderstorms became the main operational concern. The stage orientation needed to manage roof run-off without directing water into an audience or working route, while normal electrical and stage safety procedures remained in place as conditions were monitored.
Delivery and setup
A practical route from arrival to show-ready.
Delivery started at approximately 7am, allowing the stage to be accurately placed before the wider event footprint became busy. The stage was angled so roof water discharged towards a set-back corner of the square. Lighting and the rear event banner were installed with the roof lowered, and the two-hour stage setup was followed by checks and a handover to the client and technical team.
The client remained on site throughout the event, so any weather or programme considerations could be dealt with directly. Collection began after the evening finish, clearing the Market Place that night.
