Southampton Forward presents

TAPESTRY

A festival of world-class music and culture in Southampton

Westquay, Southampton

Saturday 19th July & Sunday 20th July

*Alice Zawadzki * Goblin Band * Kathryn Tickell* Muireann Bradley *

*Sam Lee * Seckou Keita *Soumik Datta*

With iconic festivals WOMAD, Africa Oye and Cambridge Folk Festival sadly on pause this year, a brand-new event goes some way to filling the gap in the UK summer festival calendar. Tapestry is a free festival that takes place on the south coast at Westquay in Southampton against the backdrop of the city’s medieval walls. Taking place on Saturday 19^th and Sunday 20^th July, its diverse lineup showcases music drawn from around the globe, reflecting the city’s rich and dynamic cultural landscape. Tapestry promises to be one of the most exciting events of the summer, bringing together a dynamic lineup of eight world-class, critically acclaimed musicians to perform in the heart of the city.

Tapestry forms part of Southampton’s city-wide celebration of the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen, one of the world’s most beloved writers. Living in Southampton in the early 1800s, Austen had a passion for folk music, though the sounds she heard then were far different from what fills the city’s music venues now. Tapestry is giving this celebration a contemporary twist and playfully asks the question, what kind of music might she be enjoying today?

From the sensational, rousing ‘queer folk’ music of the Goblin Band to the Northumbrian pipes of Kathryn Tickell; to the boundary-pushing sounds of Indian sarod virtuoso Soumik Datta and the spellbinding, wistful songs of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Alice Zawadzki, Austen would surely be entranced by it all.  Tapestry presents a stunning range of talent, from leading figures to rising stars. From the celebrated, distinctive voice of Sam Lee, one of folk’s most renowned musicians, to the emerging brilliance of Irish guitarist Muireann Bradley whose country blues fingerpicking is capturing widespread attention. But what marks Tapestry a unique event are its exclusive performances and original music created specifically for the occasion, some of which will honour Jane Austen. Highlights include a special collaboration from master kora player, Seckou Keita, a luminary among the newest generation of African traditional musicians.

Whether you’re into folk, Indian classical music or African rhythms, Tapestry offers a spectacular array of world-class performances that reflect Southampton’s diverse, creative and vibrant cultural tapestry. Hosted by Radio 3’s Music Planet presenter Lopa Kothari, this is an event that will leave you with unforgettable memories.

As the lead sponsor, Westquay is proud to host Tapestry on The Esplanade, supporting an event that brings communities together through the power of music. Andy Jackson, Destination Director at Westquay, said: “Westquay is at the heart of Southampton, and we’re delighted to support an event that celebrates the city’s diversity, creativity, and cultural heritage. TAPESTRY is a fantastic opportunity for people to come together and enjoy incredible music — all for free.”

TAPESTRY LINE-UP

Saturday 19 July

• Alice Zawadzki is a singer, violinist, composer, and songwriter whose unique sound explores her Polish heritage and draws upon her early exposure to New Orleans jazz and gospel with the legendary Lillian Boutté. She inhabits her own stylistic realm which encompasses Mediterranean folk song, chamber music, improvisation, and the world of acoustic jazz. For this special event she will perform with bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado with whom she released an album Za Górami on ECM Records.

• Soumik Datta is one of the great sarod players of his generation. Described as a deeper version of the sitar, the sarod is prominent in Hindustani music. He’s worked with Nitin Sawhney and Anoushka Shankar and guested with musicians as diverse as Beyonce, Jay-Z and Bill Bailey, as well as creating film scores and working with leading choreographers including Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. His work as a composer and instrumentalist won him the Aga Khan Music Award and an Honorary Fellowship from Trinity Laban. At Tapestry, Soumik unveils new music exploring migration, identity and belonging.
  
