Today, summer concert series Southampton Summer Sessions has announced two new headliners for the 2026 event: America’s band The Beach Boys and Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald.
As The Beach Boys mark more than a half century of making music, the group continues to ride the crest of a wave unequalled in America’s musical history. The band – who have become synonymous with the California lifestyle and an American icon to fans around the world – will salute 60 years of Pet Sounds at Southampton Summer Sessions on Thursday 18 June 2026.
Since the band’s co-founder, lead-singer and chief lyricist Mike Love penned the lyrics to The Beach Boys’ first hit “Surfin’” in 1961, dozens of the band’s chart toppers have become eternal anthems of American youth: “Surfin USA’”, “Fun, Fun, Fun|, “I Get Around”, “California Girls”, “Help Me Rhonda”, “Barbara Ann”, “Good Vibrations”, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”, “Rock and Roll Music” and “Kokomo”.
The Beach Boys have sold over 100 million records worldwide and have received more than 33 RIAA Platinum and Gold record awards. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers were also honoured at the 2001 GRAMMY Awards with their Lifetime Achievement Award. With more than five decades of touring under their belts, The Beach Boys have performed more concerts than any major rock band in history.
Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys, Capitol/EMI’s 30-track collection of the band’s biggest hits, has achieved triple-platinum success with sales of more than three million copies in the U.S. since its release.
The Beach Boys remain at the forefront of music and culture through their recent projects. In 2024, THE BEACH BOYS documentary debuted on Disney+, offering fans a comprehensive look at the band’s journey, from their humble beginnings to becoming one of the most influential acts in music history. Directed by Frank Marshall and Thom Zimny, the film features never-before-seen footage, interviews with band members including Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston, and contributions from other industry luminaries such as Lindsey Buckingham and Janelle Monáe. The documentary soundtrack, available via Capitol/Ume, includes classic Beach Boys hits and the bonus track “Little Blue Bathing Suit” by Stephen Sanchez.
In 2023, The Beach Boys were honoured in the CBS tribute special GRAMMY Salute to The Beach Boys, which featured performances from Beck, Brandi Carlile, Michael McDonald, Pentatonix, St. Vincent, Weezer, Norah Jones, John Legend and Mumford & Sons among others.
Most recently, Mike Love was inducted into the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame, joining an esteemed 2025 class that includes The Doobie Brothers’ Michael McDonald, Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons; George Clinton; Ashley Gorley; Roddney “Darkchild” Jerkins; and Tony Macaulay. Love was recognized for his profound contributions to the world of music at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala on Thursday 12 June in New York City.
The Beach Boys are led by Mike Love who, along with longtime member Bruce Johnston, musical director Brian Eichenberger, Christian Love, Tim Bonhomme, Jon Bolton, Keith Hubacher, Randy Leago and John Wedemeyer continue the legacy of the iconic band.
Support on the evening will come from legendary art-pop band 10cc. With a career that has spanned over five decades and with over 30 million albums sold to date. Formed in Stockport in 1972, 10cc are best known for hits like ‘I’m Not In Love’, ‘Dreadlock Holiday’ and ‘Rubber Bullets’.
Riding high from the release of her recent record Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For? – which debuted at #8 in the UK Chart, Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald will bring her high energy acoustic pop-rock melodies and passionate vocals to Guildhall Square on Friday 12 June 2026.
Amy Macdonald will be supported by English jangling-rock band The Coral and Scottish folk-pop band Nathan Evans & The Saint PHNX Band.
With a broad appeal that has already seen her amass over one billion streams and 12 million sales, plus 12 Platinum certifications across the world, Amy Macdonald recently released new single track ‘I’m Done (Games That You Play)’ – a fan favourite album track that captures her essence as a songwriter, and recasts personal experience as a universal emotion.
Across summer 2025, Amy added to the staggering tally of over 5 million people who have attended her shows, as she headlined gigs across Europe. She also attracted a huge crowd as she played a surprise secret set at TRNSMT and played a select run of intimate record store shows in support of the new album. Her show at Southampton Summer Sessions in 2026 will form part of a broader headline tour, including two homecoming headline shows in Glasgow which will see her amass a combined audience of 28,000.
Support on the night will come from English rock band The Coral, one of the most consistently enjoyable and unpredictable bands of their era. With a rambunctious sound that deftly mixes elements of ‘60s garage rock, psychedelic pop and folk-rock, spliced with bits of Merseybeat, Motown, vintage blues and even sea shanties, The Coral topped the UK charts with their 2002 self-titled debut album.
Hailing from Hoylake, a town on the Wirral Peninsula, the band was formed in 1996 by school friends: vocalist/guitarist James Skelly, guitarist Bill Ryder-Jones, drummer Ian Skelly and bassist Paul Duffy. Their sound has continued to evolve over the course of their multi-faceted career, with time doing nothing to dim their desire to explore new sonic avenues. 2021’s Coral Island was a double-length concept album devoted to memories of English seaside resort towns and 2023 saw them release country-rock with strings offering Sea of Mirrors.
In keeping with the night’s jangling alternative-rock theme, Nathan Evans & The Saint PHNX Band will open the evening’s entertainment. After amassing over 100 million streams with their co-written track ‘Heather On The Hill’ and selling out a UK/EU tour, Scottish singer-songwriter Nathan Evans and pop duo Saint PHNX are also now teaming up for their first ever colllab album as a folk-pop band. In summer 2025, they played together at a run of major festivals and sold-out Glasgow’s OVO Hydro Arena in minutes. Their performance at Southampton Summer Sessions in 2026 will see the newly formed band kick off an exciting new chapter.
Bringing together an unmissable celebration of globally renowned artists and set against the backdrop of the city’s cultural centre, Summer Sessions brings world-class music experiences and iconic global artists right to the heart of Southampton.
Held in Guildhall Square, at the centre of the city’s bustling Cultural Quarter, 2026 will also see performances from Alex James’ Britpop Classical, Billy Ocean, Pete Tong Ibiza Classics, Paul Weller, Skunk Anansie & Garbage, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Deacon Blue.
Tickets for The Beach Boys and Amy Macdonald at Southampton Summer Sessions 2026 will be available from 10am on Friday 21 November
- In Common is not for profit. We rely on donations from readers to keep the site running. Could you help to support us for as little as 25p a week? Please help us to carry on offering independent grass roots media. Visit: https://www.patreon.com/incommonsoton