NEXT month Southampton will once again come to life as the City’s premier free live music event returns.

Music in the City is back for its seventh consecutive year October 3-4.

After bumper crowds last year saw over 15,000 people attend, organisers have this year added more venues (and performers), making it the biggest free festival to date.

From open air spaces such as Holyrood Church, King Johns Palace and Guildhall Square to the intimate, underground medieval vaults that are rarely open to the public, Music in the City boasts the most unique concert settings you could hope to visit. With a total of 16 venues, there will be new stages at the Stage Door, Dancing Man Brewery (formerly The Wool House) and Grand Café, whilst a favourite from last year, the SS Shieldhall Steamship (the oldest working steamship in the country), will once again be used. There will also be vintage buses ferrying visitors between venues throughout the day.

With over 1,000 performers split between 130 different acts, there will be music from Americana to Jazz, Classical to Punk Rock and Choirs to Solo performers and organisers are once again promising to cater for music lovers of all tastes.

Whilst the majority of the music will take place across venues on Saturday October 3, the Southampton Philharmonic Choir and City of Southampton Orchestra will perform an extra concert at Southampton Art Gallery on Sunday October 4.

Festival founder (and current Mayor of Southampton), Cllr Linda Norris said: “Music in the City has established itself as the leading music event in Southampton, with around 15,000 people passing through our doors last year. I’m so excited for this year's event, with more venues than ever and once again a fantastic line up of talented musicians”.

Once again entrance to the entire festival will be free of charge although the festival will this year be raising money for the Mayor's local charities, The Rose Road Association, The Saints Foundation and Southampton Air Cadets. Bucket collections will take place at each of the venues.

Calum Lintott, lead singer of Southampton band Brother Goose, has played the event before and returns to play Castle Vault this year. He said “ We've loved playing Music in the City the last 2 years as it's always such a great atmosphere and very well organised. We can't wait to play in Castle Vault this year - I'm told it's the biggest vault so we're hyped to playing to a big crowd in a venue steeped in history”.

The Marlands Shopping centre will once again boast an impressive line up of some of the country's top young talent and will be curated by talent scout, Ros Fountain, who said: “The festival kicks off at noon at the Marlands Shopping Centre with a showcase of hand-picked artists. Over the years, we have featured singers who have been national contest winners and many have appeared on television, radio and now have successful careers in the music industry."

Pammie Moore, who has performed at Marlands before, said. “I love seeing the children standing in front watching and dancing, and the busy bustle of the crowds watching. People stop at different points, they line the balconies, peering over and watching, and there's such a buzz throughout the day”.

Music in the City takes place across Southampton on Saturday October 3 with an extra event at the city’s Art Gallery on Sunday, October 4. Entrance to all venues is free and music on Saturday starts from 12 noon and runs until 9.30pm. For more information, go to the website http://www.musicinthecitysouthampton.org/