Featuring top-class international DJs from the city including Alan Fitzpatrick and James Zabiela, an upcoming festival will celebrate Southampton's electronic music scene. 

The Electronic Music Weekend will span electronic music genres, spotlight the story of the city’s electronic music scene and provide a platform for some of the amazing new talent coming out of Southampton.

The event, which takes place at EngineRooms on Friday March 8 and Saturday March 9, will feature a carefully curated line-up of DJs with strong ties to the city, emphasising local talent while also introducing national and international names.

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Southampton Forward has teamed up with local partners on the hotly-anticipated weekend, which shines a light on local connections to drum and bass, house, techno and garage.

Friday will host some of the UK’s hottest names in drum and bass, including Friction and Harriet Jaxxon, with Saturday seeing the return to their home town of internationally acclaimed House DJs Alan Fitzpatrick and James Zabeila, with both nights also showcasing some of the city’s best up-and-coming talent.

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The weekend, also involving Orange Rooms Southampton, SoCo Music Project and Pioneer DJ, will include free DJ workshops and a DJ Masterclass for young people, providing hands-on experience with the latest equipment and inspiring the next generation of DJs and producers.

Students from Solent University have also been invited to get involved. The students will be creating stage visuals in response to a paid industry-standard brief, providing an opportunity to develop their portfolios.

Southampton Forward is an independent charity working across culture, festivals and events, with a focus on enhancing networks between the city’s music venues and other organisations to create more and varied cultural experiences that can also provide work experience and career pathways for young people.

CEO Claire Whitaker CBE told the Daily Echo: "We’re really proud to present this event. Southampton has a rich history when it comes to Electronic Dance Music.

“Music is so important, it helps tell a story and express who we are. We want to invite lovers of EDM to come down and celebrate this important part of Southampton’s rich musical heritage."