All images courtesy of BBAM. BBAM Festival is back this month for a second year, after a stunning launch in October 2023! BBAM Festival is a vibrant celebration of the Southampton’s African, Caribbean, and Black British communities, recognising the contributions of the city’s black businesses, artists, and musicians. It...
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...
Aiysha Jahan and Susmita Bhattacharya chat about new book Bridges not Borders: An Anthology of South Asian Writing
Image credit: Julien Masson. By Laura McCarthy. Bridges not Borders: An Anthology of South Asian Writing is a brand new anthology which champions South Asian voices. Laura McCarthy spoke to editors Wales-based Aiysha Jahan and Susmita Bhattacharya, who lives in Winchester, about the book. Can you summarise what the...
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...
Music in the City returns to Southampton this month
By Nick Mabey. This year’s two-day free music festival, Music in the City, in the heart of Southampton, on September 28th and 29th, promises to be bigger and better than ever before. With over 300 artists in more than 50 venues there’s bound to be something for everyone. For...
Review: Murder in the Citizens’ Jury, Maskers Theatre Company
By Martin Brisland. Bravo to the Maskers Studio Theatre for giving the premier performances of Murder in the Citizens’ Jury. Climate change is refuted by some and ignored by many. Some activists are dismissed as being prophets of doom. It is a difficult subject to engage people with, but...
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...
Community came together at Freemantle Lake Park’s Great Get Together
It really was great get together at Saturday’s Fremantle Lake Park where friends, neighbours and the local community got together in fabulous sunshine to enjoy range of stalls and entertainment (14/9/24). The Friends of Fremantle Lake Park Group was established around six years ago with the aim of increasing...
View from the Kingsland: Harsh Reality
By Nick Mabey. It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted. Mostly because I’ve moved house and celebrated a significant birthday with a long holiday, but also because I thought I’d rest for as long as possible in the euphoria of that amazing Wembley day in May. The feel-good...
Maskers Theatre – Murder in the Citizens’ Jury opens this week
Southampton amateur dramatics company The Maskers Theatre’s new play focuses on an issue which affects everyone. Murder in the Citizens’ Jury was written by a local writer, D A Baden from Southampton University, a professor of sustainable business and this is the premiere of her new play ‘Murder in...