Crowds pack-out venues across Southampton for Music in the City

Crowds of music lovers gathered at Guildhall Square this weekend as the event returned for its 14th year. 

Eleven bands performed on the Smile stage to crowds of hundreds. 

Whilst more than a thousand artists and bands came together across the whole two-day event to celebrate the diversity of musical talent in the Solent area.

With stages spread around Southampton, performances could be seen from the Dancing Man Brewery at Town Quay to Holyrood Church.

Ken Wood, 65, main vocalist for the mixers (Image: Ken Wood and the Mixers, marked their tenth year of performing at the event)

Ken Wood and the Mixers, marked their tenth year of performing at the event by headlining at Guildhall Square on Saturday.

Speaking to the Echo, frontman, Ken said: “We love coming to Music in the city, we do it every year. It’s a lovely atmosphere and it’s such a pleasure being part of it."

The band of eight first started playing music while at school and have now been together for 40 years.

Ken added that he has always had a good reception from the audience in Southampton, and they never disappoint when it comes to showing support.

“It’s lovely to be back and to get things moving again after the [last few years] but we’ve had a lovely summer.

“The crowds are always lovely here, it’s so nice of people to stop by and we really enjoyed and made us feel very welcomed as they always do.”

Franklin Peel, 65, guitarist for the mixers (Image: Ken Wood and the Mixers, marked their tenth year of performing at the event)

Meanwhile, firms across the city got a boost in sales with some seeing thousands of people through the door in just one day.

Aidan Lavin, co-owner of the Dancing Man said: "It has been absolutely superb to have them here, we’re always very grateful to be asked to take part in it as it is great to the community experience.

"It’s always the busiest time of the year. We probably had an excess of a thousand people, with a consistent 200 people in and out of the venue."

The Dancing Man has taken part in Music in the City every year since it opened. 

Other locations to host live music were King John's Palace at Tudor House, Lankester Vault, Marlands and Mettricks. 

Franklin Peel, 65, the electric guitarist for the mixers said: "It was really good, it’s always challenging in the open air but the sound was great, we always have a good time, probably why we’ve been going for forty years as a band."

Katherine Barbour, 63, was one of many who came out to enjoy the music.

She said: “I just love the fact they’re bringing music into the city and having it in different venues, this particular band is very upbeat but whatever type of music it is it can be so powerful”.

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