By Vicky Greer.
The sun is out, so I’ve decided to skip spring and jump straight into summer. With the lighter evenings, we tend to think about summer festivals and big, outdoor stadium shows. But there’s still so much to be enjoyed in the local scene, with a jam-packed month ahead of us that will probably collectively cost you the same as one of those stadium shows.
This month, we’ve got local festivals, local legends and a whole range of genres coming to Southampton. Check out this month’s listings at some of our favourite independent venues.
Saturday 4th – Wanderlust Festival, multiple venues
Festival season is upon us, and on Saturday 4th we welcome the inaugural Wanderlust Festival to Southampton, with 30 artists appearing across the city in The 1865, The Joiners and Heartbreakers. Thankfully, these venues are all close together, so the trek back and forward to catch your favourite indie artists shouldn’t be too bad. And it’ll certainly be worth the cardio, with special sets from Willie J Healey, Ellie Bleach, Shame, Dream Wife, FEET and many, many more. A few tickets remain for a very reasonable £36.80. Where else can you see so many artists for that price?
More information here.
Saturday 5th – Frank Turner, The Brook
Hampshire legend Frank Turner (pictured top) is returning to Southampton for another folk-punk extravaganza at The Brook, but this time, there’s a twist. He’s attempting to beat the world record for the most number of gigs in 24 hours. From the 4th-5th of May, he’ll be playing 15 short shows across the country, ending with the Southampton show at 12 pm. If that’s too normal a time for you, you can go for the Kingston-Upon-Thames show at 6 am.
I put off buying tickets thinking I might be tired from Wanderlust, then changed my mind on realising that Frank Turner would be much more exhausted than me. By the time I went to get tickets, they were all sold out. Let this be a lesson: don’t let potential tiredness get in the way of a good time!
More information here.
Wednesday 8th – Rachel Chinouriri, Vinilo Record Store
Rachel Chinouriri is a name that’s been generating a lot of buzz in the world of indie pop these last few years, and the intimate setting of Vinilo is the perfect setting for her upcoming album. Head over to the record store on the 8th for a very special set, Q&A and signing. She’s already supported the likes of Sam Fender, Celeste and Tems with her particular brand of emotional, character-driven storytelling. Check out her recent single ‘What A Devastating Turn of Events’ and get ready for the album of the same name on the 3rd.
More information here.
Sunday 12th – Dea Matrona, Joiners
Being Northern Irish myself, I’m obliged to shout it from the rooftops every time a Northern Irish band comes into town. Can you blame me? Ireland is producing some of the best new artists we have, and Dea Matrona are the latest in a long line of talent.
Dea Matrona (“divine mother goddess” in Celtic mythology) are coming to the Joiners this month in support of their debut album For Your Sins. Expect an old-school sound inspired by classic artists like Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac and The Beatles. Check out their single ‘Stuck On You’ and be prepared to fall instantly in love with their compelling sound.
More information here.
Tuesday 14th – Becky Hill, The 1865
Another intimate acoustic show this month, this time from Becky Hill at The 1865. Now, I’m not too sure what a dance-pop record sounds like in an acoustic setting, but I reckon it’ll be a lot of fun finding out. After picking up a few BRIT awards for her work, Becky Hill has become a key voice in modern dance music in the UK, so you can bet that this is going to be an extra-special show in the cosy setting of The 1865.
More information here.
Thursday 16th – GIRLBAND! Joiners
Shifting to a completely different vibe, now. For all your alternative rock needs, GIRLBAND! are bringing their tour to The Joiners on the 16th. From indie rock to harder punk, they’ve been attracting attention for their infectious rock spirit, they’re a really exciting band in the alternative scene right now, and no doubt they’ll be a perfect fit for The Joiners.
More information here.
Friday 17th – The Howlers, Vinilo
No time to rest after a week of amazing gigs, not when there’s one more to go to at Vinilo before the weekend. The Howlers’ debut album has been hotly-anticipated in the music industry, and the time has finally come. To celebrate, they’ll be holding an afternoon instore at Vinilo to show off some new songs from the accurately-named The Debut. Inspired by everything from film scores to blues, The Howlers put their own spin on guitar music, always wrought with emotion and escapism.
More information here.
Friday 24th – Donn Letts, Joiners
Towards the end of the month, The Joiners welcomes legend Don Letts for a special DJ set. Initially inspired by dub reggae, Letts was heavily involved in the original London punk scene as the videographer for the Clash, even being credited as the DJ who turned the punk scene onto reggae. Later, he was a founding member of Big Audio Dynamite and is responsible for dozens of iconic music videos. See the legend in action at The Joiners on the 24th.
More information here.
Friday 31st – Band of Skulls, Papillon
Ending the month with some local legends in a historical venue, Bad of Skulls will be performing a set at Papillon. Initially called Fleeing New York, the band moved from local venues to the world stage, even playing on Late Night With Seth Meyers in 2014. Their lineup might have changed a bit over the years, but Band of Skulls’ set at Papillon is the perfect way to celebrate everything they’ve achieved as a band and enjoy the local scene that helped them on their way.
More information here.
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