MUSIC will fill the air in Southampton today as hundreds of performers prepare to dazzle audiences across the city.

Music in the City is back and organisers are hoping it will be the best show yet with scores of acts taking to stages in the city centre.

It’s an event which brings back the sounds of the rock n roll era, jazz, blues, folk, classical, Americana and punk rock.

The shows are a chance to show off the city’s diversity and the talent of Southampton musicians.

It will take over 16 venues across the city for the weekend and more than 1,000 performers from 130 different acts will be standing in the spotlight to show what they’ve got.

The free live music event has been running for seven years and last year attracted more than 15,000 revellers.

But this year, organiser Cllr Linda Norris, the Mayor of Southampton wants to bring some extra pizzazz to the event and offer residents a musical delight by bringing more performers and venues.

The event, which raises money for her charities the Rose Road Association, Saints Foundation and Southampton Air Cadets, will be dominating the city.

Venues vary from intimate coffee shops like Mettricks in the High Street and the Platform Tavern in Town Quay to the medieval vaults underground, Holyrood Church and Kin John’s Palace.

There will also be new stages at The Stage Door, Dancing Man Brewery and Grand cafe, and last year’s favourite, SS Shieldhall, the oldest working steamship in the country, will be used again.

Vintage busses will be decorating the roads today when most of the performances are taking place, transporting music lovers to any gig they want to see.

Other treats include a special beer created by the Dancing Man Brewery especially for the event and The Marlands will be hosting a line-up of talented youngsters who have already made their debuts auditioning for The Voice, Britain’s Got Talent and The X-Factor.

Most of the performances will be from 1pm today but tomorrow the Art Gallery will be hosting a classical night with shows by Southampton Philharmonic Choir and City of Southampton Orchestra, as well as Flautissimo and Lizzy Benny.

John McCurry, member of Johnny Boxcars, will be playing in SS Shieldhall this afternoon.

He said: “The Southampton music scene is absolutely buzzing just now – from the venues that give us a platform and the musicians who are part of it.

“But without those who go to see live bands, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to do our thing. Music in the City is a great festival at the heart of the scene.

"I mean, take a look at the line-up this year, and the number of spaces open to performance. It’s incredible really. We’re very much looking forward to being involved.”