• Sam Lee is a Mercury prize-nominated folk singer, writer, conservationist, song collector, broadcaster and activist who is one of the most prominent names on the UK folk scene.  Revered for preserving and modernising traditional folk songs, Lee performs tracks from his acclaimed 2024 album Songdreaming, showcasing his rich and emotive voice across acoustic songs and atmospheric drone soundscapes inspired by his deep connection to nature and environmental themes.
  
• Plus: performances from musicians representing Southampton’s vibrant music scene – to be announced
  
• Plus: Special Guests to be announced

Sunday 20 July

• Muireann Bradley is a young blues guitarist and singer from County Donegal, who specialises in acoustic fingerpicking country and ragtime blues. A remarkable talent, she recorded her debut album I Kept These Old Blues at the age of fifteen, to huge critical acclaim, selling out globally garnering her a loyal following and a major label record deal. Her personal interpretations of classic songs from the genre have wowed audiences on several TV appearances, including Jools Holland’s Hootenanny while legends such as Joe Bonamassa have joined her fan club – a must-see rising star.
  
• Goblin Band is a collection of young queer musicians whose rousing performances draw inspiration from medieval, early music, and British folk traditions. Alongside Broadside Hacks and Shovel Dance Collective, they are part of the flourishing new folk movement delivering a charismatic alternative expression of English traditional culture. Through impressive vocal harmonies, fiddle, squeezebox, hurdy-gurdy, and recorders, expect a joyfully irreverent performance from this unmissable ensemble.

• Seckou Keita is a renowned Senegalese kora virtuoso whose innovative approach and exceptional skill consistently push boundaries, masterfully blending tradition with a modern global flair. He has been part of several notable partnerships including Damon Albarn, harpist Catrin Finch and legendary American pianist Omar Sosa. His latest project Homeland has seen him tour internationally with an all-star lineup of Senegalese musicians in a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation.  Dubbed as “the Hendrix of the kora”, he will create a special new collaboration for Tapestry with Davide Mantovani (bass), Ansumana Susso (guitar) and Seydou Keinou (percussion).
  
• Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening are a stellar group of musicians led by the foremost exponent of the Northumbrian pipes whose music is deeply rooted in the landscape and people of Northumbria. Last year she composed a poignant lament to mark the one-year anniversary of the felling of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree. Her most recent album Return to Kielderside marks 40 years since her debut release and is a gentle return to a more traditional sound. Here, she performs with her band The Darkening, named after the Northumbrian word for twilight.

• Lopa Kothari co-hosts BBC Radio 3’s Music Planet, a weekly world music programme that delivers an eclectic mix of sounds from around the world. She is also a journalist and curator for festivals and has chaired various discussion panels at music festivals and conferences. Lopa regularly hosts the main stage at the WOMAD Festival alongside music events such as Glastonbury, EFG London Jazz Festival, Latitude and more. She hosts both days at Tapestry.
  
  
• Plus: performances from musicians representing Southampton’s vibrant music scene

For more information, visit TapestryFestival.co.uk

Click HERE for Press Kits; images, press releases, music.

Tapestry takes place at Westquay in Southampton on Saturday 19^th July & Sunday 20^th July 2025. Performances are from 2pm – 8pm and entry is free and un-ticketed.

Festivalgoers can enjoy a range of food and drink options throughout the weekend, with offerings from local vendors and Westquay’s vibrant restaurant scene.

Westquay is conveniently located just a few minutes’ walk from Southampton Central train station with regular trains from London taking approximately 1hr20 mins.

Produced by Southampton Forward and sponsored by Westquay.

Programmed by David Jones, working with Southampton and IoW Music.

Supported by Arts Council England, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Southampton Forward’s city partners: Southampton City Council, University of Southampton, Solent University, GO! Southampton, Paris Smith LLP and Mayflower.

Media Partner: Songlines

Southampton Forward work in partnership across culture, festivals, events, tourism and cultural regeneration on projects rooted in creativity and community. They strive to transform Southampton through citywide and regional collaboration.

