In Common

Young Southampton band Welly were absolutely superb in their home city on Wednesday night.
Catch them as soon as you can!

Review: Welly, Papillon, Southampton - In-Common - Southampton By Darren Grayer. Young Southampton band Welly have been making quite a name or themselves since forming in 2021. Their live performances are noted for their energetic approach filled with crowd inter...

"The energetic delivery in their performance coupled with tunes that you’ll have in your head for days guarantees smiles all round."

See the full gig review of Welly at Southampton's Papillon.

www.in-common.co.uk/2025/10/16/r...

I can't claim to being a TV fan back in the day, but I was never going to turn down the chance to speak to Wendy James or review her gig at The Brook.
I have a lot of admiration for an artist who still loves what she does and appreciates those who come to watch her do it.

Review: Wendy James, The Brook, Southampton - In-Common - Southampton By Darren Grayer.  Wendy James really needs no introduction to anyone who was around at the end of the 80s. Numerous Top Of The Pops appearances with her chart-topping band, Transvision Vamp, and cove...

"Rock n roll runs through her veins"

See the full gig review of Wendy James at The Brook.

www.in-common.co.uk/2025/10/12/r...

Reader's letter: Are Reform already making promises they can’t keep? - In-Common - Southampton By a Southampton resident.  Politicians and parties not keeping their promises is hardly ground-breaking. So why should Reform be any different? Well, probably because that’s exactly what they claim t...

"One could be mistaken for thinking that leaving the ECHR is akin to cancelling a gym membership."
See our latest reader's letter: Are Reform already making promises they can’t keep?
www.in-common.co.uk/2025/10/09/r...

Experience: "I've been arrested twice for supporting pro-Palestine group" - In-Common - Southampton As told to In Common. “On September, I was once again arrested as part of the Lift the Ban campaign – organised by Defend Our Juries. My first arrest occurred last month at the August action, where ov...

"I can look back to this point and say that I didn't just stand by and watch it happen - I put my freedom and comfort on the line."

See our latest reader's experience piece: "I've been arrested twice for supporting pro-Palestine group"

www.in-common.co.uk/2025/09/17/e...

UK universities cut back on crucial research because of reduced funding One in five institutions spending less, including in areas such as cancer and heart disease, says report

Oh
www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Opinion: The immigration debate is a dead cat - In-Common - Southampton By Charlotte Ndupuechi. A Southampton hotel housing asylum seekers was under a suspected attack on Sunday, 7th September. Police are treating it as an arson attempt after a flare was thrown through a ...

"In politics, this tactic has a name: the “dead cat strategy.” It describes how a shocking or divisive topic is thrown into public debate to distract attention from deeper problems.

Right now, immigration is our dead cat."

See our latest opinion piece.

www.in-common.co.uk/2025/09/14/o...

I tried Gaza Cola & it 100% passes the taste test.
I've been wanting to try it but online it's in multipacks & I didn't want to buy loads if it wasn't good.
I'm not buying the well known cola brands so am pleased to have an ethical alternative - all profits go to rebuilding hospitals in Gaza.

My cultural awakening: a Bastille show helped me get over my crippling Covid-era anxiety I was afraid to be near people for two-and-a-half years, but then I got a chance to meet the band I loved – and the experience changed everything

I did an interview with The Guardian about how Bastille helped me pull myself out of life changing covid anxiety.
www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...

Open Letter: to Southampton's Labour MPs - is this the most anti LGBT+ government since Thatcher? - In-Common - Southampton By Andrew Godfrey-Collins. Starmer’s Labour: the most anti-LGBT+ government since Thatcher? Some questions Southampton’s Labour MPs need to answer on their government’s LGBT+ record. A year into a Lab...

As Starmer’s government rolls back progress on trans rights and panders to bigotry, I ask: is this the most anti-LGBT+ government since Thatcher? And what will @laboursatvir.bsky.social and Darren Paffey do to stand up to it?

