Songs from the Solent – Calshot Castle Lantern Parade and Concert
Join acclaimed Hampshire singer-songwriter Richard Walters for a unique musical journey around the Solent, featuring live performances from his album Songs From the Solent alongside stories of inspiration from his time as Solent Seascape Project Artist in Residence. Richard will be joined in conversation by Solent Seascape Project Manager Louise MacCallum, who will explore the people, places and habitats that inspired the music.
Decorate a lantern inspired by the marine species that call the Solent home. Once your lantern is complete, you will illuminate your artwork and join a lantern procession along the beach to the Castle, where you can enjoy an unforgettable evening of live music.
The album features Lanterns Part 1 and 2, inspired by the lighthouse at Hurst, as well as music influenced from across the Solent including a rainy dawn at Selsey Bill, sea swimmers at Hayling and artists on the beach at Ryde. Now you can hear them in the very locations that inspired the music.
Background:
During the summer of 2025, Richard immersed himself in life around the Solent. He met sea swimmers, spoke to people high above Portsmouth at the top of the Spinnaker Tower, gathered recordings from the shoreline, and listened closely to the sounds and stories of one of England’s most distinctive coastal landscapes.
The result is Songs From the Solent – a collection of eight original songs that blend music, spoken word, local voices and natural soundscapes. Each piece is inspired by the extraordinary habitats, wildlife and communities connected to the Solent, and the ongoing efforts to protect and restore them.
The album also brings together an impressive cast of collaborators. Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons lends his voice to the centrepiece track Lanterns Part 1, members of Chichester’s Big Notes Choir feature on Salt Forest, and celebrated artist Angela Harding has created a beautiful illustrated map linking each song to the place that inspired it.
Whether you’re passionate about nature, fascinated by local stories, or simply love great live music, this promises to be a memorable evening celebrating the seascapes, wildlife and people of the Solent.
Key details:
📅 21 November, 3-6pm
📍 Calshot Castle
£4 include a complimentary hot chocolate from the Calshot Café.
Other dates and locations:
📅 17 November
📍 Department, Ryde, Isle of Wight
£10
📅 20 November, 8-11.45pm
📍 Havana, Chichester
£10