For press enquiries please contact Riotsquad Publicity:

Julie Allison 07940 597018/ Julie@riotsquadpublicity.com

Siân Williams 07769 176 669 / sian@riotsquadpublicity.com

Sponsored by

Tapestry Media Partner

Event Partner

Supported by:

Founding City Partners

Multi-Stories Returns for Its Third Year at Westquay’s Multi-Storey Car Park

The highly anticipated Multi-Stories event is set to return for its third year, transforming Westquay’s multi-storey car park into a vibrant urban street art gallery on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th May 2025. This year’s theme, ‘Connections’, celebrates not only the physical link between the different levels of artwork previously created in years one and two but also the deeper connections between people, communities, and creativity.

Building on the success of the past two years, Multi-Stories 2025 will further cement Southampton’s reputation as home to one of the most comprehensive public collections of street art in the UK, featuring permanent works from over 60 of the country’s most notable artists. 2025 will see murals spread across nine levels and visitors can expect to encounter something new and unexpected, with additional surprises yet to be announced.

Andy Jackson, Destination Director at Westquay, is delighted to see the event return in 2025: “We are thrilled to welcome Multi-Stories back for its third year at Westquay. This event has transformed our multi-storey car park into a dynamic and unexpected creative space, celebrating the incredible artistic talent within Southampton and beyond. We look forward to seeing how the theme of ‘Connections’ brings artists and communities together this year.”

The theme of ‘Connections’ will play a central role not only in the murals themselves but also in how the event is structured, promoting collaborations between international and local artists.

Rick Walker from Paintshop, the creative studio leading on curation and artist selection, said: “Our vision is to create a world-class mural gallery in Southampton, bringing in top-level artists from far and wide while also inspiring and involving the local community. This year, with the theme of ‘Connections’, we are actively encouraging artists to collaborate, reflecting the unique and collective spirit of street art.”

Beyond the striking visuals, Multi-Stories is also a catalyst for bringing people together. Claire Whitaker CBE, CEO of Southampton Forward, added: “Multi-Stories is a shining example of how public spaces can be reimagined to bring communities together through creativity. The event not only showcases incredible artistic talent but also creates lasting connections within our city.”

Engagement is at the heart of Multi-Stories, promoting creativity as accessible to all. As part of the team producing the event, creative consultant and artist Joe Ross from Good Idea Today, is leading on community workshops and emerging artist commissions. Emphasising the importance of inclusivity, she said: “From badge-making to life drawing, we want to ensure that everyone, regardless of age or experience, can take part in this celebration of street art and creativity”.

The 2025 edition of Multi-Stories will feature live mural painting from leading street artists, who will be collaborating in real-time to create large-scale murals. A dedicated community workshop area on Level 5 will provide interactive activities, including graffiti canvas painting, badge making, sticker art, chalk & tape art, and life drawing.

The ‘Design Your Own Mural’ competition will invite local schools to submit mural designs, with the winning entry recreated as a permanent mural by a professional artist during the event. Visitors can also experience the return of South Coast Makers Market, skateboarding and breakdancing displays and lessons, sets by local DJs and sample some tasty street food.

Since its inception in 2023, Multi-Stories has become one of the most significant street art initiatives in the UK, transforming the car park into an evolving permanent public art gallery. This year, artists will be encouraged to collaborate, creating murals that reflect the event’s overarching theme and the interwoven nature of art, culture, and community.

With even more to be revealed in the coming months, 2025 is set to be Multi-Stories’ most exciting year yet, cementing its place as a must-see event on Southampton’s cultural calendar.

The event will take place on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th May, 12 – 6 pm on multiple levels of the Westquay Multi-Storey Car Park. The car park will remain open to vehicles as usual.

Women still face workplace challenges, says Sholing pub landlady

This International Women’s Day, a landlady who runs a successful pub in Sholing says women still face challenges, not least of which is the gender pay gap, and that we should all get behind the theme of #AccelerateAction.

Jackie Murray, who runs the Robin Hood pub on South East Road, has been in managerial positions since the age of 19 and says during that time she has faced several obstacles.

