By Vicky Greer.
January wasn’t an easy month for live music in Southampton, with the announcement that venues Suburbia and The Art House would be closing their doors – although happily The Art House will be continuing to a presence in the city, just no longer with a permanent bricks and mortar home.
Unfortunately, these aren’t isolated cases, with grassroots venues struggling across the country.
But Southampton has a resilient music scene, with February promising a jam-packed schedule of gigs from start to finish. Namely, this month follows in the time-honoured Southampton tradition of seeing huge artists on tiny stages.
Here is a list of our recommendations for February.
Thursday 1st – Saint Agnes, The 1865
Kicking the month off to a strong start are Saint Agnes, a no-holds-barred rock band who refuse to be tied down to a single genre. They incorporate elements of grunge, metal, punk and industrial, tied together with the raw emotion of Kitty A. Austen’s vocals. They’ll be playing in The 1865 at the beginning of the month in support of their latest album, Bloodsucker.
More info here.
Sunday 4th – Circa Waves, Engine Rooms
The first of a series of high-profile artists taking to the stage at Engine Rooms this month, Circa Waves are finally coming to play after rescheduling their show late last year. The show is part of a tour of small venues, where proceeds will be donated to local food banks in each town that they visit.
Festival staples, this is a unique opportunity to see them in a more intimate setting. Tickets are currently sold out, so keep an eye out online in case more become available.
More info here.
Tuesday 6th – Miles Kane, Engine Rooms
Next up at Engine Rooms is Miles Kane, known both for his solo work and as co-frontman of The Last Shadow Puppets with Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner. After selling out his acoustic instore events across the UK, he’s touring the country to play tracks from his recent album, One Man Band. Support comes from buzzy band The Royston Club, so make sure you get down there early.
More info here.
Monday 12th – The Libertines, Engine Rooms
Perhaps the most special gig of the month is also taking place at Engine Rooms, with indie legends The Libertines hitting the stage on the 12th. Naturally, it sold out very quickly, so tickets will be hard to come by at this stage. This tour of small venues across the UK is a chance to hear songs from their upcoming album, All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade, before anyone else.
Fun fact: This isn’t the first time that The Libertines have played to a small crowd in Southampton, but the last time was at The Joiners back in 2002, the year they released their debut album. I wonder if tickets sold out quite so quickly for that one?
Maybe other bands who got their start here will follow suit. Green Day, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys – we’re waiting!
More info here.
Wednesday 14th – The Vaccines, O2 Guildhall
Another group of indie legends will arrive in Southampton that week, this time on a bigger stage. The Vaccines will be playing at the O2 Guildhall to celebrate their brand-new album, A Pickup Full of Pink Carnations.
It’s going to be an action-packed night with support coming from Divorce and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, two bands on the rise that you can’t miss.
More info here.
Saturday 17th – Lime Garden, Vinilo Record Store
If smaller gigs are more your thing, you can always count on Vinilo Record Store for an intimate in-store gig. This month’s pick is Brighton’s four-piece Lime Garden with their exciting combination of indie and pop. They’ve already got support slots for Sunflower Bean, IDLES and a set at Glastonbury under their belt, so their show at Vinilo is sure to be something special.
More info here.
Tuesday 20th – Courting, The Joiners
Courting will return to the Joiners in February after dazzling the crowd there in late 2022. On their new album New Last Name, they push the boundaries of what post-punk guitar bands can be, incorporating elements of experimental pop sounds and genre-hopping flourishes. Fans of The 1975 and Sports Team will enjoy their effervescent sound. Expect a fun night from this charming four-piece.
More info here.
Tuesday 27th – Meryl Streek, The Joiners
Bringing the month of February to a close in Southampton is Ireland’s Meryl Streek, the outspoken punk musician calling out everyday injustices in his music. With the seal of approval from Dead Kennedys and PIL, this is a gig that fans of KNEECAP and Bob Vylan will not want to miss. His visceral, urgent punk has garnered acclaim from across the music industry, which is sure to feel even more potent in a venue like The Joiners.
More info here.
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