Today, psychedelic garage rock singer-songwriter Du Blonde and DJ and broadcaster Katie Owen have joined the line-up for summer concert series TK Maxx presents Southampton Summer Sessions 2026.
Supporting punk-rock powerhouses Garbage & Skunk Anansie at their very special co-headline show on 23 June 2026, swaggering, heart-on-sleeve rock musician Du Blonde first began writing and performing music whilst still in their teens. Since then, they have worked with the likes of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Shirely Manson, Ezra Furman and Andy Bell.
Their most recent record Sniff More Gritty was released in 2024. Sprinkling their typical heavy sound with elements of punk, blues, garage rock and soul, and featuring brutally confessional songwriting, Du Blonde has cultivated a dynamic approach to music-making that is fearlessly brave and breath-takingly honest in its portrayal of everything from heartbreak to mental illness.
Joining global music icon Billy Ocean and very special guest Marti Pellow, renowned DJ, broadcaster and radio host Katie Owen will get the party started ahead of a stellar night of live music in Guildhall Square on 21 June 2026.
Hailing from South Wales and now one of the most in-demand DJs in the UK, Katie Owen fuses modern sounds with an abunnace of retro influences from disco to rock, grunge and pop and has previously supported globally renowned artists including Kasabian.
Set in the heart of one of the UK’s most dynamic cities, Southampton Summer Sessions will transform the iconic Guildhall Square into a hub for unmissable live music over three highly-anticipated weeks.
A beloved fixture in the cultural calendar, 2026 sees the third iteration of the successful annual event and will bring 10 nights of world-class music with something for everyone: from lovers of vintage surf rock to dance-driven Ibiza anthem enthusiasts, pop-punk fans, alternative rock aficionados and beyond.
Alongside Billy Ocean and Skunk Anansie & Garbage, this year’s event will feature headline performances from Paul Weller, The Beach Boys, Pete Tong, Orchestral Manouevres In The Dark, Alex James’ Britpop Classical, Bowling For Soup & Frank Turner, Deacon Blue and Amy Macdonald.
Speaking about his excitement at bringing world-class artists to Southampton, Cuffe & Taylor promoter Mark Harrison said:
“We’re so proud to share the final line-up for this year’s Southampton Summer Sessions, packed with huge stars and moments fans will never forget. It’s our most exciting programme yet! Since we launched the concert series in 2024, our aim has always been to bring world-class artists and unforgettable experiences to this amazing city and we can’t wait for a summer of incredible live music in 2026.”
Tickets for all shows available now via ticketmaster.co.uk.
Southampton Summer Sessions 2026
12 June: Amy Macdonald with support from The Coral & Nathan Evans and The Saint PHNX Band
13 June: Alex James’ Britpop Classical
14 June: Pete Tong Ibiza Classics with support from Todd Terry
18 June: The Beach Boys with support from 10cc
19 June: Orchestral Manoeuvres in The Dark with support from Peter Hook and The Light & Andrew Cushin
20 June: Paul Weller with support from Miles Kane
21 June: Billy Ocean with very special guest Marti Pellow and support from Katie Owen
23 June: Skunk Anansie & Garbage with support from Du Blonde
26 June: Bowling For Soup & Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls
27 June: Deacon Blue with support from Lightning Seeds