Thousands of music lovers partied in Southampton this weekend as The Stranglers and UB40 featuring Ali Campbell took to the stage as part of Summer Sessions.

The Stranglers and Buzzcocks, two of the UK’s longest-surviving groups from the 1970s punk era, took to the stage in Southampton on Saturday night for high-energy, hit-filled sets outside the O2 Guildhall.

Fronted by original bassist JJ Burnel and long-time guitarist Baz Warne, The Stranglers were met with a roar from the crowd as they tore through hit after hit, including Duchess, Always the Sun and Peaches.

During the performance, JJ Burnel dedicated Go Buddy Go to the late Beach Boys member Brian Wilson, who died earlier this week.

After almost an hour and a half on stage, the audience was treated to the classic No More Heroes, a hit for the band from 1977.

The Stranglers performing at Southampton Summer Sessions (Image: Cuffe & Taylor) The Stranglers celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2024 and during the show, the band acknowledged they had performed in Southampton many times before.

Supporting on the night were punk icons Buzzocks, who filled their 45-minute set with fast paced, high-energy tracks from throughout their career.

READ MORE: Rag 'n' Bone Man opens Southampton Summer Sessions

Ever Fallen in Love, the band’s biggest hit, was a favourite, though fans warmed to the classics such as Why Can’t I Touch It, Harmony In My Head and the show opener, What Do I Get.

They also performed songs from their most recent studio album Sonics In The Soul.

Buzzcocks performing at Southampton Summer Sessions (Image: Cuffe & Taylor) Since the death of vocalist Pete Shelley in 2018, Buzzcocks have been fronted by Steve Diggle, the guitarist who joined in 1977, only a year after the group’s formation.

UB40 featuring Ali Campbell brought the party to Southampton as the city hosted Summer Sessions for a third consecutive evening on Sunday to close the weekend.

Following on from Rag ‘n’ Bone Man and The Stranglers, Ali Campbell led on vocals as thousands crammed into Guildhall Square to hear UB40’s timeless hits.

A founding member of UB40, Campbell quit the band in 2008 before launching his own band in 2014 that continues to use the UB40 name.

It’s a unique story within the music industry as the original UB40 band continue to release their own songs and tour the globe, with the two groups in competition not only to be more successful than the other, but to also provide the most authentic UB40 experience.

UB40 featuring Ali Campbell performing at Southampton Summer Sessions (Image: Peter Nicholson) History lessons aside, UB40 featuring Ali Campbell proved to be a huge hit in Southampton, with fans singing and swaying along to the likes of Red Red Wine, Kingston Town and I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You.

Anticipation filled the air in Southampton as spectators eagerly awaited the band to make their entrance onto the stage, before a 90-minute singalong ensued. 

A diverse audience of all ages were left captivated by the band, who have more than 40 years’ worth of songs to choose from, with UB40 comfortably one of the UK’s most successful reggae bands, in no small part to Ali Campbell’s distinctive vocal pattern.

Support act Bitty McLean joined Campbell on stage for two songs before the band saved UB40’s most memorable hits for a final encore – Red Red Wine and Kingston Town – with many fans reluctant to leave Guildhall Square when the headliners departed shortly before 10.30pm, capping off a great weekend of live music.

Southampton’s very own Craig David and McFly will headline Summer Sessions next week, before The Human League, Ocean Colour Scene, Train, and Simple Minds complete the annual music festival later in the month.