The Wildhearts

The Wildhearts play The Brook on Saturday 8 August, their only Southampton date this summer. Fronted by Ginger, they've been part of the British rock scene since they formed in 1989, and they've built a reputation as one of the most prolific and notorious outfits the country has produced. Their live shows are described as legendary and second to none, so this is a proper night out for anyone who likes their rock loud and without apology.

Much of the set will come from their eleventh studio album, Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts, which came out on 7 March 2025. Produced and mixed by Jim Pinder and Carl Bown, it's a ten-track record that the band conceived as a belated follow-up to their 1993 debut, Earth vs The Wildhearts. The lead single, 'Failure Is The Mother Of Success', was followed by 'Troubadour Moon', a track that draws on Ginger's love of underground horror and the director Lucio Fulci. There's a guest appearance on the album too: Jørgen Munkeby, from Shining and Emperor, plays saxophone on 'I'll Be Your Monster'.

It's a long way from that 1993 debut, but the connection is there. Earth vs The Wildhearts was the record that put them on the map, and Satanic Rites is the latest chapter in a career that's spanned more than three decades. Between the new material and the older songs they've carried with them, there's plenty to draw from.

The gig is at The Brook, 466 Portswood Road, Southampton SO17 3SD. Doors open at 7:30 PM, and tickets are £33.00. One thing to keep in mind: the show is strictly age 18+, though under-18s from 14 can get in if they're accompanied.