Global music icon Billy Ocean and dance music pioneer Pete Tong have today been announced as the first headliners for TK Maxx Presents Southampton Summer Sessions, with the city-centre summer concert series set to return for its third year in 2026.
Held in Guildhall Square, at the centre of the city’s bustling Cultural Quarter, Summer Sessions brings world-class music experiences and iconic global artists right to the heart of Southampton.
Pete Tong’s world renowned Ibiza Classics show – featuring The Essential Orchestra – will set the scene for a fun-filled summer of live music on 14 June 2026, before legendary chart-topper Billy Ocean brings classic hits like Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run), When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going and Red Light Spells Danger to the city on 21 June 2026.
One of Britain’s most enduring and successful artists, Billy Ocean has sold more than 30 million records worldwide, earning a place among the most iconic voices in British music history. With a career spanning more than five decades, his distinctive blend of pop and soul has brought him a wealth of Gold and Platinum albums, chart-topping singles across the globe, and an extraordinary collection of awards.
A GRAMMY Award winner for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, Billy also holds an Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement, two Billboard Music Awards, a MOBO Lifetime Achievement Award, and an Honorary Doctorate in Music from Westminster University. In 2020, he was awarded an MBE for services to music.
Born in Trinidad and raised in London’s East End, Billy was inspired by the great soul singers Otis Redding and Sam Cooke, alongside the British pop sounds of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
A natural performer and one of the finest live vocalists of his generation, Billy Ocean continues to light up stages across the world, captivating audiences old and new with his timeless hits and magnetic energy.
Billy Ocean will also be joined in Southampton by very special guest Marti Pellow, the unmistakable voice of Wet Wet Wet and solo star in his own right. With more than 15 million albums sold, multiple Number 1 singles, and iconic hits like Sweet Little Mystery, Goodnight Girl, Love Is All Around, and Angel Eyes, Pellow is one of the UK’s most enduring and versatile vocalists.
Fans of globally acclaimed electronica can look forward to catching Pete Tong’s ground-breaking live experience Ibiza Classics in Southampton this summer, with the show having redefined the fusion of electronic and orchestral music.
From the sun-soaked shores of Ibiza to the world’s biggest stages, Pete Tong has super-charged the trajectory of live dance music.
His now-iconic 2015 BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall – featuring a 65-piece orchestra playing the White Isle’s greatest anthems – became a viral sensation with more than eight million views on YouTube. What began as a single unforgettable night became a global phenomenon, thrilling more than 750,000 fans at venues including The Hollywood Bowl, Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl and London’s O2 Arena.
Earlier this year, Pete celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Ibiza Classics with four sold-out nights at the Royal Albert Hall – the venue where it all began – joined by legends including Becky Hill, Barbara Tucker, Damian Lazarus, David Morales, Paul Oakenfold, and Seth Troxler.
A true pillar of the global dance music scene, Pete is renowned for his impeccable ear for talent and remains one of the most influential figures in the industry. He has earned widespread respect as an arena-filling DJ, music producer, broadcaster, and A&R visionary, as well as the voice of BBC Radio 1’s iconic dance programming.
Throughout his remarkable 30-plus year career, Pete has championed dance music on a global scale, constantly pushing boundaries and supporting new talent. His contributions were formally recognised with the prestigious Music Industry Trusts Award (MITS) in 2021, honouring his outstanding impact on music and broadcasting.
With critically acclaimed albums, including the UK Number 1 debut Classic House (2017), and collaborations with artists like Ultra Naté and Tale of Us, Pete Tong continues to push the boundaries of electronic music while honouring its rich legacy.
An unmissable celebration of globally renowned artists set against the backdrop of the city’s cultural centre, tickets for Billy Ocean and Pete Tong Ibiza Classics at TK Maxx Presents Southampton Summer Sessions will be available from 10am on Friday 17 October 2025. For more information, visit smmrsessions.com/locations/southampton.
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