“I’ve worked in retail for over 20 years and for most of that time I was doing the same job as my male counterpart, but he would always be on a higher salary,” she said.

Jackie relocated to Southampton just over two years ago, when she took over the Robin Hood. “I’ve never looked back,” she said.

However, she acknowledges that the work-life balance often affects women to a greater extent than it does men, and that’s why she wants everyone to back this year’s International Women’s Day theme of #AccelerateAction. She has three daughters and when her youngest was diagnosed with autism she had to take a career break to get her settled in the right school.

When she took over the Robin Hood in November 2022, Jackie made some key changes that have seen the business turn around. This included bringing back music, with regular bands, DJs and karaoke nights that go down very well with the locals and bring people from further afield too.

“From when I took over to now, I’d like to think we have created a great place for all our customers to visit, even with families.” Jackie said.

That sense of community will be celebrated when later this year the Robin Hood gets its very own bespoke mural, painted by local artist Joe Ross. The pub was one of nine venues in Southampton chosen to take part in Pub Cultures – a project that explores the role of pubs in our cultural history funded by Southampton Forward. Each venue was matched with a local artist to create art inspired by the unique identity of the pub and its patrons.

“It’s really exciting to be part of this project,” said Jackie. “It’s a whole new experience for me. I think it’s great that pubs are being celebrated in this way, and it’s been so good to be able to get really involved in the selection process. We were so lucky to be matched with Joe.

“Together we decided on an outdoor mural that reflects both our history and where we are today. I can’t wait to see the final piece.”

Looking back on her career, Jackie believes that working in hospitality was one of her best moves. “This industry is probably the least biased in terms of equal opportunities for men and women, and there are more and more females moving up the ranks.

“I’d advise any woman who wants a great career in management to strongly consider hospitality. But whatever their dream job, they should just go for it.”

Solent students help tell stories from the community in landmark project

We were thrilled to see this press release on our partner Solent University’s website, highlighting their students’ fantastic contributions to our upcoming City Reflections project.

Creative students at Southampton Solent University have played a key role in capturing the stories of community legends to create City Reflections, a new-for-2025 attraction.

Produced in collaboration with Solent University, Southampton Forward, Double-Take Studios, Light Up Trails, and sponsored by Westquay, City Reflections celebrates the remarkable everyday people who make Southampton the fantastic place it is. Telling the story of community legends nominated by members of the public through a stunning light projection and soundscape, City Reflections recruited the support of a talented cohort of Solent students to bring the project to life.

Third-year BA (Hons) Film and Television student, Natalie Madziyire, says:

“I really enjoyed working on the City Reflections project as it allowed me to gain more experience on what it is like to work in film, especially in a professional setting. I really appreciated meeting the community legends and collaborating with everyone on the team that allowed the project to come to life!”

11 students across several courses, including BA (Hons) Film and Television, Photography, Film Production, Television Production, Digital Music and MA Film Production, got involved in the project, with the University also opening the doors to its industry-standard facilities to enable external partners to create unique visuals for the final attraction. Course Leader Film and Television, Dr Stuart Joy, says:

“City Reflections has been a truly inspiring project to be part of. By bringing together community stories, innovative technology and student-led creative talent, we’ve not only celebrated the incredible individuals who make Southampton special but also provided our students with invaluable real-world experience. Watching our students grow as filmmakers, photographers and creative practitioners through this collaboration has been deeply rewarding.

“This project highlights the meaningful impact students can have on local community-led initiatives, showcasing their creativity and professionalism while contributing to a powerful celebration of Southampton’s identity.”

The project gave students the opportunity to gain CV-boosting practical work experience, while also instilling a sense of civic pride as they met city residents and learned more about their stories. In total, students were pivotal in the production of 50 filmed interviews and 50 high-quality portraits of community legends, which are being used to create a unique visual display for residents of all ages to enjoy.

MA Film Production student and project co-director at Solent, Luke Small, says:

“This project was really beneficial in a variety of ways, and working with a range of media-based students and external organisations like Southampton Forward to bring this project to life was fantastic.

