From trailblazing saxophonist Jess Gillam to six-piece folk band The John Martyn Project, from emerging local bands to an evening with Southampton University Symphony Orchestra (SUSO), we are ready to light up your summer with a special weekend of incredible music from Friday 12 – Sunday 14 June. And don’t forget our brilliant Summer Family Day, packed with events, activities and crafts for audiences of all ages!

As festival time draws near, we talked to Head of Programming, Polly Eldridge and Head of Programming (Engagement & Participation), Jessica Santer.

Our folk weekend was a celebration of music and dance rooted in folklore, landscape and tradition. Visitors enjoyed vibrant live music and activities for all ages.

Audiences enjoyed performances from some of the most original and innovative folk musicians from England and Scotland, such as Malin Lewis, Lisa Knapp and The Furrow Collective, alongside opportunities for all generations to sing, play and dance. We were transported through stories rooted in nature and myth by October Books, encouraged to embrace the chaos of ceilidh dancing by the University of Southampton Folk Society, welcomed into the lively tradition of Step dancing by FolkActive, and enjoyed Maypole madness with FolkDance Remixed.

The Turner Sims team extend a huge thank you to all contributors for bringing such energy to the weekend and making this joyful event happen!

There’s tons more incredible live music events for all ages in store this year. Find out more here.

Check out some of the photos from our Folk Weekend below.

Turner Sims Assistant Producers are young creatives aged 18 – 25, based in Southampton. Bringing together University of Southampton students and young people across the city, Assistant Producers are part of our year-round programme to support young people into careers into the music industry and to centre Youth Voice in our programming and workforce.

For the past six months the Assistant Producers have been working closely with the teams at Turner Sims (TS) and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) to develop a very special concert.

‘BSO After Dark featuring Baby Panna’ (13 March 2026) was themed around the idea of journeys. This musical experience opened with the first half being an exploration of journeys within the self: self-discovery, aging, adventure, resilience, reflection and nostalgia. The second half explored journeys beyond our planet: a search for meaning amid the cosmos.

An immersive concert, with atmospheric lighting, allowed space for reflection and imagination. A combination of classical repertoire, film music and spoken word, this concert revisited what classical music can be, exploring how music and words, used together can create a tapestry of human experience and wonder.

Turner Sims, the University of Southampton’s music venue, today announced that Sarah Robertson will be stepping down from the role of Co-chair of the Board after eight years of service. The Board has appointed Nick Thorne as the new Co-chair, who will share the role with Sue Littlemore, effective 1 April 2026.

During her tenure, Sarah has been instrumental in guiding the organisation through significant milestones, including driving the ambition of the Transition Plan, securing a successful Arts Council England NPO renewal, and celebrating the venue’s 50th anniversary in November 2025. Her contribution has left a lasting and positive impact on Turner Sims.

Sarah Robertson said, “It has been a privilege to serve as Co‑Chair of the Turner Sims Board. Over the past years, I have witnessed extraordinary dedication, creativity and resilience across our organisation and our partners. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together – strengthening our cultural leadership, deepening our engagement with communities, and championing opportunities for children and young people in the city and region.

It is clear to me that University of Southampton understands and champions the civic role of arts and culture and that University leaders can see the difference the work of Turner Sims makes. Their continued investment in the venue and its programmes, alongside other key funders like Arts Council England, squarely shows this commitment.

The team at Turner Sims, led with passion and purpose by Louise Coysh, is talented, strengthened and determined to bring the best musical experiences to the widest audiences.

As I step down, I do so with complete confidence in the direction of travel and with gratitude for the inspiring colleagues and collaborators who have made this journey so meaningful and joyful.”

The Board expressed its gratitude for Sarah’s dedicated service, commitment, and long-standing contribution to the organisation’s strategic direction.

Sue Littlemore, Co-chair, said, “On behalf of the Board, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Sarah for her outstanding leadership, unwavering commitment, and generosity of spirit. Her vision has helped shape our strategic direction and supported the organisation through a period of growth and renewal. We are delighted to welcome Nick as our new Co-chair. His experience, insight, and passion for cultural transformation will be invaluable as we continue to build on the strong foundations Sarah has helped put in place.”

From April, board member Nick Thorne, CEO of Orchestras for All, steps up as Co-chair. Nick brings extensive experience in the music sector, having served in key leadership roles.

Nick Thorne said, “I’m delighted to be taking on the role of Co-chair of Turner Sims. As a proud music alum of the University of Southampton, I’ve had a relationship with Turner Sims for 20 years – as a musician, as president of the university wind orchestra, in my professional work in the music industry, and of course as an audience member!

