Southampton is a brilliant base to break into music. The city has a vibrant music scene with everything an aspiring musician needs from audio–enhanced venues to professional recording studios.
Whether you’re looking to busk, perform in a concert-style venue, or record some of your tracks, Southampton has got you covered. The city’s music scene is incredibly rich and diverse and has hosted huge acts like The Rolling Stones and Lewis Capaldi.
Music enthusiasts and up-and-coming artists will find everything they need in Southampton, Hampshire. The cultural city is home to some of the best places and professionals in the industry who can nurture new musical talent.
Live music Southampton pubs
If you’re looking for an intimate and atmospheric venue to play or listen to music, then pubs are ideal. Lots of up-and-coming artists kickstart their music careers by performing in pubs and working up to larger venues.
Southampton has some of the best pubs available for live music and four of the most highly recommended include:
#1 The Hobbit
The historic pub in Bevois Valley, Southampton is perhaps best known for its Lord of The Rings themed cocktails, but its music scene shouldn’t be overlooked.
The Hobbit regularly welcomes punk, alternative and underground bands and artists onto its stage, plus they host music events throughout the year. They have themed music events during the summer, with this year’s June event called the “Summer Time Fun Time Big Riff Bonanza.”
#2 The Frog and Frigate
If you’re looking for personality and atmosphere, The Frog and Frigate has got you covered. With sawdust on the floor, pirate-frog murals on the walls, and a ship’s wheel behind the bar, this is an unforgettable venue.
The Frog and Frigate isn’t shy about boasting its legendary status as a live music venue. The landlord Derek is a musician himself and has been performing since 1983, so lots of his gigs have been performed in the pub.
#3 Heartbreakers
It might technically be a bar, not a pub, but there’s no denying that Heartbreakers is one of the most acclaimed intimate venues Southampton has to offer. The underground club was previously shortlisted by Live Music Business Awards as a venue and promoter.
Heartbreakers hosts both international touring acts and local talent. Artists are welcome to get in touch via their website if they want to put on a show.
#4 The Platform Tavern
Located just opposite the Town Quay, The Platform Tavern is a popular venue for live music. Known for its ambient, lively atmosphere, and with a unique ethnic décor that sets it apart from its competitors.
The friendly pub welcomes musicians from all across the board. Whether you’re into Blues, Country, Blue Grass, Rock n Roll, Acoustic, Americana or Roots.
Music venues Southampton
Southampton’s music scene isn’t limited to pubs and bars. If you’re looking to perform in front of a bigger crowd on a stage decked out with all the best equipment for an authentic concert experience, there are plenty of prestigious venues to offer.
#5 The Joiners, Southampton
The Joiners is a household name for music enthusiasts in Southampton. The intimate venue won NME’s Best Small Venue award in 2013 and is known for its thriving live music scene.
Kitted out with the finest tech and a backstage band room, The Joiners is a pub that packs a professional punch. It’s a recognised grassroots venue and is located in the heart of Southampton city centre and holds 200 people.
#6 1865, Southampton
If you’re looking for a venue that can hold a bigger audience, The 1865 in Southampton has you covered. The major events venue has a capacity of over 750 for standing gigs. The stage is decked out with the South Coast’s best in-house sound system from D&B audio for a quality sound.
Whatever your genre, The 1865 is happy to host your gig. Rock, Blues and Tribute acts are just some of the many music genres the venue regularly welcomes.
Located in Brunswick Square, The 1865 is right in the centre of the city’s music scene.
#7 Engine Rooms, Southampton
Formally called the Mo’Club, the Engine Rooms in Southampton have seen some massive bands perform on their stage. Bastille, Mallory Knox, and Wheatus have all performed at the star-studded venue.
The Engine Rooms prides itself on its versatility and can accommodate between 400 and 800 guests, depending on the show. It’s an active hub for live music, club music, and even hosts “bespoke festivals.”
#8 The Brook, Southampton
Touring bands, as well as tribute acts, flock to The Brook to perform. The 600-capacity venue is located in Portswood, just outside of Southampton city centre, and is a member of TAMVA (The Trade Association of the Music Venues Alliance.)
The Brook is supported by the Arts Council England and is one of the first music venues to go green. The entire establishment is run on 100% sustainable energy; just one of many reasons musicians choose to perform at The Brook.
#9 02 Guildhall, Southampton
The 02 Guildhall is the epicentre of Southampton’s music scene. It’s the biggest music venue in the city, and always has a jam-packed line-up of well-known and famous artists. Household names like The Killers, The Kaiser Chiefs, and Amy Winehouse have all taken to the stage.
With a capacity of over 1,700, The 02 Guildhall offers an authentic concert experience. It’s situated right in the heart of the city centre, just a ten-minute walk from Southampton central station.
Southampton music lessons
Pubs and bars are a great venue to build your confidence when you’re first starting out as a musician. However, if you’re not quite experienced or confident enough right now, then music lessons can really help.
Southampton has plenty of opportunities to develop your musical talent as well as showcase it. The town has a vast array of great music and singing teachers both past and present. From Katie Holmes and Chris Johnson, to Isle of Wight Festival headliner Joe Chilcott, and former Stars in Their Eyes Kids competitor Hannah Meredith.
You can train and improve your voice with singing lessons at a local studio to get ready for the stage. Or, if instruments are more your thing, you can easily get booked in for music lessons to improve your ability on the drums, piano, or guitar.
Busking in Southampton
Busking is another great way to improve your confidence as an artist. If you’re more comfortable busking than performing up on a stage, Southampton city centre offers some optimal locations to perform on the streets.
