By Vicky Greer. Fresh from the release of their self-produced debut album For Your Sins, Dea Matrona are in a back room upstairs at The Joiners, getting ready to play their first headline show in Southampton. Tomorrow will be their first day off in 10 days amidst a hectic...
Features
Interview: Jah Wobble chats ahead of Lighthouse, Poole date
By Sam Wise. Jah Wobble, at least for me, was one of those names that hovers at the periphery of your consciousness without you necessarily being certain why. I remember that in my case, he first came into actual focus in the runup to a Womad festival in the...
Interview: Willie J Healey on his new album, Apple, and playing at Wanderlust
By Vicky Greer. Willie J Healey is stuck on a bus as he frantically tries to join our Zoom call. He’s battling jet lag from his trip back from New York, and now he’s on his way to debut his new single, ‘The Apple’, with none other than Steve...
In conversation with Wicked stars Sarah O’Connor (Glinda) and Laura Pick (Elphaba)
Wicked, the spectacular, multi-record-breaking and critically acclaimed production, is set to fly back to the Mayflower Theatre stage from Thursday 23 May to Sunday 16 June 2024. Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two young women – the popular Glinda and a...
Interview: Southampton singer/songwriter Welly on single Shopping and more
By Lewis Maclean. Southampton-born singer/songwriter – Welly (aka Elliott), is the frontman in a group – Welly – named after the main character (like Scooby Doo), but the other players are Joe and Matt on guitars, Jacob on bass, and Hannah on percussion/synthesisers. Welly no longer lives in/around Southampton...
Experience: Living with Bell’s Palsy
By Manthan Pathak. In the last week of January this year, I developed an infection which caused painful hardening of skin inside and around my nose. I made an appointment to see my GP, reminded of a similar condition that caused someone close to me to be prescribed antibiotics...
Christmas Markets: A Review of Southampton, Winchester and Gunwharf Quays
By Mabel Wellman. Normally, I am not one for Christmas markets. In fact, my first exposure to these was slowly moving between people on Above Bar Street to get through the Southampton market in 2021 and trying not to think how having less than 5 centimetres between people (rather...
The volunteers helping solve Southampton folks’ money worries
By Megan Streb. On a typical Wednesday morning, a handful of volunteers gather at St Albans Church in Swaythling. They are there to help resolve Southampton residents’ financial problems, one at a time. “It’s all about the client – how they are, how they are affected by having debt....
Charlie Barnes, live member of Bastille and solo artist, on his career of contrasts
By Sally Churchward. Image credit: Joe Horridge. Charlie Barnes’ latest album has been three years in the making and counting. Like so many other musicians, he squeezes his passion – writing, recording, booking gigs in toilet venues – between the demands of his day job, family and the general...
Marching to stop the deaths of children – Southampton’s peace protest for Palestine
By Sally Churchward. Additional reporting by Tom Williams. Children and babies were in the hearts and on the lips and handmade signs of protesters at Sunday afternoon’s peace march and rally for Palestine in Southampton (November 12). Children in Gaza trapped under rubble – missing, presumed dead. 4,600 dead...