I look forward to working closely with the team and the Strategic Board to build on the strong foundations Sarah Robertson has brilliantly laid, enabling wider audiences and musicians to access this wonderful venue and programmes that have a positive impact in Southampton and across the wider region.”

Ever wanted to put on your own music event? Aiming for a career in the music industry?

Join us at Turner Sims – the University of Southampton’s music venue – for a series of free practical workshops introducing careers and skills in live music venues. Learn from industry professionals about how gigs are booked, how live events are run, concerts promoted, and get hands on experience in technical production.

Workshops are booked individually so you can mix and match the ones that interest you. If you take part in at least one workshop you will have the opportunity to apply for a paid role supporting events at Turner Sims.

As part of our Turner Sims School Concert Programme, we were thrilled to bring the extraordinary Aurora Orchestra directly to Springwell School, a primary special school for children with complex learning difficulties in Thornhill, Southampton. 

Each year we welcome children from over 30 schools to Turner Sims, an exciting highlight for many pupils. But for schools like Springwell, bringing children out on visits isn’t always possible. So instead, we brought the music to them. 

Aurora performed three concerts of Mahler and the Mountain Adventure across the day, an imaginative, interactive experience inspired by the music of Gustav Mahler. This was a concert full of sound, movement, responsiveness and shared exploration. Musicians worked flexibly with each group, adapting in the moment, responding to individual reactions and building genuine musical interactions with pupils. 

Springwell also invited children from their satellite class at Weston Park Primary School to attend. These pupils have learning difficulties that mean they require specialist teaching support, but they are able to access trips and shared experiences like this. Bringing both communities together through live music made the day even more powerful. 

The feedback from Springwell spoke volumes: 

“I want to pass on a huge thank you to all of you and the Aurora team for making yesterday such a success for our pupils. There has been a buzz all day around school about the sessions and the impact that they had on the children who attended. Seeing the children engage and interact with both the team and the music they were creating was very special to see. We have never had people into school who have built interactions with pupils in the way that the Aurora team did yesterday, and so that is a testament to their understanding of SEND, flexibility and responsiveness.” – Harriet Rowland, Assistant Headteacher 

Aurora Orchestra will return to Springwell three more times in the spring and summer terms to deliver follow-on workshops and training with both pupils and staff. This longer-term approach means the impact goes far beyond a single day, building confidence, musical understanding and creative skills over time. 

The project is delivered in partnership with Southampton and Isle of Wight Music and supported by funding from Orchestras Live. 

For us at Turner Sims, we believe that live music should be for everyone, not only those who can travel to a music venue. Projects like this remove barriers, meeting children where they are. They respect different ways of communicating, responding and experiencing the world, showing that world-class musicianship can thrive in classrooms, halls and shared spaces just as powerfully as it does on a concert stage. 

At Turner Sims, we know that stories don’t just live on the page. They live in sound, imagination and shared experience. That’s why this year, three of our family performances are inspired by beloved children’s books, bringing words, pictures and music together in magical new ways.

We’re delighted to be launching a new partnership with October Books, our much-loved neighbourhood bookshop, who will be selling children’s books at each of these event, with families able to enjoy the show and take the story home.

You get BSO After Dark, a one-night-only immersive concert designed to hit differently, with mixtape energy, late-night thoughts, and music that takes you somewhere else entirely.

Enjoy an evening built around the idea of journeys, not just across galaxies and imaginary worlds, but inward too. An ensemble from Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will perform music you might recognise from film and contemporary classical artists, including Hans Zimmer, Max Richter, Arvo Pärt, and ‘Bundle of Joy’ from ‘Inside Out’.

Turner Sims Summer Festival is a vibrant weekend celebrating music across genres.

Set in the beautiful surroundings of Highfield Campus, the festival showcases performances across a range of music styles, creating a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere for music lovers of all kinds.

We’re inviting applications from University of Southampton students – solo artist, duo, or group – to perform on our nationally renowned stage on Saturday 13 June 1- 3pm (30 minute set each).

We welcome applications from a diverse mix of genres and particularly jazz, folk, soul, classical, and singer-songwriter.

As the University of Southampton’s concert venue, Turner Sims is unique in the region: we are a vibrant, community-focused creative hub, a performance venue presenting world-class artists and performers, and an inclusive, stimulating space for students and young people to explore their creative potential and understanding.