He had been expecting a letter for a long time, but when it arrived the contents were still a pleasant surprise. For months, Gary Smith had daydreamed about how much his mum’s records had raised for charity. Last week, he got to find out for certain. His donations had...
Features
Good things can come from Twitter – & taking to the stage at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, was one
by Gus Mckechnie. For my past decades in Southampton I had wondered what it would be like to be behind the scenes of Mayflower Theatre. I currently work in an office on Commercial Road and pass the theatre every working day. I also used to for a number of...
Heritage: Eleanor Coade, the remarkable Georgian businesswoman
by Martin Brisland. The statue on the south face of Southampton’s Bargate is of King George III (1738-1820). pictured top. His head is on the body of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, a common practice for statues at the time. It was based on Hadrian’s statue in the British Museum....
Alt rock LGBTQ+ band Hunting Hearts bring a ‘Queer Prom’ to Hampshire
On November 4th at The Edge of the Wedge in Southsea, Hunting Hearts – alt rock LGBTQ+ band from Southampton – are hosting “Queer Prom”, featuring a diverse line-up of queer artists and band from across Hampshire, including Wyse from Portsmouth, Velour from Bournemouth and another Southampton based band,...
Sea Girls talk about their album, Homesick, ahead of their date at O2 Guildhall Southampton
Right before the pandemic hit, London-based band Sea Girls were poised to make their next triumphant step. Henry Camamile (lead vocals, guitar), Rory Young (lead guitar), Andrew Dawson (bass) and Oliver Khan (drums) had just come off their first European headlining tour, playing 20 dates across the continent and...
Knit the Walls community art project draws to a close with a month-long finale
After more than three million knitted stitches, thousands of hours of warm conversation and countless shared stories, as well as many hundreds of cups of tea and a lot of cake, the six-year ‘Knit the Walls’ community-focused art project will come to an end this November. Across the month,...
Detained – a personal experience of detention under the Mental Health Act
by Megan S. I was never able to accept why I had been sectioned or empathise with the nursing staff, who I viewed as enforcers of a grave injustice and tyranny, but I was always good at articulating my perspective, experience and grievances, good at creating awkward questions for...
Review: Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls & PET NEEDS, O2 Guildhall Southampton
photographed and written by Peter Nicholson. www.peternicholsonphotography.co.uk PET NEEDS played the final night of a USA and UK tour at the O2 Guildhall Southampton last night (14 October). It was the culmination of weeks on the road, coast to coast across North America, touring with Frank Turner And The...
Mayfield Nursery Quiz – think ‘pub quiz but with plants, tea and cake’
by Katie Isham. The good folks at Mayfield Nursery on Weston Lane are growing more than just plants. They’ve produced the best Sunday afternoon activity. On the third Sunday of the month (this upcoming Sunday 16th October) they play host to a café quiz! All the excitement and competition...
Interview: Paul Young, coming to The Brook, Southampton, with Los Pacaminos
words and photos by Peter Nicholson. Paul Young’s career must be the envy of artists across the world. As well as singing the opening lines on Band Aid’s single Do They Know it’s Christmas? in 1984 and appearing at the iconic Wembley Stadium Live-Aid concert, he also released three...