It was the year that saw Southampton acts headline local stages and some of the most exciting bands visit the city.

Summer sessions made its debut in Guildhall Square, with Kaiser Chiefs, Tom Jones, Nile Rogers and Madness performing in June, while Take That wowed at two sold-out nights at St Mary’s stadium.

It was a time for heroes at The Engine Rooms in February when The Libertines, fronted by Pete Doherty and Hampshire-born Carl Barat, returned to Southampton for the first time in 21 years.

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Meanwhile, indie stars The Vaccines ignited the O2 Guildhall with Southampton-born frontman Justin Young telling fans “the more times we play here, the luckier we feel”.

The Guildhall also saw performances from Editors, Orbital, Bombay Bicycle Club and a huge home gig for Southampton’s rising star Caity Baser.

30 years after they hosted Oasis, The Joiners presented Galway band The Clockworks, Leeds’ Apollo Junction, Manchester’s Rosellas and Covasettes, Londoner Louis Dunford and The Luka State.

The biggest Victorious Festival yet saw headliners Fat Boy Slim, Biffy Clyro, Snow Patrol and Jamie T playing alongside Courteeners, Louis Tomlinson, Busted, Becky Hill and Hampshire rising stars Crystal Tides and Harvey Jay Dodgson.

(Image: Richard Derbyshire) In August, the Northam fan zone at St Mary’s became Southampton’s newest music stage with local artists including Calum Lintott, David Littteton, Davey Jones Locker, Hattie Jacques Playlist, Adam Ede and The Moonrakers performing for hundreds of football fans.

The Engine Rooms saw sets from Red Rum Club, Embrace, Pet Needs, Cast, The Zutons, Miles Kane, The Royston Club and Circa Waves, plus another fun Barrioke with Eastenders’ Shaun Williamson.

In February, The Brook hosted new music with Liverpool’s The Kairos, Manchester’s Dirty Blondes and Southampton’s Dead Freights supporting Birmingham headliners The Clause, who also played The Engine Rooms in November.

(Image: Simon Ward) The Lilacs from Wigan, The Manatees and Small Talk all played Heartbreakers, while Earlestown four-piece The K’s and Liverpool legends The Lightning Seeds both headlined at The 1865.

Suede guitarist Bernard Butler, Tom Walker and Southampton’s Band of Skulls played Papillion.