Nile Rodgers and Chic wowed fans in Southampton as the band were the latest big name to perform in Guildhall Square as part of June’s Summer Sessions.

Arriving in Southampton on the latest leg of the band’s European tour – which has already seen Nile Rodgers and Chic take to the stage in London, Edinburgh, and Madrid – the American disco band performed an array of classic hits.

Good Times, Le Freak, and Everybody Dance all got the Southampton crowd boogieing, as Rodgers conducted Chic through one crowd pleasing song to another.

READ MORE: Sir Tom Jones opens Southampton Summer Sessions festival

As if that wasn’t enough, the New York native also showcased a range of tunes he’s previously written and produced for the likes of David Bowie, Madonna, and Duran Duran – including Let’s Dance, Material Girl, and Notorious.

A six-time Grammy Award winner and recipient of the 2023 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Rodgers both sang and played guitar for the duration of the non-stop 90-minute setlist, whilst taking time to interact with the thousands in attendance, who he referred to as “family.”

Accompanied by Ralph Rolle on drums and the lead vocals of Kimberly Davis and Audrey Martells, Nile Rodgers and Chic once again proved to be one of the best live acts around with the enthused Southampton audience showing their appreciation throughout a baking evening in the city centre.

Murder on the Dancefloor singer-songwriter, Sophie Ellis-Bextor supported the headliners with an energetic setlist that included her hit song that’s seen a revival in pop culture in recent months after it appeared at the end Emerald Fennell’s thriller, Saltburn, which released on streaming at the end of last year.

Ellis-Bextor was the second support act of the evening – following Deco – proving to be the perfect warm-up act (which in itself sounds unfair as she’s a big enough name in her own right to headline the event) performing Can’t Fight This Feeling and Get Over You from her notable discography.

She also had the majority of those in attendance jumping up and down to a masterful cover of Abba’s hit record – Gimme, Gimme, Gimme.

Having followed Tom Jones and Madness, Nile Rodgers and Chic left a lasting memory at Southampton’s Summer Sessions that this week will see Placebo, Air, and Paloma Faith take to the stage before the Kaiser Chiefs conclude the three-week long music event in the city’s cultural quarter.