The Jericho Tavern
[email protected] nightshift.oxfordmusic.net Free every month NIGHTSHIFT Issue 218 September Oxford’s Music Magazine 2013 Get the party started, it’s...
The Original Rabbit
Foot Spasm BandOXFORD DUPLICATION CENTRE [email protected] Oxford’s hot jazz steppers talk witches, Office: 01865 457000 Mobile: 07917 775477 ice cream parlours and jazz riots. Supporting Oxfordshire Bands with Affordable Professional CD Duplication Also in this issue: FANTASTIC BAND RATES WILDERNESS and SUPERNORMAL ON ALL SERVICES Professional Thermal Printed CDs reviewed Full Colour/Black & White Introducing TRAPS Silver or White Discs Design Work Support plus Digital Printing Packaging Options Local music news, reviews, previews and Fulfilment
photo: Andrew Ogilvy Recommended by Matchbox Recordings Ltd, Poplar Jake, Undersmile, four pages of gigs. Desert Storm, Turan Audio Ltd, Nick Cope, Prospeckt, Paul Jeffries, Alvin Roy, Pete The Temp, Evolution, Coozes, Blue Moon and many more... NIGHTSHIFT: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU. Phone: 01865 372255 DHP PRESENTS ALTTICKETS.CO.UK FACEBOOK.COM/ALTTICKETS.CO.UK NEWS Nightshift: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU Phone: 01865 372255 email: [email protected] Online: nightshift.oxfordmusic.net
AETHARA bow out with a headline set at Skeletor’s monthly metal show at the O2 Academy this month. The band, who formed in 2010 and have consistently been described as one of the brightest young talents on the GATHERING local metal scene, announced their split on THE OXFORD RECORD LOCAL NATIVES LONDON GRAMMAR their Facebook with the message, “We are sad to announce that after four years, we DVD & CD FAIR are calling time on Aethara. From day one, CANDY SAYS CHARLIE BOYER & THE VOYEURS CHASING GRACE we aimed to write, record and perform the St ALDATES PARISH CENTRE CHEATHAHS CHLÖE HOWL DANCING YEARS DRENGE FYFE music that we all love, and we have made 40 Pembroke St, St Aldates, OX1 1BP the unanimous decision that the best way st JAY BROWN JJ ROSA KIMBERLY ANNE MT. WOLF PORT ISLA to continue is to move on to new musical Saturday 21 September WILD SWIM preview songs from their pastures. We would like to thank every PYYRAMIDS RUEN BROTHERS RYAN KEEN SWEET WILLIAM 10am-4pm forthcoming debut album at a show at promoter who has given us a show, every TEMPLES TO KILL A KING TROUMACA the North Wall this month. The local band we’ve shared the stage with, and Rock/pop/jazz/soul/reggae/indie/all other genres electro-pop band are set to enter the studio everyone who has come to a gig or bought Accessories/memoriabillia/books. WAXAHATCHEE WOLF ALICE with producer Steve Osborne throughout our music, and in doing so, made the last Brand new and back catalogue/Rare Vinyl September but will be playing the one-off four years absolutely fucking brilliant”. www.usrfairs.co.uk MANY MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED show at the Summertown arts centre on The Skeletor show is on Saturday 28th Saturday 7th. September. Aethara are supported by Mask Guitarist and keyboard player Jamie Jay of Judas, Fleisch, Lest We Forget and spoke to Nightshift about the band’s recent Demask Thyself. Tickets are on sale from the activities and plans: “We’ve been writing Academy box office. our debut album for the last two months and are going into the studio in early September ADAM BARNES, Black Hats, Dance a O ACADEMY OXFORD // ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST // THE BULLINGDON // PORT MAHON 2 to record with Steve. The writing period la Plage, Deer Chicago, Sweet William, EAST OXFORD COMMUNITY CENTRE // COWLEY ROAD METHODIST CHURCH // TRUCK STORE has given us the opportunity to experiment Toliesel, Empty White Circles, The Scholars, with different sounds and explore the widest Listing Ships and Duchess are the first SATURDAY 19TH OCTOBER // WWW.GATHERINGFESTIVAL.CO.UK range of our influences, from Jeff Buckley acts to be confirmed for this year’s Oxjam £20 ALL AGES, UNDER 14 TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT to Marcel Dettman. As a result the new Takeover. The annual city-wide festival, material seems to be much more groovy than which raises money for Oxfam, takes place our previous offerings and (singer) Richard on Saturday 12th October, from 3pm to is discovering his inner James Brown. The 3am, at The Cellar, The Wheatsheaf, Purple North Wall show will be an opportunity for us Turtle, Turl Street Kitchen, St Michael of to give the new tracks an outing for the first the Northgate Church and New Road Baptist Friday 30 August Thursday 10 October Sunday 03 November Tuesday 12 November time, gauge audience reactions and Richard’s Church. Visit www.oxjamoxford.co.uk even toying with the idea of a stage dive to The Marsh Harrier Oxford POKEY LA FARGE KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES MAD DOG MCREA THE RIFLES mark the occasion. Fingers crossed. As for YOU CAN NOW RELIVE THIS are looking for acts O2 ACADEMY2 O2 ACADEMY2 THE BULLINGDON O2 ACADEMY2 the future, we have our third single out in SUMMER’S CORNBURY FESTIVAL October and will be playing a string of shows in the comfort of your own home from this Are you in a band? to accompany that release as well.” month with the release of `Live At The singer songwriter? solo artist? Thursday 12 September Friday 11 October Wednesday 06 November Thursday 21 November The new album is pencilled in for an early Original Cornbury Music Festival 2013’ 2014 release. Tickets for the North Wall gig album. The double album features 32 tracks Then get in touch SUPERFOOD JOHNNY FLYNN WILLE & THE BANDITS MOULETTES are on sale now, priced £10, from recorded live at the event, including virtually THE BULLINGDON O2 ACADEMY2 THE BULLINGDON THE JERICHO www.thenorthwall.org. Kill Murray are ever act performing on the two main stages, support for the night. from headliners Squeeze and Keane to local @ [email protected] starlets Candy Says. Proceeds from the CD Tuesday 24 September Thursday 24 October Saturday 09 November Thursday 21 November THE JERICHO TAVERN is looking for sales will go to Helen & Douglas House or call 01865 718225 THE 1975 LANTERNS ON THE LAKE RUARRI JOSEPH TURIN BRAKES bands for gigs on Fridays and Saturdays at hospice. the venue. In-house engineer Andy Nichol Visit www.cornburyfestival.com for more O2 ACADEMY | SOLD OUT THE BULLINGDON THE BULLINGDON O2 ACADEMY2 wants to hear from any local band looking details. for a show. Email him at oxfordpahire@ hotmail.co.uk AS EVER, don’t forget to tune into BBC Thursday 26 September Wednesday 30 October Sunday 10 November Thursday 05 December Oxford Introducing every Saturday evening MELANIE PAIN BEANS ON TOAST BROTHER & BONES NIGHT BEDS THE JAMES STREET TAVERN hosts between 8-9pm on 95.2fm. The dedicated New classes starting every Wednesday a free music and ale* festival over the local music show plays the best Oxford from 18th September: THE JERICHO THE BULLINGDON THE BULLINGDON O2 ACADEMY2 th th weekend of the 14 -15 September. Fall releases and demos as well as featuring 11.45 am - 12.45 pm Festival features sets from The Cellar interviews, studio sessions, gig reviews and @ The Yoga Garden, Summertown Family, Bright Works, The Gees, The local music news. The show is available to Tuesday 08 October Saturday 02 November Sunday 10 November Dublings, Move Somethin’ Soundsystem stream or download as a podcast at 7.30 - 9.00 pm FOSSIL COLLECTIVE THE GROWLERS VILLAGERS and Simon Batten on the Saturday, and bbc.co.uk/oxford. @ The West Oxford Communiy Centre, Grudle Bay, Matt Sage, Hannah Bruce, Regularly updated local music news is
