By Charlie Hislop. The first sign that something is about to happen is the drone of the helicopters. Four fly over towards the mountain and then circle down the slope behind the trees. A car appears up the hill and around the bend towards us, its loudspeaker yelling “Huit...
Entertainment Reviews
Review: Southampton Pride, 2024
By Mabel Wellman. On the 24th and 25th of August, Southampton Pride had their 8th annual namesake event. Like previous years, Southampton Pride treated the city to a star studded line up. The Pride event had a main stage and community stage to help provide entertainment to cater to...
Review: Launch of They Will Not Take You Seriously – God’s House Tower, Southampton
By Laura Lamb. The evening before this year’s Pride enlivened the city, a special exhibition opened at God’s House Tower, aspace’s multi-use arts and heritage space on Town Quay in Southampton. Over the course of a year, young people aged 16-25 have been taking part in weekly sessions run...
Review: Victorious Sunday – Biffy Clyro, Wet Leg, Kooks, Natasha Bedingfield, Becky Hill and more
By Sally Churchward and Lewis Maclean. Images: Victorious Festival/Strong Island. Thousands of people singing the lyrics “when we collide we come together” in unison along with Biffy Clyro on the Common Stage, so loudly it could easily be heard a mile or more away, to the backdrop of fireworks was...
Review: Victorious, Saturday – Pixies, Sugababes, Crystal Tides, Lightning Seeds and more
By Sally Churchward. Additional reporting by Spring Wise and Lewis Maclean. Images: Victorious Festival/Strong Island. It would be impossible to talk about day two of Victorious and not take a moment to shake your head ruefully at the weather. Unlike the crowd at the front of the Common stage –...
Review: Victorious Festival, Friday – Loius Tomlinson, Fatboy Slim, Snow Patrol and more
By Sally Churchward. Additional reporting: Lewis Macean. Images: Victorious Festival/Strong Island. Hats off to the booking team at Southsea’s Victorious Festival – they pulled an absolute blinder with Friday’s line up. Until last year, Friday was more of a mini-preview of the main weekend event – yes there were...
Review: Madagascar the Musical, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
By Joy McKay. Madagascar The Musical premiered in 2018 and is based on the 2005 DreamWorks animated film which follows a group of exotic animals, friends, who are escapees from New York City zoo. The show was due to star CBBC presenter and Strictly Come Dancing runner up Karim...
The Power of Punk: Punkfest raises more than £1000 for charity
By Laura McCarthy. Punkfest surpassed their £500 charity goal, hitting a total of over £1700 in aid of Naomi House and Jacksplace. Hosted by The Peg & Parrot in Totton on Saturday 10 August, Punkfest was a live music event in which local alternative bands from across Southampton and Portsmouth...
Lazy Sunday afternoon at The Wickham Festival
By Lewis MacLean The most relaxing day of the week was enhanced by the most relaxing festival in Southern England this weekend. For those not in the know, Wickham festival is renowned for its chill vibes, and you will see people enjoying a wide variety of musical genres at...
Review: Wickham Festival day 4, Manran, Tony Christie, Rura, Curtis Stigers, Katherine Priddy
By Graham Hiley. What a smooth ending to the Wickham Festival courtesy of two masters of their art. Curtis Stigers and Tony Christie shared headline billing in the Big Top and showed just why they have been at the top of their profession for so many decades. First up...