Words: James Nicholson. Photographs: Peter Nicholson Photography. Takedown Festival 2023 aimed to bring together alternative rock and metal fans for a day of non-stop performances from groups including the masked, and still anonymous members of Sleep Token, the energetic reggae metal collective Skindred and 30 other big names. Not...
Entertainment Reviews
Review: Nick Tann and the Whole Family, Pandamonium and Johnny Boxcars at The Art House
by Lewis MacLean. It’s amazing how many people you can crowd into the Art House on a Saturday night and yet still find room for the people who wander in, drawn from the streets out of curiosity, more to the point on 1st April! (I pity the April Fool...
Review: The Commitments – The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, 27th March 2023
by Peter Nicholson. It certainly doesn’t seem like over 30 years since I saw the film, but knowing that the stage show was coming to Southampton meant that I was looking forward to recapturing my enjoyment of 1991 movie. I’d not seen the stage show when it enjoyed huge...
Review: Suede, O2 Guildhall Southampton, March 24
words and photos: Anita Foxall. Suede released their new album Autofiction In September 2022 and they are now touring to promote it. The Southampton Guildhall received them last night, and they were as magnificent has they have always been. Dublin-based Sprints opened the night, and their garage punk sound was...
Review: The Rocky Horror Show, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – March 20
by Martin Brisland. 50 years ago as a student in London, I saw the initial production of the Rocky Horror Show at the Royal Court Theatre in London’s Sloane Square. Last night on my own time warp saw this cult classic again at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre. Richard O’Brien’s legendary...
Review: Beans on Toast at The Loft, Southampton, March 16
by Lewis MacLean. Last night was the first time I got dressed up and went out for Beans On Toast. The LOFT in Bedford Place was already pretty busy by the time support act Jack Francis took his well-earned place on the stage. When Jack started singing I immediately...
Review: Southampton Literature Festival, MAST Mayflower Studios, March 10-12
by Anita Foxall. Southampton has a Literature Festival, and it was brought to the MAST Mayflower Studios by ArtfulScribe, with the support of Arts Council England and University of Southampton. The festival took place between the 10th and the 12th of March and was organised by ArtfulScribe’s poet/producer Antosh...
Review: Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty – Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, March 14
by Tessa Hurst. Whenever Matthew Bourne produces a ballet, you know that you are in for a real treat. It will be a totally new and different interpretation of a classic, a well-known story magically reimagined. Sleeping Beauty is no exception, a gothic love story that encompasses good versus...
Reader reviews: Mo’s Forte poetry night, March 5
Mo’s Forte is a poetry open mic, with guest act to close, held on the 1st Sunday of each month from 6pm-8pm at the Hatch (Forte Kitchen), in Parchment Street, Winchester. The 5th of March 2023, was the debut night of Mo’s Forte, with Winchester based musician Blind Z...
Review: Art House community pantry
by Joy McKay. If you haven’t already discovered it The Art House in Southampton is a performance venue and social centre on Above Bar, opposite The Guildhall. They offer live music, performance poetry, storytelling and comedy as well as workshops and classes, drop-in community cafe events, a community pantry and...