My piece for @incommon.bsky.social

www.in-common.co.uk/2025/09/06/o...

This message from Palestinian journalist, Wael Al-Dahdouh, must echo across the world.

Wael continued to report from occupied Gaza after his wife and children were killed by Israeli forces.

Interview: Rick Witter of Shed Seven on enjoying a second bite of the cherry - In-Common - Southampton By Sally Churchward.  Rick Witter bounces into the doorway of his dressing room, his index and middle fingers held up. “Two minutes,” he mouths. As a long term Shed Seven fan, it’s the first time I’ll...

“In the 90s, we’d swan around thinking we’re the best thing ever, then it stops and you think ‘well what went wrong there?’
It’s almost like having a second bite of the cherry, really."
Full interview with Rick Witter of Shed Seven @shedsevenofficial.bsky.social
www.in-common.co.uk/2025/09/04/i...

Placeholder Poetry returns to Southampton with Elvire Roberts, Verity Spott & Christina Thatcher - In-Common - Southampton Placeholder is home for poetry readings of the avant-garde, challenging, queer and radical. Following the success of this poetry reading series in Brighton. This special format is thriving in Southamp...

Placeholder Poetry returns to Southampton with Elvire Roberts, Verity Spott & Christina Thatcher.

www.in-common.co.uk/2025/08/21/p...

Opinion: Southampton - Our City of Sanctuary  - In-Common - Southampton By Rachel Jones. Southampton is a city built on the movement of people. From the docks that launched the Titanic to the cruise liners that still connect us to the world, we have always been a place sh...

"To give in to hostility, would be to betray our own history & identity.
This is why those of us who reject hate must also reject silence."

Latest reader's opinion piece, calling for Southampton to stand up against hatred & celebrate being a City of Sanctuary.

www.in-common.co.uk/2025/08/19/s...

Victorious - what to love besides the music - In-Common - Southampton By Sally Churchward. Additional reporting: Spring Wise. Victorious is, of course, a music festival. But while the bands are obviously the big draw, there are other attractions that make it special. He...

Ahead of this year's Victorious Festival, this weekend here's a round up of what we loved (besides the bands) last year:

www.in-common.co.uk/2024/08/27/v...

Heritage: The boundaries of Southampton - In-Common - Southampton There was some recent controversy when a new design replaced the long standing ones at a reported cost of £80,000.

Heritage: The boundaries of Southampton.
www.in-common.co.uk/2025/08/16/h...

Mary Poppins is back! Interview with local cast member Darcy Finden - In-Common - Southampton By Nick Mabey. Cameron Mckintosh’s production of Mary Poppins returns to Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre on 27th August for a jam-packed thirty performances in 24 days. For Poppins aficionados (yes I’...

Mary Poppins is set to make a spectacular return to Southampton's Mayflower Theatre this month. We caught up with cast member and Southampton's own Darcy Finden, ahead of the show.

www.in-common.co.uk/2025/08/18/m...

Interview: Bartees Strange ahead of upcoming Southampton gig - In-Common - Southampton Genre spanning American artist, Bartees Strange, visits The Joiners in Southampton to showcase his latest album, Horror.

In case you missed it:
Genre spanning American artist, Bartees Strange, visits The Joiners in Southampton on Tuesday 26 August to showcase his latest album, Horror, which has received critical acclaim.

www.in-common.co.uk/2025/08/15/i...

Pride returns to Southampton - In-Common - Southampton By Mabel Wellman. Picture: Mike Daish. Southampton Pride returns to the city on 23rd and 24th August. This is another two day Pride event after the major success from last year’s first two day Southam...

In case you missed it:
Southampton's 2 day Pride event returns this weekend.

www.in-common.co.uk/2025/07/22/p...

@bastillemx.bsky.social

Review: Charlie Barnes - Aces & Eights, London - In-Common - Southampton By Sally Churchward. It was a special evening.  The last night of a three-date mini tour, that took Charlie Barnes to Bristol and Leeds before this triumphant sold out gig at London’s Aces & Eights (1...

