IT has been a long wait, but music fans can look forward to a packed diary of gigs for the rest of this year as some of Britain’s most exciting names tour the South and local acts headline their own shows.
Southampton's 02 Guildhall leads with Del Amitri (19 October), Kasabian (30 October), Billy Bragg (31 October), Biffy Clyro (3 November), Katherine Jenkins (20 November), Paul Weller (22 November), The Levellers (15 December) and Enter Shikari (17 December).
The Guildhall also hosts Irish post-punk stars Fontaines DC (9 October) and Australian stars DMA’s (25 October), two international bands who helped grow their careers by playing Southampton’s grass roots venues.
The Joiners has more than a hundred full capacity gigs booked in before the new year.
Hotly-tipped south coast acts The Dead Freights (30 July), Crystal Tides (31 July), Myriad (7 August), Galaxy Thief (13 August) and Southampton’s own The Vitrines (24 September) join big name touring acts like Greater Manchester’s Lottery Winners (2 September) and Sheffield’s The Reytons (21 October).
Doncaster trio The Blinders will reschedule their sold out July date at The Joiners.
Yorkshire band The Sherlocks, who played one of the last full gigs in Southampton in March 2020, join Groove Armada and Fat Boy Slim at Camp Bestival, Lulworth Castle (30 July to 1 August).
The 1865 brings Wigan four-piece The Lathums to Southampton for the first time (8 October), plus local acts Calum Lintott (9 October), with support from Tom Lumley and the Brave Liaison, and Sean McGowan (18 December).
Heartbreakers has some of Britain’s most exciting new bands, including Manchester’s The Covasettes (29 July) and Cardiff’s Himalayas (11 September), plus The K’s (8 October) and Shader (18 December).
Along the coast, October sees Manic Street Preachers, The Libertines and Tom Grennan headline O2 Academy Bournemouth and Liverpool’s rising stars Red Rum Club play The Anvil.
The Wedgewood Rooms in Southsea is the place for new music on 4 September when Golden Touch festival returns with headliners Crystal Tides and Bang Bang Romeo, plus Southampton’s Pioneers and The Pretty Visitors and Wrexham’s The Royston Club.
Meanwhile, Downpatrick legends Ash celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut album 1977 there with two shows on 15 and 16 September.
Southampton’s Craig David and Wild Front join main stage headliners Madness, The Streets and Royal Blood at Victorious Festival on Southsea Common (27 to 28 August) while Isle of Wight Festival (16-19 September) has Liam Gallagher, Snow Patrol, Duran Duran and The Snuts.
And in 2022, don’t miss Liverpool legends Cast at The Engine Rooms (22 January), Jake Bugg’s return to Southampton Guildhall on 4 April and, two years after it was first scheduled, international superstars The Killers headline St Mary’s Stadium in May.
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