Your one and only creatively-inspired, community-run, organic, love-filled, not-for-profit, quirky, slightly wonky, homegrown, 100% original, local cafe / gallery / venue / home-from-home in Southampton, bringing inspiration, art, ethical food and creative joy to our city since 2008.
* Award winning, licensed organic cafe, open daytimes and evenings for food and drink (click here for our opening times and menu)
* Events calendar of world-class music, performance poetry, fringe theatre and more
* Clubs and groups to join where you can share interests with like-minded folk
* Crafts, Zines, prints, books and original art by local artists for sale
* A preloved clothes Boutique
If you are looking for a place that’s different from anywhere you’ve ever been, a place that welcomes the unexpected and unusual, you will feel very at home here.
We are staffed mostly by volunteers so you can get involved in that way, too!
Here are some event highlights coming soon…
(There is also a full calendar of events here)
Three Monkeys is a monthly event where Steve Lowis and The Art House introduce some of the best acoustic musical talent around. The format is ‘in the round’ with all three acts on stage together, taking it in turns, one song at a time. This month’s musicians are: Aaron Pearce, Lucy Bernadez, Chryssa Brown. DISCOVER MORE & BOOK
Portsmouth’s finest folk-punk band sail to Southampton to commandeer The Art House. With influences from Flogging Molly, The Pogues, Bellowhead, The Clash, The Decemberists… Cyprian Sceptre offer a night of stompey folk with Banjos, Flutes, Chord organs, Bodhrans, Drum Kit to name a few instruments, to get your timbers shivering. With support from folk-duo Sam and Aaron Horlock who will, so to speak, get you all folked-up! And with poetry from Kristianne Drake! DISCOVER MORE & BOOK
From within the hull of Noah’s Ark; comes a quirky series of family-friendly folkesque tunes unlike anything ever heard before. Using vocal dexterity, honky instruments, household implements and the furthest reaches of imagination the cast of characters regale us with their enchanting tales including a hydrophobic whale and a Duckbill platypus with an identity crisis. Think the Muppets, old fairy tales, Tom Waits, David Attenborough, Woody Allen and a badger snuffling around in the long grass… all together on the Ark. DISCOVER MORE & BOOK
Music Performance students from Itchen College showcase their talents as solo and duo performers in three great nights. Come and see a wide range of future stars perform in the intimate setting of The Art House. DISCOVER MORE & BOOK
Andy’s album launch a few weeks ago was such a roaring success, we decided to have him back straight away. Andy is a singer-songwriter from The Midlands of England, now based in Southampton. Making music since his university days, Andy has released four albums to date: available on Bandcamp, Amazon, iTunes and Spotify (just type in Andy Billington and find him as an artist!) His songs are a mix of Indie, Pop/Rock, Alternative Folk with meaningful lyrics and strong melodies. DISCOVER MORE & BOOK
Music Performance students from Itchen College showcase their talents as solo and duo performers in three great nights. Come and see a wide range of future stars perform in the intimate setting of The Art House. DISCOVER MORE & BOOK
GRANT SHARKEY (the guy with double bass and hat – who has given you ‘I’m Sorry To Hear You’re A Racist’ and given a TEDx Talk about playing tricks on people, started his own nation of Ignoramus and released Rupert Murdoch’s ‘secret’ home address in London…in song, over the last 4 and a half years) is trying to be positive in a time when there seems to be little to be positive about. Mission: write and release an album of socio-satire double bass jives.. every 6 months until 2033! DISCOVER MORE & BOOK
Rory Mcleod – ex-circus clown and fire eater. A one-man soul band & poet, singing his own unique upbeat dance stories told with with verve, sharpness, humour and warmth about people and for people. A modern travelling troubadour using tap shoes, acappella, harmonica, guitar, trombone, spoons, finger cymbals, bandorea, djembe and various percussion instruments! BEST LIVE ACT: BBC RADIO 2 FOLK AWARDS | TEXAS HARMONICA CHAMPION | EDINBURGH FESTIVAL STREET BUSKER OF THE YEAR | DISCOVER MORE & BOOK
Music Performance students from Itchen College showcase their talents as solo and duo performers in three great nights. Come and see a wide range of future stars perform in the intimate setting of The Art House. DISCOVER MORE & BOOK
The Rose of Jericho. Violence. War. Love. Discovery. One man’s journey. | Written by Alex Martinez | Performed by Kevin Hely | Produced by Francesca Martinez | An ex-British army soldier casts a darkly humorous eye over his Irish childhood, relationships, experiences of war, and three events that have changed his life. He is still fighting but it’s a different war now | After the 55 min show, there will then be a break, followed an interview between Kevin and his partner, comedian Francesca Martinez. DISCOVER MORE & BOOK
An evening of music and film: Cat Eliza T – EP Launch, the debut of her music video ‘I Should Wait Around’ by Ben Grace Films, plus the short film ‘Antelope’ by Ben. To celebrate the official release of her EP Cat worked with the wonderful BEN GRACE FILMS creating a music video for the title track. The video features music, puppetry, gothic libraries and Romany Gypsy churches. Imagine it: all the madness from Cat’s brain-tank skilfully filmed and edited by Ben brought to the screen. DISCOVER MORE & BOOK
Guitarist, Jero Ferec, whose skilled, innovative approach to live performance and recording led to him being described as “the brightest rising star on the UK flamenco scene”, returns to the Art House with a high energy Flamenco show direct from Barcelona. Featuring powerful young singer Ana Brenes and dynamic dancer Violeta Barrio, expect a fiery display of guitar technique, footwork and rich vocals. Not to be missed! DISCOVER MORE & BOOK
Canadian blues artist Manitoba Hal is widely regarded as one of the country’s most preeminent roots and blues multi-instrumentalists. Guitarist, ukulele master and singer-songwriter Manitoba Hal is a musical renaissance man. There will be a 90-minute ukulele workshop during the day and, later a full show, both within the cozy acoustic gorgeousness of our upstairs Gallery Performance Space. There is a discounted price for the workshop and show combined. DISCOVER MORE & BOOK
Although there’s always been an element of music in his set, 2018 is the year when spoken word performer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Attila the Stockbroker prioritises his musical side for the first time after 37 years and over 3000 gigs primarily working as a poet. He’ll be touring all over the UK with his unique band Barnstormer. A description not used lightly. They literally don’t sound like anyone else. Barnstormer aim to do with early music & punk what the Pogues did with Irish music & punk. Attila describes their sound as ‘Roundhead Renaissancecore Baroque‘n’Roll’. There will be a spoken word set from Attila in the first half. DISCOVER MORE & BOOK
These are just some of the things going on at The Art House – we also have a busy programme of regular events, groups, workshops and live music.
What people who come to our events say…. (click to play silent slideshow)
Follow @TheArtHouseCafe on Twitter and find us on Facebook, too.
