Southampton Summer Sessions

About

Southampton’s bustling Guildhall Square is well known as the Cultural Quarter of the City.

Proud to be the hub of live music venues, museums, galleries, bars, cafes, and restaurants, this part of Southampton has developed immensely over the years to become a vibrant and arts enriched space.

2024 will see the square transformed into a buzzing live music hub welcoming artists from across the globe to form the highly anticipated TK Maxx Presents Southampton Summer Sessions.

Tom Jones, Saturday 15th June

For over six decades he has penned timeless classics including “It’s Not Unusual”, “She’s A Lady” and “Sexbomb”, selling more than 100 million records and continuing as an esteemed and influential figure in the music industry. 

Sir Tom’s career has been filled with numerous honours and accolades, including a deeply cherished knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2006, multiple BRIT Awards, a Silver Clef Award, the Music Industry Trusts Award and a Hitmaker Award.

He has cemented his place in music history as one of the most successful artists of all time, traversing musical eras and genres, and appealing to all genders and ages.

Madness, Sunday 16th June

The quintessential British band, rooted in ska with a pop flair, has been a fixture in the UK music scene since the late 1970s.

Known for humorous lyrical storytelling and blending ska rhythms with catchy melodies, they've carved a unique niche in the music world. Hits like "Our House" and "Baggy Trousers" are synonymous with their quirky and upbeat style and have cemented their status as one of the UK’s most beloved bands, with a legacy that continues to delight fans of all ages.

Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Sunday 23rd June

Nile Rodgers is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee and a multiple Grammy Award winning songwriter, composer, producer, arranger, and guitarist.

As the co-founder of CHIC, Rodgers pioneered a musical language that generated chart-topping hits like "Le Freak”, the biggest selling single in the history of Atlantic Records, and sparked the advent of hip-hop with "Good Times."

His work in the CHIC Organization including “We Are Family” with Sister Sledge and “I’m Coming Out” with Diana Ross and his productions for artists like David Bowie (“Let’s Dance”), Madonna (“Like A Virgin”) and Duran Duran (“The Reflex”) have sold over 500 million albums and 100 million singles worldwide while his innovative, trendsetting collaborations with Daft Punk (“Get Lucky”), Daddy Yankee (“Agua”), and Beyoncé (“Cuff It”) reflect the vanguard of contemporary hits.

Supported by:

Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Deco

Placebo, Wednesday 26th June

During the course of three decades, eight albums and more than 14million album sales, Placebo have maintained an experimental edge to their sound – with 2022 album Never Let Me Go hailed as a ‘gob-smackingly urgent long-player’.

Channelling Molko and Olsdal’s skills as songwriters and sound-makers, Never Let Me Go satisfies the near-brutal appetite for self-expression which has been a trademark since early singles Pure Morning, Nancy Boy, and Without You I’m Nothing, alongside a furious relevance for today’s listeners.

The multi-platinum selling band continue to mix alt-rock with goth and electronica, to create a signature sound which draws in a cult following around the world.

Supported by:

Friedberg

Female alt-pop-rock four-piece Friedberg, were formed in London in 2019 and are fronted by singer-songwriter and actress Anna F. Their single Go Wild became a runaway hit when it featured on the FIFA 2020 soundtrack and BBC’s Normal People.

Air, Thursday 27th June

Two students of astrophysics and architecture walk into a bar on the moon.

This sounds like the beginning of a joke — but in the waning light of the 20th century, it really happened, leaving a serious imprint on pop culture.

On January 16th 1998, Air released Moon Safari, an album which catapulted Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel to the uppermost rung of electronic music’s ladder.

Here were two 20-somethings with just a single prior EP under their belts, yet they exuded on tape the confidence and pedigree of seasoned pros. Godin and Dunckel were blessed with the ability to intuit pop songcraft which could, and did, captivate mass media: Moon Safari contains a universe. Today, the record’s legacy is canonical, but at the time of release, its multi-million success was far from assured.

25 years on, it’s not hard to alight upon why “Moon Safari” has stood the test of time. It’s a mood you want to live inside of forever. It’s a revelation. It’s conversation pit music for a better future. In 2024, AIR perform “Moon Safari” live for the first time ever.

Paloma Faith, Friday 28th June

Paloma Faith is set to bring her distinctive blend of lavish pop and honest storytelling to Southampton’s Guildhall Square.

Known for her soul-stirring vocals and unique flair, Faith rose to fame with her 2009 debut album, ‘Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?’. 

TK Maxx presents Southampton Summer Sessions guests can anticipate hearing tracks from her fiercely personal upcoming sixth studio album 'The Glorification of Sadness’, alongside beloved favourites such as 'Only Love Can Hurt Like This' and 'Lullaby’. With her career marked by four platinum-certified albums, five Top 10 singles, BRIT and Ivor Novello Awards, fans are in for a world-class night of entertainment.

Loyle Carner, Saturday 29th June

One of the leading voices in British rap, Loyle Carner will illuminate TK Maxx presents Southampton Summer Sessions on Saturday, 29 June, with his inimitable live performance. The critically acclaimed artist has mesmerised audiences with his deeply personal storytelling and distinctive sound.

His music, a seamless blend of hip-hop rhythms with soulful undertones and introspective narratives, resonates deeply with fans across the globe, showcased in hits like "Yesterday", "Damselfly" and "Ottolenghi".

With multiple Mercury and Brits nominations, NME Awards and appearances in global brand campaigns (such as Nike, YSL, Timberland), Carner has undoubtedly had a meteoric rise to the top, culminating with his critically lauded 2022 album “hugo” charting at number 3 in the UK album chart. As a headliner, Loyle Carner is poised to deliver a heartfelt and captivating performance, making the Southampton Summer Sessions an essential event for music enthusiasts.

Kaiser Chiefs, Sunday 30th June

British indie rockers Kaiser Chiefs are renowned for their captivating live performances, armed with an extensive back-catalogue of stadium belters, an infectious energy and unmistakable presence of frontman, Ricky Wilson. Boasting an array of prestigious awards, including a BRIT Award for "Best British Group" and their debut album "Employment" having been shortlisted for a Mercury Prize, the band has firmly established themselves as a critically acclaimed music powerhouse.

With a dynamic blend of signature anthems and boasting an extensive discography, their concerts are a sonic rollercoaster, taking fans on a journey through hits like, "Ruby," "I Predict a Riot," and "Oh My God." After almost two decades in the game, Kaiser Chiefs return with a brand-new studio album titled “Kaiser Chiefs’ Easy Eighth Album”, out March 1st 2024.

Supported by:

Royel Otis