Some of the biggest names in music are coming to Southampton in 2025 and there are exciting gigs across all of the city’s venues.

Summer Sessions in Guildhall Square returns in June with headliners Rag’n’Bone Man, The Stranglers, UB40, McFly, The Human League, Train and Simple Minds.

And before that at the O2 Guildhall, You Me at Six and The Lathums appear in March and Hampshire’s Frank Turner, former Bros singer Matt Goss and psychedelic rockers Primal Scream play in April.

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Fresh from touring with Shed Seven and Keane, The Sherlocks will bring electrifying hits and new music to The Engine Rooms in May. Band members Kiaran and Brandon Crook, Alex Procter and Trent Jackson also release their new album Everything Must Make Sense! featuring singles Man on the Loose and Death of Me in February.

The Engine Rooms also sees April sets from the one and only Chesney Hawkes and storyteller-songwriter Louis Dunford, who is known for penning The Angel, a song which has become a pre-match anthem for Arsenal fans.

In March, the West Quay Road venue also hosts indie rockers Doves, plus lively six-piece Red Rum Club, whose 2024 album Western Approaches gave them a top eight chart position.

(Image: Rhona Murphy) The Joiners will continue to bring the best new music with US songwriter Rylen Walker and Southampton’s Auden and Myriad headlining in January, Sharp Class in February, The Celtic Social Club in March and Apollo Junction, October Drift, Spyres and Better Joy in April.

Independent music week in February sees rising stars The Lilacs top the bill at The Brook with support from local musician Harvey Jay Dodgson, while Sunderland’s Tom A Smith and Nottingham trio Girl Band headline at The Joiners and Avalanche Party are at Heartbreakers.

Heartbreakers also present Interlaker in April, and four-piece Stanleys in May, while The 1865 sees a return of Liverpool indie stars Circa Waves in February, Big Country in April, and trio Cassia in May.

(Image: Tom McKenzie) Southampton multi-venue festival Wanderlust returns in May.

In August, Victorious Festival has headliners Kings of Leon, Vampire Weekend, Queens of the Stone Age, plus Madness, Shed Seven, Reytons, Gabrielle, Wunderhorse, The Charlatans, The K’s, Ash and Southampton’s Caity Baiser.

(Image: Promo pic)