“City Reflections really allowed me to grow my team leadership and project management skills, while giving us students the wheel with creativity. Equally, hearing and connecting with the Southampton legends was really special, and it was joyous to see how passionate they were about what they do for the community.”

On Friday 14 February, community members from every part of Southampton are invited to The Esplanade, Westquay to view City Reflections as it is unveiled in all its glory. With cutting-edge projection mapping, an immersive soundscape, and memorable light show, the free event gives everyone the opportunity to witness what is possible when people from all over the city work together in this way.

Claire Whitaker, CEO of Southampton Forward, said:

“At Southampton Forward, we are passionate about creating opportunities for emerging talent and fostering connections across our city. Working alongside Solent University and its talented students has been an absolute privilege, and their creativity and professionalism have been integral to bringing this inspiring project to life. We are incredibly proud of the role they have played in shining a spotlight on the remarkable individuals who make Southampton such a vibrant place to live, work, and visit.”

City Reflections runs Friday 14 to Sunday 23 February 2025. It is free to attend. Additionally, locations across the city will be lit up by immersive light shows, including at St Mary’s Stadium.

Corner shop catwalk: innovative exhibition celebrates Southampton’s local culture and highlights students’ creativity

An exciting new exhibition is set to be unveiled at The Spark Atrium, Solent University. The Corner Shop & Portals into Other Worlds, a multidisciplinary exhibition that brings together community, culture and creativity, will run from 2-4 December 2024.

This unique project, a collaboration between Southampton Forward, Solent University, Winchester School of Art and seven local corner shops, explores the essence of Southampton’s diverse corner shops as cultural and community hubs, operating quietly but crucially at the heart of local neighbourhoods.

Drawing inspiration from Babita Sharma’s book The Corner Shop, the project highlights these familiar spaces as vital cultural landmarks. Seven corner shops – each with its own story and loyal customer base – are brought to life through the work of students from Solent University and Winchester School of Art, who have contributed to the project by designing original fashion pieces, providing photography and documenting stories.

This free public exhibition invites the community to experience these stories and celebrate the role Southampton’s corner shops play in the city’s cultural identity.

“This project is a powerful example of how community collaboration can create new connections and celebrate our city’s diversity,” said Claire Whitaker, CEO of Southampton Forward.

“Corner shops are more than businesses; they’re meeting points, support networks and places where Southampton’s multicultural stories intersect every day. Working with students to amplify these stories through fashion, photography and creative writing has given us all a fresh appreciation for the role these shops play in our daily lives.”

At the core of the project is a student-led fashion showcase inspired by the unique role of corner shops in the community. From workwear to luxe sportswear and party attire, each look tells a story of how these local shops serve as cultural bridges. This project also includes newly designed shop signs and accessories created in partnership with Southampton’s Women’s Integration Group (WIG), celebrating the corner shop’s part in the city’s social fabric.

As Stephanie Allen, Project Producer, explains: “The Corner Shop project has been an invaluable learning experience for students across multiple disciplines, from fashion design to makeup artistry, photography and media. It’s been fantastic to see them apply their creative talents and develop new skills while engaging directly with our city’s communities. These students have shown remarkable dedication, and their work serves as a vibrant ‘love letter’ to Southampton’s corner shops.”

Alongside the student designs, the exhibition will feature a new creative writing piece by local author Susmita Bhattacharya. Drawing on oral histories collected from shopkeepers, Bhattacharya’s evocative narrative honours the resilience and diversity of Southampton’s corner shops and reflects their touchstones of shared memories and community pride.

Event Details:
Dates: 2-4 December 2024
Location: The Spark Atrium, Solent University, East Park Terrace, Southampton SO14 0YN
Time: 9.00am to 5.30pm (open to the public and free to attend)

For more information visit southamptonforward.org.uk/thecornershop

The Corner Shop and Portal into Other Worlds is the brainchild of Creative Producer Darrell Vydelingum and is supported by funding from Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.