Southampton city council state that you don’t need to seek authorisation before you busk in the city, as long as you stick to the three street entertainment points. These are:
- The north-east corner of the precinct
- The east side of the precinct, opposite the entrance to West Quay
- The southern end of the precinct towards the centre
The council ask that you keep noise levels to a reasonable volume and don’t use amplifiers while performing.
Southampton music promoters
To guarantee your place at the most popular venues, you might be looking for a music promoter. There are dozens of successful and reliable music promoters in and around Southampton who can be found on a local online directory.
Southampton-based music promoter Ricky Bates (who handles bookings at The Joiners) suggests self-promotion can also help bag you a gig.
He advises to get yourself to as many venues as possible to make yourself a familiar face to all the local venues. You can read all Ricky Bates’ tips for gigging in Southampton here.
Southampton music events
Music is at the very heart of Southampton and the locals embrace all forms of musical talent. It’s not hard to get involved in the local music scene, as the city even has an annual event dedicated to music in the community. Music In The City Southampton has been running for 11 years and celebrates all types of musical talent from the Solent area.
Music In The City recruits local musicians from all genres to perform in the free event. The weekend-long celebration takes place across 22 venues in Southampton – from the town’s historic 800-year-old buildings to coffee houses – and features over 1000 musicians.
The event was set up by the former Mayor of Southampton to recognise the musical talent in Southampton. The premise of the celebration was “the community making music for the community,” and exonerates Southampton’s passion for music.
Southampton Festivals
When it comes to festivals, Glastonbury and Download might spring to mind. But the South Coast has plenty to offer to avid festival-goers too. Southampton has its own array of festivals in and around the city. Here are some of the city’s regular festivals:
Docklands Festival
Docklands Festival takes advantage of Southampton’s stunning green spaces and hosts a 2-day-long event in Hoglands Park, just behind the city centre.
The festival started in 2019 and is the flagship event run from Dirty Box Promotions. The highly anticipated festival saw over 10,000 festivalgoers party in the park in its first year.
Docklands Festival brings some of the world’s biggest DJs and brands right to the centre of Southampton. The sensational pop band, Haim, headlined last year.
Let’s Rock Southampton
Set to return for its fourth year running, Let’s Rock Southampton is one of the city’s best-loved festivals.
The retro festival is crammed with 80’s music and is a family-friendly event that takes over Southampton Common every summer. Normally happening in July each year, this year’s festival has been rescheduled for the 10th July 2021 with 80’s music legends such as OMD, ABC and Wet Wet Wet on the line-up.
The festival is hugely popular, and some ticket tiers are already sold out!
Southampton Fake Fest
The Fake Festival tours to lots of different locations throughout the year, but its 24-hour session in Southampton’s Mayflower Park always proves one of the tour’s most popular destinations.
Southampton’s Fake Fest sold out in no time last year and returns with an explosive line up every summertime.
Professional tribute acts that could easily be mistaken for the real thing take to the stage in the city’s waterside park and create a unique festival experience.
Southampton recording studios
Exploring Southampton’s live music scene is guaranteed to re-enforce your passion to get into music. You’ll be raring to record and produce your own music and tracks and you’ll naturally want to find the best place to do so.
River Studios has seen the likes of Birdy and Paloma Faith record in their studios in Southampton. Kelly-Marie Smith, a chart-topping-vocalist who’s featured on tracks by the Shapeshifters, has also used the studios to record new dance tracks with Mark Hill, the former producer/songwriter for Craig David.
River Studios has musical ties to Southampton Football club, who used the studio to record a charity track. If you’re looking to get some official music produced, you can book a recording studio in Southampton to take advantage of state-of-the-art equipment and be assisted by experienced producers.
Free music in Southampton
The Southampton music scene is accessible for everyone, including those from underprivileged areas or low-income households. The city has several free learning programmes and development programmes available to aspiring artists. A couple of the best for young adults include:
Southampton Youth Inclusion Music Network (SYIMN)
River Studios run a Youth Music Initiative called Free Learning Thursday. The initiative provides access to free learning for underprivileged artists and musicians in the Southampton area and expands on the studios’ current work to actively engage with young adults in the local community.
The Youth Music initiative runs every Thursday from 12 – 7pm and is aimed at anyone 25 and under. The programme gives the opportunity to have additional free rehearsal time, recording, plus songwriting sessions and music lessons.
Those taking part in the programme can also get the opportunity to work towards RSL gradings during their time at the studios, which is also free.
MAS Records – Artist Development Programme
MAS records support the development of young adults in the music industry. Their Artist Development programme is open to anyone aged 16 – 30 and provides free mentoring, rehearsal time, and musical development to those who are in this demographic.
Opportunities through MAS are funded by the Government Education budget, so the programme is completely free to any artists or musicians who apply.
Those who join the programme will receive an Artist development plan for the academic year, with the opportunity to work towards a B-TEC Diploma and potentially release a recorded single.
The MAS Records Artist Development programme is available at studios in Southampton, where you can easily apply to join the programme online.
Related Questions
- What is a grassroots venue?
Grassroots venues are small, independent venues that dedicate themselves to music. They act as a music beacon for the local community and celebrate local talent by programming local artists and bands to perform on their stage.
- Am I allowed to collect money for busking in Southampton?
Southampton City Council allows buskers to collect money for their performances. Buskers don’t need to get official authorisation to put out some form of collection box while they perform, as long as any money they collect forms part of their income.
If you’re raising money for a charity by busking in Southampton, then you’ll need to seek approval from the council first.
The council state that buskers are not permitted to sell any of their merchandise when performing on Southampton Above Bar Street.
- Is Talking Heads Southampton still open?
Sadly, the Talking Heads in Southampton permanently closed in 2018. It was an iconic venue in the city where lots of local musicians recall starting their careers. But the Talking Heads spirit lives on at The 1865 in Southampton, where the former Talking Heads team now work.