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