"It was a joyful, emotional, moving and ultimately life affirming evening"
See the full gig review of Charlie Barnes with support from Ukesnaile at Aces & Eights last night.

www.in-common.co.uk/2025/08/14/r...

View from the Kingsland - Reasons to Be Cheerful (part 3) - In-Common - Southampton By Nick Mabey. Football is back…and back with a bang. If that’s not a reason to be cheerful then stop reading this article. And for those of you already searching for parts 1 and 2, they don’t exist; ...

Football is back…and back with a bang.

Find out why our Saints columnist is so cheerful and see if you agree with him in our latest View from the Kingsland column.

www.in-common.co.uk/2025/08/14/v...

Preview: Sherlock Holmes:The Hunt for Moriarty, Theatre Royal Winchester - In-Common - Southampton Sherlock Holmes fans can enjoy another mystery adventure with the fictional detective when Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty visits Theatre Royal Winchester.

Sherlock Holmes fans can enjoy another mystery adventure with the fictional detective in Winchester next month.
www.in-common.co.uk/2025/08/14/p...

Opinion: why I'm standing up for refugees in our city - In-Common - Southampton By a member of Southampton Stands Up To Racism. The first time I saw them I was a wide-eyed little boy looking up, not quite knowing how to feel, but also knowing: these people were not my friends. No...

"In the face of such explicit hatred, one is surely a mass demonstration of joy. That’s what Sunday can be, and so we ask you to join us to celebrate who we are."

See our latest reader's opinion piece: 'why I'm standing up for refugees in our city'

www.in-common.co.uk/2025/08/13/o...

Anti-racists groups invite locals to take part in counter-demonstration - In-Common - Southampton A number of local community and anti-racist groups will be coming together for a counter rally in Southampton on Sunday, August 17th. Groups including Southampton Stand Up to Racism and Southampton Ac...

Anti-racists groups invite locals to take part in counter-demonstration in Southampton on Sunday

www.in-common.co.uk/2025/08/12/a...

Southampton Ukulele Jam vs The UKe-athon – charity fundraiser smashes target - In-Common - Southampton Over the weekend (Saturday the 9th to Sunday the 10th of August 2025) Southampton Ukulele Jam (SUJ) overwhelmingly accomplished a most marvellous thing. By playing their ‘tiny toy instruments’ for 30h...

Southampton Ukulele Jam's incredible uke30 hour marathon raises more than 10 times target for 4 local charities - and counting

www.in-common.co.uk/2025/08/11/s...

The Lost Kingdom dinosaur event comes to Southampton this month - In-Common - Southampton Royal Victoria Country Park will become Jurassic Parks, as (sort of) dinosaurs roam free once more for The Lost Kingdom tour. The park will play host to prehistoric playgrounds, featuring more than 50...

Huge - in all senses - dinosaur event comes to Royal Victoria Country Park - Hampshire County Council this summer.

www.in-common.co.uk/2025/08/11/t...

Opinion: big book awards: is there a place for horror, fantasy, and sci-fi? - In-Common - Southampton By Laura McCarthy. As both a writer and a reader, I am finding the lack of recognition for big concept horror, fantasy, and science-fiction of late to be depressing. And when I mention these genres, I...

"this literary snobbery is outdated"

See our latest books column: big book awards: is there a place for horror, fantasy, and sci-fi?

www.in-common.co.uk/2025/08/02/o...

Review: Wickham Festival day 1 - storms, Judie Tzuke, Bootleg Beatles, Lindisfarne - In-Common - Southampton By Graham Hiley.   The Wickham Festival struck lucky on the opening day, escaping the worst of the weather. Although there were several heavy downpours, the bigger risk was the electrical storms acros...

The Wickham Festival struck lucky on the opening day, escaping the worst of the weather.
See the review of day 1 at the Hampshire festival.

www.in-common.co.uk/2025/08/01/r...