O ACADEMY2 THE BULLINGDON O ACADEMY Botley Rd (in the Mary Town room) - 07812 728720 Tel 2 2 GIGSINOXFORD.CO.UK Swindlestock, Huck, Ags Connolly and available online at www.musicinoxford. Ragdoll on the Sunday. co.uk. The site also features interactive (* - the music’s free, the ale isn’t, sadly) reviews, a gig guide, photo gallery and more. [email protected] ALTTICKETS.CO.UK FACEBOOK.COM/ALTTICKETS.CO.UK ALTTICKETS.CO.UK ALTTICKETS.CO.UK FACEBOOK.COM/ALTTICKETS.CO.UK A quiet word with personal because most of the band since the beginning of 2013 people discover good old-school hot jazz people who gossip about us the come from Catholic immigrant who buy tickets are coming back to to buy readily-available sounds. better. You’ll know if we all give backgrounds but that’s just a every single show we do.” Have things improved? up drinking because the economy coincidence. We’re here to stay There have been a fair few “I really think it is easier. Locally will collapse.” whether you like or not.” guest appearances from local both Rapture and Truck Store have Stuart may be coy about his The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band And there’s `King of the Swingers’ luminaries at those shows, often a nice selection, and great staff band’s drinking habits, but that and `King of Wine’, lyrically more from unexpected quarters: Juju ,and I frequently see good stuff on reputation was hardly hindered in keeping with TORFSB’s hard- from Candy Says, Asher Dust, sale in Gloucester Green market earlier this year when they partying reputation. Is there an Nick Kenny (Long Insiders), the on Thursday mornings. So all is launched their own line of cider autobiographical edge to those, or Brickwork Lizards, Loz Colbert, not lost.” earlier this year. Was that just an element of wishful thinking? Mr Shaodow, and Vienna Ditto limited run? How’s it gone down “I enjoy the imagery of opulence have all teamed up with the The rise and rise of The (literally and figuratively)? and grandeur on records like Rabbits along the way. Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band “It’s gone down very well. We (Jay-Z and Kanye West’s) `Watch “We like to do different stuff with hasn’t, of course, been confined to felt the band needed to release the Throne’ and with `King of every gig so we ask artist we like; their hometown scene. In recent something and the album wasn’t Wine’ it amused me to take that Oxford happens to be full of them. times they’ve played the Royal going to ready in time so we made braggadocio and apply it to little So on one gig we might delve into Albert Hall and Royal Festival an agreement with the Cotswold old England. Here it’s culturally gospel with Vienna Ditto, on the Hall and played Camp Bestival last Cider Company to launch our own misplaced and daft. Vauxhall next we might collaborate with month. What sort of reaction have brand of cider. Not surprisingly Pleasure Garden was a stomping Shaodow, improvising something they had from non-Oxford gig- we’ve sold more cider in the ground of Charles II and if we brand new over a long-forgotten goers and critics? last six months than we’ve sold could afford to dress the entire records in the past two years. It band up as Charles II for a video would be embarrassing if it hadn’t believe me we would. `King of “Next time you see me walking funded the recording of ‘Party the Swingers’ is a response to down the street with a pitchfork up my Seven’. I think cider is in keeping anyone who has ever requested with the Wicker Man otherworldly us play a song from The Jungle arse, I’ll probably be whistling `King feel of the songs like `Eynsham Book. Earlier this year we Witches’ and there will be another were threatened with violence of the Swingers” batch coming out next year. I for refusing to play `The Bare won’t know when until the apples Necessities’ for a crowd of yokels Music Hall showstopper. Within “We get a great response start falling off the trees, it’s that’s in Northamptonshire. So next the last couple of months the real everywhere, although Oxford kind of deal.” time you see me walking down revelation has been Chukie from and the south west are more in the street with a pitchfork up my BG Records whose voice cuts tune to the idea of pogoing to our Stuart’s parting shot in arse I’ll probably be whistling this through so clearly on the mic that music. People have gone nuts that first interview was to claim song.” it defies technology. It shouldn’t for us on the festival circuit this that Oxford has never had its own And then there’s the relatively work but, oh God yes, it does.” summer. We also play a lot of jazz riot and the band were here more considered gypsy-flavoured For want of a better word, you these vintage events and those to rectify that. Looking back, `Eynsham Witches? Local folk tale were quite a novelty on the local are quite interesting. Most groups has Oxford had its jazz riot now, or something more personal? gig scene in the early days; how with similar line ups to us try to courtesy of the Original Rabbit photo: Andrew Ogilvy “I get a big Wicker Man vibe hard is it to keep that sense of replicate the sounds of a bygone Foot Spasm Band? “I love this record. kind of alcoholic beverage. But who even then had a slightly fluid “Our albums are a big hit with from a lot of villages around novelty going over such a long era. But that’s just not what “We’re still capable of starting ‘Year of the Rabbit’ led to a few diplomatically Stuart is avoiding line-up, were an emerging cult people who spend time with them. Oxfordshire. I’d be highly period? this band is about. I don’t know a jazz riot but it’s going to be a fallings out among the band getting into too many gory details, act on the local scene – Nightshift But overall I think we have a good surprised if there weren’t gangs “The novelty only dies when you what we are about but that’s our jazz riot on our terms – one that whereas making ‘Party Seven’ preferring to stick to the purely first encountered them at Klub balance. It will be interesting to see of Witches hovering around the keep playing the same stuff over starting point, it’s definitely not involves no lengthy double bass has ruined friendships and even musical side of the story. Kakofanney at the Wheatsheaf and how it changes in future because Co-Op in Eynsham. “Eynsham and over again. If we were still our destination. The audiences at solos and if you click your fingers broken up marriages. It’s been a “We’ve had three personnel was blown away by their distinctly for our next record we may go for Witches” has proved hugely doing the same material we did in those festivals might be expecting we’ll shoot you.” full-blooded album experience and changes since we last featured wayward, party-hearty approach a slower, more produced sound. If popular in Italy - although I 2009 we’d be long gone by now.” a Glenn Miller cover band and So, given all that’s happened, it will outlast the best of us, even in Nightshift,” explains Stuart, to classic hot jazz: New Orleans ‘Party Seven’ is a Saturday night wonder what the Italian people Back then the mainstream local when we jump on stage banging still continues to happen and will if it only becomes an object for recalling those bits of the past few r’n’b, jazz and soul kicked out with record we want to make a Sunday would make of our charming rural jazz scene wouldn’t touch you with out a song like `Nancy Mitford hopefully carry on happening on our great-grandchildren to sneer at. years he can remember, “Carlo’s ferocious punk spirit, spirits of morning record next. Our live show customs.” a bargepole and labelled you chav- Disco’ it’s going to be fucking stages in Oxford and beyond for Most importantly ‘Party Seven’ is come in on guitar and he’s a self- another kind flowing freely among and album will no longer represent jazz; have those people embraced loud and if you don’t like it… many more years to come, will the exactly the record the band needed taught expert on both blues and band members and audience alike. each other because there’s no way When we interviewed you any better than they originally you’d better run.” Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band to make right now.” gypsy music. We brought in Red Since then they have gone we’re going to start gigging on Stuart and the rest of TORFSB failed to now you’re so popular? be the death of you? on tenor sax, who is classically on to regularly sell out The Sunday mornings as well.” back in 2009 they were just starting “Absolutely not, they’re petrified. The Original Rabbit “Yes, probably. It nearly has on Stuart MacBeth, singer, trained so that adds a whole O2 Academy, with their now to become a bit of a cult hit on the A well-known jazz musician heard Foot Spasm Band has always two occasions. But there’s plenty pianist and party-starter-in-chief of other element. The most recent traditional Christmas parties a Moving on to `Party local scene. Four years on they’re a recording of our song `I’m The had a reputation for enjoying of life in us yet. As long as there The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm addition is Chuck Lloyd from highly-anticipated highlight of the Seven’ itself, early listens have the biggest regular local crowd- Taxidermy Man’ and thought he themselves and “relaxing” as are dives to play we’ll be there. I Band is explaining to Nightshift Arizona on baritone sax. With local gig calendar. They’ve also already thrown up highlights pullers in Oxford. Did Stuart see was listening to The Cure: how much, if not more, than the pledged long ago that if the entire the turbulent story behind the Martin switching from trombone played at The Royal Albert Hall, to match any of the band’s old that coming, and why does he think wide of the mark can you get? To audience. It’s always been a big band quit I’ll round things off making of his band’s second to trumpet we now have four The Royal Festival Hall and major favourites. `Matassa’s Ice Cream it’s happened? give them credit we’re really a loud part of the show and the band’s with a French revolutionary skiffle album, `Party Seven’. incredible soloists on the front line. festivals such as Camp Bestival Parlour’ for starters, a thoughtful “We started getting sell-out rhythm and blues band with a brass appeal. Is that a hard act to keep album. I think the guys have It’s coming up to four years I’m not too sure about who’s gone and Glastonbury. story set against a wild swing crowds when we released `Year section blowing Dixieland over the up, on and off stage? enough love for our audience not since Nightshift first featured or about any upheaval. Despite our backdrop. of the Rabbit’ and it’s thrilling top. It’s a hybrid of styles – beat “We have a terrible reputation, to subject them to that.” The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm reputation for retro mayhem we’re While this month sees “Matassa’s Ice Cream Parlour is a that it hasn’t stopped since. I love music. I like the eerie, gutsy side don’t we? For a long time the Band on its front cover, and even definitely a band who don’t look the release of their second album, little shop we saw boarded up on playing here. My only regret is of early blues and jazz recordings, band thrived on the image of `Party Seven’ is out this month longer ago that they tore up the back.” the follow-up to 2011’s `Year Of Margate seafront. Carlo’s surname that we haven’t always been on what used to be crudely labelled the old, drunk jazzman but it’s on Jump Steady Records. The Oxford Punt with their riotous The Rabbit’, it’s generally been is Matassa so it stuck in my mind. I absolutely top form, and I know it together as Race Music. I have become artistically redundant. The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm hot jazz down at the Cellar, and Of course, the biggest their peerless live shows that have admire these little run down places can be a struggle for brass players a strong emotional reaction to it level of musicianship in the band Band play Oxford Prison st a lot has changed in Rabbit Foot change that’s happened to built their ever-growing reputation and the dignity of the people who in particular to deal with the wall which rarely involves the snapping is so high now that we don’t need on Saturday 21 September. Land in that time. Some of those TORFSB since we first interviewed and following. Does Stuart think struggle to keep them going. It of sound onstage. The best thing of fingers or the tapping of toes.” a crutch to hide behind. Whether Visit www.facebook.com/ changes have involved fists. Most them is their popularity. Back in they’ll always be known more for reminds me of what it’s like being is that where