TO quote the Echo headline – wow!

Music in the City finished a weekend of fantastic free musical entertainment, in style, in the beautiful setting of The City Art Gallery, entertained by the City of Southampton Orchestra and Southampton Philharmonic Choir along with Flautissimo and the Courtyard Quintet a wonderful afternoon of classical music.

Saturday was the Guildhall to Shieldhall Festival with 14 venues playing the widest variety possible of music from Rock to Jazz, Indie to Folk, Blues to Soul, and everything in between.

There was the Showcase in Marlands with exceptional performances from competition winners, the stunning Batala in Holyrood who play their drums for us every year, we were dancing to swing in Westgate Hall, and celebrating the departure of the Queen Mary alongside SS Shieldhall with our own Sarah Harrison and Harland playing her out!

Rain made not one shred of difference, the sun came out at 2pm and the city was buzzing with the excitement of it all.

It was a delight to see so many, many people going around with their flyers making their way from venue to venue either walking or, catching the free heritage buses which were a new feature this year.

A huge vote of thanks to all of our musicians who devoted their time and talent totally free of charge to making this the best year ever!

Impossible to give an exact figure but it looks like we were 50 per cent up on last year’s audience with around 15,000 visitors coming out to enjoy the weekend!

Thank you also to our great team of volunteers without whom the day couldn’t have happened.

Plus, of course, a big, big thankyou to our sponsors with a special mention to The Daily Echo and Southampton City Council and their staff for their help and support.

We love you all and look forward to doing it all over again next year!

LINDA NORRIS, Hampshire.