Arts & Culture

By Ed Dyer (AKA Gig Monkey)

Oxford has a vibrant and lively music scene, with some exciting bands and some fantastic venues.

But, it won’t be there forever (the music scene, not Oxford, that will probably hang around a while longer) if it doesn’t get supported.

So, this month I wanted to preview some of the shows and bands that I think are worth dragging yourself away from the TV for and socialising with actual real people in person rather than through a screen.

Of course, these are just my tips, based on nothing more than my own tastes and experiences. If you don’t like the look of any of these, check out the listings in this magazine, get online and check out the venues’ websites and find something that you do like the look of.

Firstly, there are some great festivals on your doorstep this month – so if you want a concentrated dose of music over the one weekend that you don’t even need to unpack the tent for then get yourself down to Cornbury (10th-12th) or Truck (17th-18th) to check out acts including The Charlatans, Basement Jaxx, Public Service Broadcasting, Honeyblood, Slaves, Tom Jones, The Fratellis and Chas & Dave.

Now, there has to be something for everyone there!

But there is also plenty going on in the smaller venues as well. The month starts well down at The Bullingdon on the 4th with the marvellous Peerless Pirates who ply a fine trade in rocked up sea shanties. Sounds weird, just makes you dance. On the support bill, alongside former Candyskin Mark Cope are the brilliant Vagueworld, a fantastic old school style indie-pop band whose jangly guitar riffs and vocal melodies make it feel like the early 90’s never left.

Those of you with a taste for something slightly noisier should head down to the O2 Academy for Deaf Havana on the 9th and experience some anthemic rock majesty as they blast through songs from what is a surprisingly solid career already.

Funk fans are catered for by The Cellar, when Brother Strut hit the basement venue on the 16th to liven up the town with some highly acclaimed funk, blues and American soul style music from a collection of renowned musicians who between them have played for artists like Van Morrison, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Al Green, Amy Winehouse, Tina Turner, Alicia Keys and The Temptations. Now that is some serious pedigree!

Things get a little more rootsy back at The Bullingdon on the 20th as the brilliant Grammy nominated Della Mae head to town. Hailing these days from Nashville (which has to be one of the most musical cities in the world) they play their own brand of bluegrass Americana. But don’t think Deliverance’s backwoods hicks duelling banjos, this band are a far more glamorous all-girl quartet, and infinitely more talented on their fiddles and mandolins.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg, get yourself out and see what else is going on, support your local bands, venues and promoters and keep them doing what they do to make sure the city remains a fun and exciting place to live.