A Southampton nightclub owner behind a new music event brightening up the city this weekend wants to celebrate Southampton's music scene.
Orange Rooms owner Gary Benneton has teamed up with EngineRooms and Southampton Forward to shine the light on local musical talent with an Electronic Dance Music weekender event on Friday and Saturday.
His goal: to promote Southampton’s thriving music scene.
READ MORE: Engine Rooms Southampton to host Electronic Music Weekend
“There’s been so many amazing music events held here.
"It’s this thriving music scene that’s helped to nurture new, homegrown talent for the music industry, it’s important.”
The event, taking place at EngineRooms, will see some big names performing, including Southampton-born DJ Alan Fitzpatrick.
Benneton commented: “Southampton has always had a great EDM scene, but it’s a genre that sometimes gets overlooked.
“There are some very unknown, smaller DJs that are in the city making great music, and then there are the likes of Alan Fitzpatrick; he’s a huge name in techno.”
As well as getting some huge DJ names through the doors, the event will showcase smaller artists, who are based within the city, to display the local “up-and-coming talent” that the area boasts.
He added: “It’s important that we run events like this EDM Weekender.
"It’s a showcase of the amazing talent that’s been produced in the city. And it gives the chance for people who are maybe new to EDM to come along and see if they like it.”
The former DJ, who has owned the Orange Rooms nightclub for nearly 23 years, feels that promoting the great musical talent within the area will also help the local nightlife industry.
Nightclubs and music events were financially hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic and have struggled to recover since, as people were banned from attending events for a lengthy period.
He said: “Night clubs haven’t quite recovered from COVID, paired with the cost-of-living crisis, it’s not been easy. We’re hoping it will go back to before and it really helps to put really good nights on.”
The event will also allow some locals to scrub the decks with DJ classes for those who want to give it a try.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel