Centenary Concert Series in Guildhall Square
Portsmouth’s Guildhall Square came to life over the weekend with a spectacular series of concerts and events in celebration of the city’s 100 years of city status, presented by The Guildhall Trust and supported by Portsmouth City Council.
On Friday night, the magnificent Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra performed a host of big screen classics in The Best of Williams & Zimmer, a night of epic film music featuring the scores from Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jaws, The Da Vinci Code, Schindler’s List, Gladiator, Jurassic Park, Interstellar, ET and many more.
The orchestra returned on Saturday evening for a Smash Hits: The 80s party which culminated in an exciting fireworks finale, featuring the hits of 80s icons including George Michael, David Bowie, Blondie, Elton John, Whitney Houston, Toto, Pet Shop Boys, Madonna and a special tribute to Bonnie Tyler who had sadly passed just a week earlier.
Audiences attending the second year of the Summer Concerts in Guildhall Square knew exactly what to expect, arriving with their chairs and picnics, and for the 80s night many were dressed for the occasion with glitter, neon, leg warmers and ra-ra skirts in abundance.
Attendees of the concerts were overwhelming in their praise for the experience:
“The music was amazing… Made all the better by the setting!”
“What a really well organised event. Easy booking process, easy pre-drinks order, easy access on event day, nice and spacious VIP lounge (Silver), great staff – really polite, friendly, and attentive. And what a set of musicians playing some fantastic theme scores. Absolutely worth every penny. Where can I get tickets for next year?? The organisers, staff and BSO should be very proud of themselves! 12/10”
“The vibe and the music – it was a great evening!”
BSO Summer Concerts Director, Anthony Brown, said “It was wonderful to be back in Guildhall Square and to see a packed arena having such a great time and enjoying such stunning music. Lots of people went home very happy!”
On Sunday, the giant stage in Guildhall Square was the platform for an all-new Pompey Summer Sounds festival featuring nine homegrown music acts including Harvey Jay Dodgson, Mackenzie, Baby Said, Cold July, DiElle and an Oasis tribute band, Supersonics, as the headliner.
The afternoon and early evening music event with chilled party vibes and a range of genres including indie, rock, pop and blues, was programmed by organisations of the local music scene, LMSUK and Word of Mouth.
CEO of LMSUK, Josh Robinson said, “What an opportunity for the artists. They were so grateful having the chance to play a huge stage, with amazing sounds, production, and screens. I had a smile on my face the whole time. So many members of the public came up to me saying the local lineup was sensational, and I’m excited to build from this with The Guildhall Trust and Word of Mouth.”
Founder of Word of Mouth, Matt Stevens added, “Pompey Summer Sounds was a true representation of the amazing talent rooted in Portsmouth. I was truly blown away by the love everyone showed, and it was amazing to see so many people come together to celebrate grassroots music. I hope this is the start of something wonderful!”
Reflecting on the huge success of all the weekend’s events, CEO of The Guildhall Trust, Andy Grays said, “We were thrilled to present these concerts with our partners. When we plan such events, we hope that audiences and artists alike will both enjoy them and return for more, and nothing gives us greater pleasure than seeing people having such a great time!”
With talks already underway for a return of the Summer Concert series in 2027, people are encouraged to create an account and sign up to the Guildhall’s e-news or follow on social media for dates and announcements as they happen.
Images: With thanks to Steve Spurgin (Seen in Portsmouth) and Daniel Haswell.