TWENTY thousand people will descend on Southampton this summer for the city’s first ever tattoo festival, the Daily Echo can reveal.

The family-friendly event will feature tattoos, music, arts and everything vintage at The Ageas Bowl over two days.

Acts have yet to be confirmed for the extravaganza but it will feature live tattooing, a classic car show, burlesque acts, live music on three different stages, funfairs and carnival and a motorbike display.

There will also be more than 80 traders selling everything from clothes and jewellery to artwork.

Renowned tattoo artists Ian Hopkins and Martin Moore from Ian Ink Tattoo in Shirley are joining forces with Nathan Alexander and Zoe Closs from Yellow Vintage Fairs to organise the event which they say will put Southampton on the map.

Called Southampton Tattoo Festival, it could see as many as 10,000 people each day on July 4 and July 5.

Daily Echo:

Ian Hopkins, right, and Martin Moore from Ian Ink Tattoo in Shirley

Nathan from Yellow Vintage Fairs, who also hosts the drive-in cinema events, said: “It is the first one ever to come to the city and we hope to make it an annual date on the calendar.

“So many people have tattoos. It’s an expression of individuality and people have them for all different reasons. It’s like having a photo in your wallet, each tattoo tells a story.

“We’re looking forward to putting Southampton on the map for this unique kind of festival.”

There are currently tattoo conventions in Portsmouth and Bournemouth but there has never been a specialist event in the city.

Ian, an award-winning artist whose clients include Adam Lallana, said more than 70 tattoo artists from around Southampton will perform live tattoos at the event.

As well as tattoo visitors, they will also compete head to head in competition categories including best black and grey tattoo, best colour, best oriental, best traditional, best realism and best portrait.

Ian, added: “This isn’t just a normal tattoo convention. It’s so much more than that. There really will be something for everyone.”

Doors will open from 10am until 8pm each day. Tickets cost £6 for a day in advance and children go free.

  • Tickets can be bought on the door or in advance online at southamptontattoofestival.co.uk

  • Have you got a tattoo? Snap it and share the story behind it, then send it to: tara.russell@dailyecho.co.uk to feature in our Tattoo of the Week feature.