people once came Back then we also talked about we’re actually drunk or not is rabbitfootspasmband for more have, inevitably, involved some 2009 the seven-strong collective, your live shows than their albums? in this band. The references are sporadically we’ve noticed that the difficulty for fans wanting to entirely up to you but the more news and gig dates. Sponsored by The Other Dramas are a duo made up of local scene veterans Maria Ilett and Richie Wildsmith, who between them have produced plenty of quality tunes over the years, but this new EP seems to lack much of the character you’d hope the pair had acquired over that time. RELEASED Title track `Noisy Star’ is wistful and sprightly, Maria’s voice dancing lightly over unobtrusive HEADCOUNT CRAYON folksy jangle pop, not a million miles away from Feist or Edie Brickell, but `Last Forever’ feels `Lullabies For Dogs’ `Seconds Are Hours’ tethered by a lack of gumption, a plod rather than (Malicious Damage) (Own label) a skip. `Gonna Break My Heart’ finds Maria in Often viewed as not being entirely serious, due A name that’s become a familiar fixture in local gig surprisingly fluffy mood given the subject matter, as to their live shows – in particular the razor- guides for a few years now, Crayon release their if such emotional trauma is nothing to worry about sharp wit of vocalist/guitarist Rob Moss cutting debut album with little fanfare but possessed of as long as there are enough low-calorie chocolate hecklers down to size – Headcount’s albums are a some style musically. dessert pots in the fridge, though the swaying horn different beast altogether. `Seconds Are Hours’ sounds like a band who’ve finale adds a pleasing sense of woozy euphoria No time for self-deprecation or knob-gags here; done the hard work, honing their sound with regular to the affair. Best of the four songs here though is Moss’s rage is far more focused and serious when gigging, the whole album constructed and produced THE OTHER DRAMAS the simple, acoustic `My Mermaid Song’, a more YELLOW FEVER it’s contained within the band’s songs. Everything to a tee, as if it had come straight out of a major temperate take on Laima Bite’s reflective soul- annoys Headcount apparently, but rather than waste label. This is both its strength and weakness. On `Noisy Star EP’ bearing. It points to a greater emotional depth, one `Wax’ / `Hooks For Hands’ time concentrating on the piffling stuff like speed the one hand there’s little hear to suggest Crayon (Big Red Sky) lacking elsewhere here. As we say, there’s nothing (Own label) bumps or self-service tills at the supermarket like a couldn’t compete with any number of label-backed Nice, pleasant and inoffensive are desirable in these four songs that’s unpleasant and it’s not so Yellow Fever hit pop central with this new single, bunch of Grumpy Old Men, they’re looking at the big guns, and exposed to a wider audience they’d attributes in workmates or pet dogs, but we’re still twee that it ever grates, but while being nice will the opening bars of `Wax’ promising something bigger picture on `Lullabies For Dogs’. easily gather a substantial following. Singer not convinced any of those descriptions should be make sure you stay out of trouble for the most part, akin to Rick Astley’s `Never Gonna Give You Up’ `News Corpse’ takes aim at the main players in depression and mental illness. That it’s the most Robin Moffatt in particular has a winningly pure something to strive for when making music, even it equally fails to stir any great passion. before Dele Adewuyi’s vocals come in, matching the Leveson Inquiry. `Greed’, meanwhile, gets accessible song on the album is surprising given voice – slightly lispy but featherlight and limpid, beyond the realms of industrial death metal. Dale Kattack the trebly guitar trill for nervous energy and the all biblical about, well, greed: “You take the stars the nature of its subject matter, but the chorus occasionally similar to Belle & Sebastian’s Stuart whole thing sounds like a cut from Paul Simon’s out of the sky and leave the world in darkness / is shot through with a pop nous that the band Murdoch, once in a while reminiscent of Mike here go some way to redressing the balance on a `Gracelands’ if it had been fuelled entirely by You walk a path through burning coals to lead the has long flirted with, but never given into fully. Scott, while lyrically he has an unforced way local level with a five-song EP that feel like it’s at caffeine and an overwhelming sense of nervous lamb to slaughter,” sings Moss, envisaging the Punk they might be, but when they embrace with a simple, romantic outlook that’s hardly least got a bit of dirt under its fingernails. tension. Comparisons to Foals will continue to world as a temple turned into a den of thieves. melody it really sets them apart. Similarly groundbreaking but presses the right buttons. Known as much for their folky Americana, this is abound, but with `Wax’ Yellow Fever have taken Sticking with the religious theme is the utterly putting melody before bluster is `Cross The Musically Crayon are faultless to a fault: Swindlestock in full-on blues-rock mode, singer their Afro-pop tendencies into lighter, poppier raucous `Heaven Help Us All’, a finely polished Line’, which smoulders nicely, and throws everything is pin-tight and tastefully put together, Dava Waterhouse possessed of the classic gravelly terrain. chunk of punk anger. That punk side is well post-punk riffs into the mix along with a chorus from the soaring middle-distance stadium guitar tones of Muddy Waters and those big ol’ growly `Hooks For Hands’ can’t match that opening represented across the album (the white hot fizz apparently appropriated from Sisters Of Mercy’s wanderings to the underplayed funky shuffle bears of blues, Albert and BB King. He’s joined surge of youthful zest, a more considered of `Tortured Tongue’ in particular); it’s an art `Detonation Boulevard’. of the likes of `Argue With Myself’. Songs like more often than not by co-vocalist Fern Thornton, piece musically with the vocals blokey, almost they’ve perfected across the years, but perhaps Headcount have always been masters of their `Science In Me’ manoeuvre from intimate acoustic adding a lighter, almost country edge, notably on EP conversational, only the playful guitar arpeggios the finest moments are to be found when they craft, but `Lullabies For Dogs’ sees them beginnings to epic crescendos without completely highlight `Hard Cash’, a free-roaming harmonica suggesting Yellow Fever’s normal fleetness of foot take a slightly different approach. `Liar’, the making a considerable step forward in terms going off on one. dragging the whole thing into authentic Chicago hasn’t deserted them. heavily-processed opener, could quite