To celebrate the release of “&” (Ampersand) – a beautiful new project from Bastille’s Dan Smith out on 25th October, Bastille Presents; “&” (Ampersand) live – the ‘Candlelight Original Sessions’ which run across the UK this October. Held in beautiful and historic spaces across the UK, the unique dates...
Music
Interview: The team behind Southampton’s Abyssal Festival chat about its origins and where it’s going
All images by Becca Cairns Photography. The latest Abyssal Festival took place in Southampton at the weekend. Organisers David Burke, along with Harley Edwards and Chris Gilgan, chatted to Spring Wise about the event. “Small metal festivals have run in Southampton for years, on and off. When Harley...
Review: Stand Atlantic, The 1865
By Vicky Greer. It’s a packed house at The 1865 tonight (18/9/24) for a stacked line-up of international pop-punk excellence as Sydney’s Stand Atlantic return to Southampton. We last saw them in Engine Rooms, a little over a year ago. In tow are Slowly Slowly and Honey Revenge, readying...
Review: Welly, The Joiners, Southampton
By Dan O’Farrell. What kind of horse can change the world? A Trojan horse, of course. Well, tonight at a packed Joiners, a full crowd witnessed some excellent horse-play, with Welly, the bounciest of pop-bands, smuggling some sharp, savvy and important messages beneath an hour’s worth of sing-a-long anthems...
Turner Sims celebrates turning 50 with the help of Courtney Pine, Tunde Jegede and more
Turner Sims, the University of Southampton’s world-class music venue, is set to embark on its 2024 autumn programme in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Featuring an international programme packed with exciting performances, the quality lineup spans jazz, classical, contemporary, global and folk music. A key highlight of the programme...
Blossoms come to Portsmouth & Bournemouth
Blossoms have announced details of their headline UK and Ireland tour for October and November this year, bringing them to both Portsmouth and Bournemouth. The Stockport band will be embarking on an extensive 20-date run of October and November shows in London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow, and beyond....
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...
Elkie Brooks brings her Long Farewell Tour to Fareham and Bournemouth
Image by Neil Kirk. Having originally started her career in music in 1960, and after a remarkable 64 years of performing live, Elkie Brooks has announced her ‘Long Farewell Tour’. A celebration of her illustrious, award-winning six decades in music, Elkie will be performing some of her biggest hits...
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...