SOUTHAMPTON is set to gain two new music venues this year after a local promoter confirmed ambitious plans to add to the city’s already thriving live music scene.

Tom Dyer of Psychedelia revealed the news to The Daily Echo saying: “We’re excited to announce we’ll be opening two new spaces in Southampton. The first one - The Loft, a 300 capacity venue on Lower Banister Street - will open on Friday June 16. The second is a late night bar and 100 capacity live room which we’ll have more details on soon.

“We already have some amazing shows confirmed, it’s a huge step forward for us and we will be working closely with other promoters in the city to build two more venues it can be proud of. The local music scene is really good at the moment, it’s probably the best it’s been for a while.”

The news confirms Southampton as a top destination for touring and local bands. This year’s already seen sold out shows from Reading rockers The Amazons, who Psychedelia first championed in their early days, and other Radio One favourites Circa Waves, The Sherlocks, Blaenavon and Creeper.

The Loft will be above The Social, which opened in 2015. Club Psychedelia – the city’s long running indie rock and roll club night - will stay at The Joiners every Saturday where it’s been such a success since moving there last year.

In the past four years Psychedelia has put on shows featuring bands like Spring King, Cabbage, Blossoms and Sundara Karma. This Saturday they present The Orielles at The Joiners alongside local lads Fever who are also at next month’s Common People. See joiners.vticket.co.uk