Wrapping up another fantastic Summer Festival!
This year saw sold out shows, exciting new bands and heaps of family fun, in another sunny weekend packed with live music.
We’re still buzzing from this year’s annual Summer Festival (12 – 14 June). We welcomed over 2000 people, of all ages, for a joyful weekend of live music and family-friendly activities across the University of Southampton’s Highfield Campus.
We kicked off on Friday evening with an incredible performance from the Jess Gillam Trio – and a house so full, we’re not sure we could have squeezed even one more seat in! A vibrant, sunny Saturday afternoon followed with The Vibe Sessions. Curated by our Assistant Producers, it featured a rolling programme of folk, bluegrass, jazz and singer-songwriters, showcasing the considerable talents of young, emerging bands. Between sets, audiences could shop for vinyl with a stall from Boo Hoo Records or find their favourite new outfit out in the gardens with Skate Date Vintage and PrelovedReloved. The evening saw another packed house for the brilliant John Martyn Project – a perfect, harmony-filled close to day two.
Sunday’s Summer Family Day filled our building and gardens with babies and children – and their families – for a wonderful day of craft with our friends from the John Hansard Gallery, events and music-making workshops. From a light-filled, sensory show for our smallest audiences with Wonder Gigs, to laughter and fun on Young MacDonald‘s chaotic farm with David Gibb, to learning all about recycling with the cheeky Bin Rat, it was thrilling to see so many people of all ages enjoying the fun!
The festival closed with a performance from the Southampton University Symphony Orchestra, who presented a stunning programme of Bernstein, Liszt, Coates and the premiere of Tezni Williams’ ‘An Orchestras’ Journey’.
Everyone at Turner Sims extends a big thank you to our brilliant Assistant Producers, volunteer ushers, team and crew for making it all happen. If you were there, we hope you had a fantastic experience!
There’s so much more in store at Turner Sims this year. Check out our exciting new season of classical, jazz, film, folk, global and family events here
