Words: Chris Taylor. Photos: Bella Briscoe. It’s a tough weekend to try to put on a punk rock/emo show. Between the once-in-a-lifetime My Chemical Romance and Bring Me the Horizon concerts in London and Manchester, and 2000 Trees festival in Cheltenham – which always has solid representation from the...
Entertainment Reviews
Review: Murder at the Manor, The Arc, Winchester
By Katie Isham. Billed as Agatha Christie meets Fawlty Towers, Murder at the Manor sounded intriguing from the outset. The content warning in the foyer heralded flashing lights, sudden loud noises and strong language. A typical Friday night in Winchester then… It also listed two words sure to strike...
Review: Deacon Blue supported by Lightning Seeds, Southampton Summer Sessions
By Dan O’Farrell. People Come First: Deacon Blue connect. It’s the last night of the Southampton Summer Sessions and The Guildhall Square is as crowded as it’s been all fortnight, but with a slightly more relaxed, mellow mood than my previous visit. It feels like the last day of...
Review: Frank Turner and Bowling for Soup, Southampton Summer Sessions
Words: Rachel Jones & Luke Richards. Photos: Hazel Worthy. Before a single note is played, the crowd outside Southampton Summer Sessions reveals everything you need to know about this unlikely double bill. Sitting in Guildhall Square before the gates open, it’s surprisingly easy to play a game of “who’s...
Photos: Skunk Anansie & Garbage with support from Du Blonde, Southampton Summer Sessions
Photos by Rhona Murphy. Joint headliners Skunk Anansie and Garbage, with support from Du Blonde, put on an unforgettable show at Southampton Summer Sessions last night (23/6/26). See our photo special of the night and relive the memories if you were lucky enough to be there. In Common is...
Review: The Importance of Being Oscar, Theatre Royal Winchester
Words by Joy McKay. Photo credit: Marc Brenner. Star rating: 4 out of 5. The Importance of Being Oscar is a play first premiered in Dublin in 1960 written and performed by Micheál Mac Liammóir. It quickly achieved success being shown on Broadway, as an award winning television production...
Review: Billy Ocean with support from Marti Pellow – Southampton Summer Sessions
By Charlotte Ndupuechi. Billy Ocean’s still got it – and then some! Amazing weather, a fantastic atmosphere and a night packed with classic hits combined to make Southampton Summer Sessions, presented by TK Maxx, a truly memorable evening last night (21/6/26). With the sun shining down on an...
Review: Paul Weller with support from Miles Kane, Southampton Summer Sessions
By Darren Grayer. The summer sessions continued last night (20/6/26) with what was for many, the high point of the two weeks, with a headline set from Paul Weller. Tickets sold out weeks ago for an artist who has played such a pivotal part in the lives of a...
Review: OMD with support from Peter Hook & the Light – Southampton Summer Sessions
Words by Dan O’Farrell. Photos by Darren Grayer. This was my first visit to Southampton’s Summer Sessions and, despite having walked through Guildhall Square thousands of times and attending many other events there over the years, the size and scale of these TKMaxx-sponsored concerts took me a little by...
Review: 45 Years – Chichester Minerva Theatre
By Graham Hiley. Star rating: 4 out of five. 45 Years is one of those plays that stays with you long after you get home – and not just because of powerhouse performances by Geraldine James and Gabriel Byrne. It is absorbing, authentic and completely compelling – and this...