easily of composition and nuance. Surely now is the But amid all this, you sense there’s a band blues territory. `Hard Travelling Man’ is more Dale Kattack have been plucked from Ministry’s back time for them to make an impression, not just struggling to find its own identity. Are Crayon the laidback, both singers again working well off each catalogue (circa `Land Of Rape And Honey’). in Oxford but further afield. After all, every dog awkward post-Radiohead shimmer and twinkle other, and if the almost conversational `Be Longin’ `Black Dog Days’, meanwhile, steps away from deserves its day. of the album’s title track, or the overly burnished Blues’ feels a bit stilted – saved by some sweet slide political targets and explores the nature of Sam Shepherd 70s soft rock of `Barren Skies’? The succinct guitar – `Exiled Man Blues’ feels like the real deal. `Recognition’ makes its point and leaves, while In fact, when it comes to traditional blues, you further in `On The Fold’, among others, sprawl SWINDLESTOCK wonder what, if anything, new can be added to a other melancholic singer-songwriters, Paul stands out near the six-minute mark, lacking the depth to well-stirred pot, and short of adding potentially out by dint of being a subtle but adept tunesmith stand such exposure. Such a lack of brevity bears `Pilgrim Blues’ incompatible new ingredients, the best you can do and lacking too much self-pity. The EP’s title out the album’s title, making the album seems far (Own label) is sound as much like you come from the right place track, for instance, rises above its you-probably- more hard work than it should be, and it’s a struggle Last month found us bemoaning the lack of grit and as possible. In that, Swindlestock succeed. wouldn’t-care-if-I-just-died subject matter with to reach closer `Haunted’, a track that’s worth the gumption in King B’s feelgood blues. Swindlestock Ian Chesterton a rousing folk-punk carousel that sounds like effort as it keeps things simple, ending the journey The Pogues riffing on Half Man Half Biscuit’s on a reflective Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young trip. `Dickie Davies Eyes’. for just the one band with Trophy in their name Ultimately, by giving us more, Crayon leave us `Dance Like Morrissey’ is the big-hearted centre- to take the stage in Oxford and the band’s new taking less with us once the album’s over. Cut piece of the EP, more loser-in-love ruminations single`Gliding’ recalls The Go-Betweens at their these nine tracks down to four or five and you’d displaced by a sleepy-eyed sense of the epic. most plaintive – fittingly, given that all proceeds from remember the best bits far more clearly. We’ve said it before but it bears repeating that this two track CD will find their way to a range of Dale Kattack Paul’s lispy voice reminds a lot of Candyskins’ charities, including Sobell House Hospice. Nick Cope as well as Roddy Woomble at times In this, the track and its counterpart `High Stakes’ and you end up wanting to give him a hug and plough the same furrow as earlier single `Rant’, TRAPS buy him another pint instead of sniggering at his while the whole enterprise is part of a joint venture haplessness and telling him to man the fuck up. with photographer Rankin, purveyor of the exhibition `Capricorn’ Similarly `Sunny Day’ carries a rich seam of ALIVE: In The Face Of Death, currently showing at (Own label) PAUL BRENNAN optimism running through it, sweet female Liverpool’s innovative Walker Art Gallery. More soulful power-rocking from Traps here, backing vocals from Nikki Petherick lightening James Fewtrell’s vocals stick to the Robert Forster with their second single, the follow-up to last `No One Remembers the daydreamy mood yet further, and if `The Bus blueprint throughout and he’s joined, as the title year’s `I Won’t Crawl’. `Capricorn’ is a good Song’ sinks too far into that strum’n’moan ghetto, track progresses, by Liz Miller, whose mandolin move on from that, singer’s Lex’s vocals still Your Name’ closer `A Cautionary Tale’ is a warm, sad-eyed adds to a slowly building atmosphere of lushness very much leading the line but no longer carrying (Own label) lullaby to bid farewell to the day to. and who perhaps could have been handed the the song all by herself, a rugged, slightly serrated Having charmed us with a couple of elegantly Unassuming almost to a fault, Paul Brennan is microphone a little earlier. You can see why David post-grunge slab of stadium-friendly rockaboogie lovelorn demos in the past year, Paul Brennan proof positive that in the right hands intimate, THE TROPHY CABINET Gedge once felt moved enough to offer the band that owes a bit to Placebo but, fronted by such a releases his first full EP, his slightly woozy, confessional acoustic pop still has the power to supporting slot, although they may have been a powerhouse performance, sounds like it was built boozy lack of luck with the ladies showing no instil wistful romantic longing in the hardest of `Gliding’ better fit for Cinerama than the `Bizarro’ tour they to soundtrack an action scene from one of the sign of letting up any time soon. hearts. Remember his name. (Own label) ended up on. Twilight movies. While he treads very similar ground to plenty of Dale Kattack With Trophy Wife no more, the podium is now free Robert Langham Dale Kattack Winnebago Deal, Mondo Generator and Rocket THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Wheatsheaf From The Crypt. Mighty stoner-blues rocking – Free unplugged show from veteran bluesman support from Desert Storm and raw, grungy punk Pete Fryer, still going strong after 50 years on the rockers Bear Trap. local gig scene. THE MIGHTY REDOX + OXFORD OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon UKULELES: James Street Tavern – Swamp BLUES JAM: The Jack Russell, Marston blues and funky psychedelia from The Mighty THE HUMM: James Street Tavern – Rock GIG GUIDE Redox, alongside the local ukulele mini- covers. orchestra. st notch triple bill at this month’s always eclectic PROPAGANDA + TRASHY + JACK FM th SUNDAY 1 FRIDAY 13 th THE BIG FEASTIVAL: Alex James’s Farm, Klub Kak, with psychedelic-disco-jazz-punk-pop DJs: O2 Academy – Thee-clubs-in-one night BABYSHAMBLES: O2 Academy – Pete Thursday 5 Kingham – The second day of Alex James and SEPTEMBER crazies The Goggenheim headlining. They’re with indie hits at Propaganda; kitsch pop, glam Doherty returns to Blighty and to live action Jamie Oliver’s music and food extravaganza, by Bicester’s bright young blues chap Krissy joined by theatrical Hammer Horror thrash and 80s at Trashy, and dancefloor faves from after decamping to Paris to escape all the MERCHANDISE: today featuring a headline set from soft lad Matthews. merchants Agness Pike and spiky Pixies and Jack FM DJs. tabloid