By Nick Mabey. Main image by Laura McCarthy.
Numbers only tell part of the story. In the end 1703 artists gave 318 performances in 58 venues, supported by more than 100 volunteers. I was lucky enough to be one of the volunteers and happy to play a very small part in a vast enterprise. What struck me was the buzz of the whole thing. It’s hard to describe the recipe that made it special.
The Organiser
Chris Orr did an amazing job of pulling the whole thing together in his first year running the event. That he was able to pull off the biggest Music in The City ever and with such colour and style was testament to his leadership, creativity and perseverance.
The Volunteers
There was a camaraderie and commitment among the volunteers that held the whole thing together. As someone who’s interested in how group dynamics and the psychology of crowds, I’m scratching my head to know how that happened. Of course a WhatsApp group and t-shirts helped, but it was more than that. Something about a common love of music perhaps? Or the fact it was free? Or that it was in the heart of the city?
The Artists
The 307 acts all turned up without expectation of being paid (though perhaps with some hope of some donations). They represented a range of music that I’m struggling to imagine has featured before at a single event. There’s obviously too many to list the acts here, but genres included indie, rock, blues, folk, pop, barbershop, country, ukulele, choir, samba, sea shanties, easy listening, punk, metal, experimental, electronic, DJ, musical theatre, reggae, house, DJ, classical and not forgetting poetry.
The Venues
What makes this festival unusual, even perhaps unique, is the venues. This year IKEA and Hythe Ferry were added to regular favourites Holyrood Church and various vaults. If you add in the various cafes, pubs, bars and clubs what was an offer was a spectacular array of experiences that showed off the city at its best.
The Colour
The red of the volunteers t-shirts, the posters and the bunting and the bright blue of the autumn sky (on Saturday at least), the costumes of some of the acts, the outdoor acts, the vast crowds who attended, all brought such colour to what can feel like dark times at the moment.
The City Itself
I’ll declare my biased in being born here and a lifelong fan of the football team, but in my view Southampton hosted Music In the City in a way that only this city can. Music was clustered in three distinct hearts of the city. In the old town down near the water, venues were unique and music more diverse. Then up in Guildhall Square where the event dovetailed with the BBAM festival. And finally where I volunteered in the rejuvenated streets of Bedford Place and London Road. Each area had its own vibe, each played its own part.
So let’s do it all again next year. If you want to take an active role next year, as venue host, artist or volunteer why not email Chris and the team? info@musicinthecity.org
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