Music in the City, Southampton

Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September 2025

I was at a bit of a loose end this Saturday, wife had all day yoga and I hadn’t booked any golf in. So, it was either Wimborne Town v Bath City in the FA Cup prelim round (Wimborne won 2-1) or a trip to Southampton for some free music. Music generally wins – and free music even more so! 😉

This is such a great arts in the area initiative, only 25 miles from where I live so thought I’d see what it was all about.

Southampton’s music heartbeat. Music in the City is a not-for-profit showcase, throwing a citywide music bash every September—multi-venue, all genres, all vibes. 100% of what we raise goes straight back to the Music in the City community. For the artists. For the people. For the love of sound.

Spread across town, there was over 350 acts. You could walk to the old city vaults and hear some punk, or gospel choir or electro, pubs, breweries, HMV and place that don’t usually showcase music. So much to choose from and quite a walk between venues, so I chose to do a few to sample the atmosphere……

First stop was Heartbreakers, a small venue just of the main shopping area hidden down a back street – how small venues should be. It had a nice welcoming, rustic small downstairs bar and I could hear the music was upstairs, where there was another bar. Looked like a venue holding a 100 or so people with a nice low ceiling acoustically padded. Perfect for intimate start up band gis, something many towns are losing these days.

Had a nice chat with the barman who told me they only had one can of Guinness zero left, so that was me not coming back later 😉 Popped upstairs to see what was happening. A band was already on. Ekowe

Ekowe were from Southampton, as I think were most of the musicians on the day. They played a fine set of rock and indie originals. The lead singer has a great gravelly/high and melodic voice which had a mix of Pixies/REM/Furs to it. Really great band sound playing mix of dark and upbeat tunes. A four piece I’d try and watch a full set of again.

A great cover version of a song by The Cage – Where is my mind…not a band I’ve heard of, so off to check out a bit by them now!

I was enjoying the venue so thought I’d hand around for the next band, Jimmy B and the Death Rattles.

Another eclectic mix of sounds, some Rock and Electro beat, great keyboard mixing in with guitar, drums and bass, with cinematic flourishes and emotional depth of lyrics. Apparently (according to proud mum) it was only the second gig for the bass player, but she fitted in well fantastically.

Two great bands at Heartbreakers, so I felt before I got too comfortable in this venue I should at least wander a bit more, only a few hours left (it was already 4pm) before needed to leave for home.

It was a shortish walk to St Michael’s Vault, where there was an afternoon of rock and punk music going on. I’d never been to any of Southampton’s vaults before so was intrigued to see what they looked like. I waited for a few minutes to avoid a short but very heavy shower.

As I wander round, I passed HMV, but was just between bands, so carried on and was attracted by a Samba drumming sound coming from near Holyrood Church. The church dates back to 1320 and was one of the original five churches serving the old walled town of Southampton.

A swift meander down there to see what was going on, and a large audience had gathered in the gothic style courtyard next to the church. Batala Portsmouth – Samba Rock and Drums were the band, there was around 20 or so drummers a drumming and was fascinating to watch! You couldn’t help but dance along with the beat. These pics are lovely and sunny, but these guys got soaked minutes earlier, but it hadn’t dampened their spirits or the crowd.

Anyway, enough of the, we’ve got a rock gig to get to 😉 So back on track to the venue listed as St Michael’s Vault, which I think is actually called The Undercroft, Simnel Street. It was a great little venue approached from The Titanic pub and down a flight of stairs.

The Undercroft has a vaulted ceiling, carvings of human heads and large fireplace. The vaults were originally used as wine vaults, quite an impressive early version of Majestic Wines maybe.

The band playing were The Hinton Cleeves Conspiracy a great sounding indie band. What great acoustics in the vault too. The stone building really kept the sound in. Didn’yt get to hear more than a few songs here as just wanted to get one more venue in before home time.

I wandered along Above Bar Street and there was lots going on, music coming out of O’Neills, John Hansard Gallery, The Grumpy monkey and Mettricks Guildhall, but for me, the next stop was a Guinness Zero in Belgium and Blues and a bit of soft folk and blues music from local singer songwriter, James Hook.

I really enjoyed the day out, and chapeau to Southampton for a fantastic festival of music. Something for everyone and if you just fancy trying a new genre of music, dip in and see what you think. I hope this is an annual festival and will be looking to return next year.