attention a while back and chance his 3RD DEGREE LEBURN: The Jericho Tavern Sonic Youth-inspired indie rockers Dallas Don’t. EXTRA CURRICULAR: The Cellar – Weekly The Jericho Tavern rockers The Feeling, plus Scottish hitmaker and arm at acting. Controversy and calamity have While later in the month you can see The – Soulful, funky blues from the Californian ECHO BOOMER: Truck Store (6pm) – EP house, techno and bass club night. BRIT winner KT Tunstall, Take That chap Mark dogged Doherty since his earliest days in The 1975, a band heralded in deluded quarters guitarist at tonight’s Famous Monday Blues launch show from the local electro-indie rockers. REPLICA: Fat Lil’s, Witney Owen, Havana party band The Cuban Brothers, Libertines, and we’ll not go over each and every as the future of guitar music and who show. SKYLARKIN SOUNDSYSTEM: The Cellar HOPE & GLORY: Highfield Social Club, Dexy’s and Style Council-inspired soul crew The sordid episode again here, but at his best he sound like they should really be named – Rising north London six-piece General Roots Bicester – Madness, Specials, The Beat and Bad Milk and, best of all, CBeebies’ Justin Fletcher, can certainly pen a decent tune, existing in the The 1985, tonight sees a band far less rd are the star turn at tonight’s Skylarkin club night Manners from the local Two-Tone tribute faves. bringing a little bit of Mr Tumble magic to the TUESDAY 3 lineage of quintessentially English songwriters likely to sell those elusive multi-millions with a fusion of dancehall, reggae and lovers party. JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – Jazz guitarist like Ray Davies, Paul Weller and Difford and but who are far more deserving of the rock, having previously toured with Laid Blak th Hugh Turner and band perform live at the SUNDAY 8 Tilbrook. And no amount of dirt is going to stop plaudits and stadium tour tickets. Hailing and Gentlemen’s Dub Club. nd Bully’s weekly jazz club, preceded by two hours BEARD OF DESTINY + MOON LEOPARD his fanatical followers from worshipping at his from Tampa, Florida, Merchandise’s name MONDAY 2 ULTIMATE BEATLES: Fat Lil’s, Witney – THE HOAX + THE KRISSY MATTHEWS of live Spanish-flavoured music. + BLIN’ JONNIE DUO + DANNY KAYE + musical altar. alone is meant as a two-fingered salute to Beatles tribute. BAND: The Bullingdon – Devize’s blues-rock OPEN MIC SESSION: The White Rabbit CELESTE: Donnington Community Centre BLOODSHOT DAWN + BLACK SKIES musical commercialism. Their early gigs JUICE: The Bullingdon – House club night favourites reform, after disbanding in 1999, to OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern (6pm) – The Donnington Community Centre BURN + GOTSU-TOTSU-KOTSU: The saw them compared to Black Flag and with OX105 and Elements of House DJs. play a handful of European dates, including hosts its monthly early evening of free acoustic Wheatsheaf – Ferociously technical death-thrash attracted a hardcore audience, but they’ve TONY BATEY: James Street Tavern – Live this Haven Club show. With a reputation for th music, with bluesman Beard of Destiny and from Hampshire’s Bloodshot Dawn, alongside long since left that behind, their most recent WEDNESDAY 4 blues. high-energy, volume-heavy blues, they drew Jeremy Hughes’ Moon Leopard. local deathcore warriors Black Skies Burn. outing, the `Totale Night’ EP is a raw, dark, CAITLIN ROSE: The Bullingdon – Big- SANCTUM: Varsity Club – Metal club night admiring comparisons with The Yardbirds, John BOSSAPHONIK: The Cellar – Dancefloor dissonant rumble of post-punk noise, early- hearted country and Americana from the with heavy, heavy sounds from across the metal Mayall’s Blues Breakers and the Rolling Stones th Latin, Balkan beats, World grooves and nu-jazz. indie rambling and lots of reverb. LOTS Nashville songstress – see main preview spectrum. MONDAY 9 as they toured the world in the 1990s and this EXQUISITE CORPSE: The Old Fire Station MORELAND & ARBUCKLE: The Jericho THE PETE FRYER BAND: Jolly Postboys of reverb. At their best, and fronted by the reunion tour is sure to sell out. They’re joined BLURD vs OASIS UK: Fat Lil’s, Witney poetically dour Carson Cox, they come – Minimalist drones and musical fragments from th Tavern – Raw, gritty Delta-style blues and Oxford Improvisers. SATURDAY 7 electric blues-rock from Kansas duo Aaron THE MIGHTY CADILLACS: The Evenlode, across as a cross between Suicide, Crazy WILD SWIM: The North Wall, Summertown Eynsham – First of half a dozen gigs around the Wednesday 4th JAZZ SESSION & JAM: James Street Moreland (guitar) and Dustin Arbuckle (vocals Horse and Morrissey. Hollowed-out drums Tavern – The local electro-pop rising stars showcase and blues harp), out on a UK tour to promote county this month from the rockabilly and blues and fractured, dissonant melodies bear out CAITLIN ROSE: ACOUSTIC LOUNGE: Fat Lil’s, Witney songs from their forthcoming debut album ahead their fifth album, `7 Cities’. outfit. the band’s stated love for jazz and dub, but of going into the studio, the band updating the TRAMP AVIATORS: James Street Tavern Merchandise are very much in the spirit, and rarefied 80s sounds of Japan and The Associates 90s NIGHT: The Bullingdon – 90s club classics. The Bullingdon th th sound, of indie’s first flowering. THURSDAY 5 via Wild Beasts and a world of electronic TUESDAY 10 Being labelled the future of country music MERCHANDISE: The Jericho Tavern – Post- soundscapism. JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – Funky live th at the tender age of 23 doesn’t seem to have SATURDAY 14 Pidgeon, David Menday and Braham Levy. punk reverb a-go-go – see main preview THESE ARE OUR DEMANDS + TRAPS jazz from The New Jazz Collective. weighed Nashville’s Caitlin Rose down JANET DEVLIN: O2 Academy – Another IAN MILLER & DOMINIC SPENCER: LET’S TALK DAGGERS + VERA GRACE + SWINDLESTOCK + STEM + MARK INTRUSION: The Cellar – Goth, industrial, too much. Three years after her precocious former-X-Factor also-ran passes through town, Sandford Village Hall – The Jazz in the Village + SEXWOLF! + I CRIED WOLF: The COPE: The Cellar – Rough-hewn hardcore- cyber-punk, darkwave and ebm club night. debut album `Own Side Now’ drew admiring 2011 contender Devlin briefly considered tour stops off in Sandford. Wheatsheaf – Rampant math-rock, grunge informed rockabilly from These Are Our OPEN MIC SESSION: The White Rabbit comparisons to country titans like Tammy credible and alternative for being a fan of Red MILLION FACES: Fat Lil’s, Witney – and hardcore noise from Eastbourne’s Let’s Demands, plus grungy power-pop from Traps, OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern Wynette and Loretta Lynn, she’s followed Hot Chili Peppers and covering Snow Patrol Stadium-sized rocking from the local hopefuls. Talk