When a St Denys resident asked the council about the availability of dedicated allotments for folk with disabilities in Southampton, the answer was “I don’t think there is one”. Indeed most of the allotment sites she visited were inaccessible, so she raised the issue with some residents in St...
Local Heroes
Under the Covers – August: Meet prize-winning Totton-born author/illustrator Kim Hillyard
By books editor Carolyn Thomas. Images by Jasmine Joynson. In just a few years Totton-born children’s author and illustrator Kim Hillyard has cornered the market in life-enhancing stories featuring quirky animal heroes. So far she’s featured a fly, a hamster, and a mammoth in her beautifully illustrated stories for...
Review: The Stage at The Greedy Flea, featuring The Guillotine Union Boys, The Mercantile Flea, July 15, 2023
by Joy McKay. It’s half past six on a Saturday evening and I’m in a supermarket, Nothing unusual in that, except I’m not. I’m at The Greedy Flea, the bar/ coffee lounge at The Mercantile Flea, a relative newcomer to the Southampton music scene. The Flea opened in 2021...
Under the Covers July 2023: Meet local prize-winning children’s author Ali Sparkes
By books editor Carolyn Thomas. As the long summer holidays approach, parents all over Southampton will be juggling jobs and other commitments while keeping their children entertained. So it seems a good time for some reading recommendations! Not only is time with a book immensely enjoyable – when it’s...
Southampton-based author Yarrow Townsend shortlisted for national children’s book award
Southampton-based author Yarrow Townsend has been shortlisted for a prestigious children’s book award. The Branford Boase Award acknowledges particular talent among debut children’s writers alongside the hard work of their editors. Yarrow’s book, The Map of Leaves, has been shortlisted for the award, alongside six others. Yarrow said: “To be...
Southampton music: Dlugokecki
by Peter Nicholson. Dlugokecki (pronounced Der-loo-go-ken-ski) have supported million-selling artists such as David Gray, Snow Patrol, Corinne-Bailey Rae, The Proclaimers, Passenger and Lu Lu on their world tours, playing to thousands of people. They’ve also had their songs used on numerous TV shows, played festivals across the word including the...
Roller derby – Southampton City Rollers vs Brighton Rockerbillies, Haywards Heath, March 25
by Joy McKay. Roller derby had a riotous return when our own Southampton City Rollers took on the Brighton Rockerbillies at a sold out game in Haywards Heath at the weekend. In their new uniforms, debuted at the weekend, they looked like a true team ready to have a great...
Dan Mar-Molinero: Hometown Jazzer
By Charlie Hislop. Dan Mar-Molinero – for many years at the core of Southampton’s music scene and music education has finally released an album of his own music. ‘Taproot’ came out on Bandcamp today (March 3). It’s a big band, lockdown-created, Ivor Novello award-nominated jazz project. It’s Dan’s work...
Interview: Caity Baser to play Southampton homecoming gig in April
by Peter Nicholson. It’s homecoming time for Southampton’s Caity Baser on the 19th April. The Engine Rooms in Southampton will host this dynamic young musician when she returns to her home city following a whirlwind rise to stardom. The show is already SOLD OUT, although this is hardly a...
Southampton-born singer Caity Baser to play homecoming gig in April following release of EP
Southampton-born singer Caity Baser will be playing a homecoming gig at the city’s Engine Rooms on April 19. The date is part of a UK tour following the release of her new EP Thanks for Nothing, See You Later, which will be released on February 17. The EP will...