Daggers, with excellent support from blues-rock and Americana from Swindlestock, it up with the more polished but more and Guns’n’Roses, which just goes to show how JOE McCANN + JOHN KESTON-HOLE: Witney’s virulent metalcore tigers Vera Grace trippy electro from Stem and lachrymose WEDNESDAY 11th accomplished `The Stand In’, doubtless set meaningless the word alternative has become in Florence Park Community Centre and Birmingham’s militant hardcore warriors acoustic balladry from Mark Cope. Followed DROPOUT + GAG REFLEX: The to feature in myriad end-of-year Top 20s. musical terms. Why is there never a grindcore THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Red Lion, Sexwolf!. by techno, bass and house club night Extra- Wheatsheaf – Moshka club night with epic goth Her rich, earthy voice, accompanied by pedal THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Wheatsheaf round on X-Factor? Or a Throbbing Gristle Eynsham steel, Wurlitzer organ, slide guitar and strings, Curricular. rockers Dropout and spindly, spiky lo-fi hardcore round? – Free unplugged set from the veteran local THE CELLAR FAMILY + X-1 + AGNESS from Gag Reflex. injects melancholic songs with warmth and swamp-blues faves. YELLOW FEVER: The Wheatsheaf – Afro- th wistful humour; in her hands the forlorn PIKE: The Port Mahon – Virulent hardcore ADINA & JOHNSON: James Street Tavern – pop-flavoured indie rocking from the local faves, SUNDAY 15 CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford FALL FESTIVAL: James Street Tavern becomes uplifting and all her romantic woes punk fuelled by misanthropic disgust from the Piano blues and boogie woogie. launching their new single, `Wax’. Community Centre – Singers, musicians, poets, – Second day of the free music and ale fest, feel survivable where others might wallow mighty Cellar Family, joined tonight by serrated FREERANGE: The Cellar – Drum&bass, hip FLIGHTS OF HELIOS: Ovada – EP launch storytellers and more every Thursday at Oxford’s with Grudle Bay, Matt Sage, Hannah Bruce, and drown. Of course, Caitlin has songwriting hardcore tigers X-1 and camply insane thrash hop and dubstep club night. gig for the local psychedelic soundscapists. longest running and best open mic club. Swindlestock, Huck, Ags Connolly, Ragdoll and in her blood, her mum having penned many metallers Agness Pike. PROPAGANDA + TRASHY + JACK FM OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon poet George Chopping. of Taylor Swift’s hits, but she’s a far brighter HUCK + STUART CLARK & SARAH THURSDAY 12th DJs: O2 Academy BLUES JAM: The Jack Russell, Marston GLENDA HUISH + THE RIGHT HOOKS + talent and less prone to mawkish cliché than LUCAS + TAMARA + REICHENBACH SUPERFOOD: The Bullingdon – Psychedelic EXTRA CURRICULAR: The Cellar FUNK BAKE: James Street Tavern THE FIREGAZERS + MOON LEOPARD + her far more successful counterpart, a worthy FALLS: Modern Art Oxford – Pindrop pop and baggy revivalism from Birmingham’s FALL FESTIVAL: James Street Tavern – LES CLOCHARDS: The Wheatsheaf (2.30- young heir to Lucinda Williams or Stevie Performance night with bluesman, poet and Superfood, out on their biggest UK tour to date, Two-day music and ale festival, today featuring th 7pm) – Klub Kakofanney host their monthly Nicks. FRIDAY 6 storyteller Huck performing songs from his having previously supported Peace on tour, sets from The Gees, The Cellar Family, Bright afternoon acoustic session downstairs at the SLAM CARTEL + LIBERTY LIES + `Alexander the Great’ folk opera. He’s joined by showing off influences from Oasis and Blur to Works, The Dublings, Move Somethin’ Sheaf. OVERLORD + MOTHERLOAD: O2 virtuoso folk guitarist Stuart Clark, playing with Happy Mondays. Soundsystem, Ed Man Band and Simon Batten. Academy – Growly, blues-tinged hard singer Sarah Lucas; soul-bearing gothic torch LES CLOCHARDS + BAND OF HOPE: The BINSEY VILLAGE FETE: Binsey – Live th rocking from London’s Slam Cartel, drawing singer Tamara, and Americana/folk collective Marsh Harrier, Temple Cowley – Francophile music from The Epstein, The Gees, Count MONDAY 16 a line between Guns’n’Roses, Nirvana and Reichenbach Falls. rock’n’roll from Les Clochards, like Roy Drachma, Nick Cope and Ags Connolly at the THE LAURA HOLLAND BAND: The Soundgarden on their album `Handful of PETER PAN SPEEDROCK + DESERT Orbison transported to a café on The Left Bank, village fete. Jericho Tavern – The rising London blues Dreams’. STORM + BLASTED + DEAR TRAP: The plus uplifting folk-pop vibes from Band Of LITTLE BLACK DRESS: The Bullingdon singer updates obscure classics from the likes KLUB KAKOFANNEY with THE Wheatsheaf – Montrous, no-nonsense speedcore Hope. RIVERFOLK: Tiddy Hall, Ascott-under- of Ray Charles, Etta James, Little Milton and GOGGENHEIM + AGNESS PIKE + from Eindhoven’s PPSR at tonight’s Buried CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Wychwood – An evening of folk, roots and Elmore James at tonight’s Famous Monday DALLAS DON’T: The Wheatsheaf – Top- In Smoke show,in a similarly blasted vein to Community Centre Americana with sets from Chalice, Mark Blues. SCANDINAVIAN FOLK SESSION: James FRIDAY 20th FREERANGE: The Cellar MIKE DIGNAM: O2 Academy – Polished coming in somewhere near Interpol and Editors. Street Tavern – Viking drinking songs, mead THE BIG TEN INCH: The Cellar – Classic OPEN MIC SESSION: The Fir Tree – Trevor acoustic pop from the Preston singer-songwriter They’re joined by London’s rap, dubstep and and blood spillage. rock’n’roll, jump blues and more with Count Williams plays at the open mic club. who’s previously provided tour support for breakbeat crew The Push and Witney’s Biffy Skylarkin and DJ Lil Pearl, plus live sets from Gabrielle Aplin, Elliot Minor, Roachford and Clyro-inspired rockers Million Faces. TUESDAY 17th Hipbone Slim and Crowntoppers. THURSDAY 26th most recently Lewis Watson. MOTOWN’S GREATEST HITS: The New JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon DAMN VANDALS + THE MILLER TEST + THE YOUNGER: O2 Academy – Oh for SWINDLESTOCK: Truck Store (6pm) Theatre – Does what it says on the tin. OPEN MIC SESSION: The White Rabbit MARK COPE: The Wheatsheaf – Dark-hued fuck’s sake, is there no end to these boy bands – Instore show from the local blues-rock/ HAIRFORCE 5: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Heavy OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern post-punk and rockabilly from fast-rising rockers posing as serious rockers? The Script were Americana outfit, launching their new `Pilgrim rock tunes, from Motley Crue to Van Halen. Damn Vandals, out on tour to promote debut several steps too far down the road to eternal Blues’ EP. THE SHAPES: James Street Tavern – THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Wheatsheaf 60s-styled pop and rock. WEDNESDAY 18th album `Done For Desire’. damnation; this wretched lot are the effluent ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?: Fat Lil’s, th DEEP COVER: The Cellar – Hip hop night. PROPAGANDA: O2 Academy IN ZANADU: The Jericho Tavern – Rock, Tuesday 24 flowing down the gutter of that hellish highway. Witney – Jimi Hendrix tribute. HEAVY DEXTERS: James Street Tavern – EXTRA CURRICULAR: The Cellar blues and funk from the Banbury band. Yes they bloody are. HOWLIN’ TAIL DRAGGERS: James Street THE 1975: Live blues. THE REVELATORS: The Plough, Witney SPARKY’S JAM NIGHT: James Street MELANIE PAIN: The Jericho Tavern Tavern – Retro pop, electronica and chanson from TREVOR WILLIAMS: The Magic Café (1pm) HOPE & GLORY: George Inn, Littlemore Tavern – Open jam night. O2 Academy 90s NIGHT: The Bullingdon Manchester’s The 1975 were apparently Parisian singer Melanie, the voice of Nouvelle st th th SATURDAY 21 Vague for a while, and now out on tour to SUNDAY 29 THURSDAY 19 named after a book that singer Matthew th THE HAWKHURST + BLACK FEATHERS promote her second solo album, `Bye Bye SATURDAY 28 MIGHTY CADILLACS: Fat Lil’s, Witney CATFISH & THE BOTTLEMEN: O2 Healy found while on holiday in Majorca, + NICOLA BROWN: The Cellar – Rootsy Manchester’. AETHARA + MASK OF JUDAS + Academy – Llandudno’s rockers return to the but in reality they’d have been better off folk-rock from The Hawkhurst. WHEATUS: Fat Lil’s, Witney – New York’s FLEISCH + LEST WE FORGET + th O2 after their show in May, sounding like a cross calling themselves 1985, such is their MONDAY 30 BRICKWORK LIZARDS + THE NEW quirky alt.rockers make a low-key appearance DEMASK THYSELF: O2 Academy – between Arctic Monkeys and The Kooks. harking back to that benighted era for pop GRAINNE DUFFY: The Jericho Tavern FORBIDDEN + CLARK WISEMAN: St at Fat Lil’s, bringing hit single `Teenage Skeletor’s monthly metal extravaganza plays TIM WHITEHEAD & THE SPIN TRIO: music. While there’s been talk in some - Powerful blues and soul from the County John the Evangelist – Self-styled Turkobilly quarters of the band being saviours of guitar Dirtbag’ to the party along with songs from host to Aethara’s farewell show, the local Monaghan singer, whose debut album, `Out The Wheatsheaf – The Spin jazz club welcomes their new `Valentine’ album. fusionistas Brickwork Lizards meld elements of music (and who’d want that particularly metalcore, thrash and death-metal favourites Of The Dark’, was recorded with members of tenor sax player Tim Whitehead alongside the HUCK & THE XANDER BAND: James bowing out after four years on the Oxford Arabic and Balkan folk music with jazz, hip hop poisoned chalice?), they sound an awful Sharon Shannon and Van Morrison’s bands, in-house band. Street Tavern – Bluesman Huck performs songs scene. They’re joined by Chichester’s prog- and rockabilly in the elaborate environs of St lot like they’ve taken Foals’ white-boy her husky blues voice drawing comparisons THE BEN MOWART STRING PROJECT + from his pop opera `Alexander the Great’. metallers Mask of Judas, local industrial rockers John the Evangelist, joined by Lloyd Grossman’s funk edge and driven it round to Deacon to Bonnie Raitt. In her native Ireland she’s TREV WILLIAMS: James Street Tavern CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Fleisch, coming in somewhere between Marilyn New Forbidden. Blue’s house for a jam and a nice cup of supported everyone from Little Feat to Ocean CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Community Centre Manson and Rammstein, and metalcore crew MUNDANE SANDS: James Street Tavern – tea, possibly stopping off at Simple Minds’ Colour Scene and returns to the Famous Community Centre OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon Lest We Forget, mixing up elements of As I Lay Folk-rock somewhere between The Oysterband pad to borrow some epic drum tracks on Monday Blues to promote her new `Test Of BLUES JAM: The Jack Russell, Marston Dying, Trivium and Bullet For My Valentine. and Mark Knopfler from Mundane Sands. the way. Add in Healy’s adenoidal lack of Time’ album. nd th GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES with THE Sunday 22 HOPE & GLORY: The Angel, Bicester vocal range and you’re getting suspiciously FRIDAY 27 HANNAH BRUCE: James Street Tavern – SCHOLARS + THE PUSH + MILLION THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Standard, close to The Wanted or The Script at times, COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN + Confessional acoustic pop inspired by Elliot JAMES BLAKE: FACES: The Wheatsheaf – Characteristically Headington and even we’re loathe to start bandying SUPERLOOSE + ADY DAVEY: The Smith from the local songstress. PROPAGANDA + TRASHY + JACK FM eclectic mixed bag of sounds at this month’s those sort of comparisons around without Bullingdon – Blues and Americana. TORI FREESTONE: Pizza Express, Golden O2 Academy DJs: O2 Academy GTI, with Banbury’s grandiose, stadium-sized Few singers could cover Joni Mitchell a lawyer present. Still, what do we know, THE ELO EXPERIENCE: The New Theatre Cross – Live jazz. EXTRA CURRICULAR: The Cellar shiny gothic electro-indie crew The Scholars and Feist while sounding like they’d tonight’s show is already sold out, the – ELO tribute. EVOLUTION: Fat Lil’s, Witney comfortably fit into Massive Attack’s band’s forthcoming debut album is set to sell tripped-out electronic world and sound so thousands, if not millions, and their shows nd natural as James Blake, but it’s a trick he’s SUNDAY 22 so far have apparently displayed stadium- pulled off with unstinting panache since JAMES BLAKE: O2 Academy – Tripped- sized ambitions. So off you all toddle and he moved away from dubstep production out, dubstepped-up heartache balladry from the enjoy yourselves; we’ll just stay in for the to become a sorrowful soul singer, runner- angel-voiced harbinger of sorrow – see main night and crank Deafheaven’s album up to up in the BBC’s Sound of 2011 poll and preview illegal volume, and we’ll all be happy in our shortlisted for the Mercury Prize with THE ORIGINAL RABBIT FOOT SPASM separate little worlds. his eponymous debut album. Really, he’s BAND + MEGAN HENWOOD: Oxford tonight’s Famous Monday Blues. just lovely, isn’t he? Possessed, like John Prison D Wing, Oxford Castle – Album launch JAMES FOLEY: James Street Tavern Grant, of a voice you could just melt into, gig for the local hot jazz heroes – see main ADAM WALDMANN: Pizza Express, Golden a plaintive, quavering falsetto that captures interview feature Cross – New weekly Spires Jazz Sessions. and holds onto every ounce of melancholy EMPTY WHITE CIRCLES: Truck Store on the breeze. Seriously, the man makes The (5pm) – Instore show from the local indie- th xx sound like Bruno Mars at times in the folksters. TUESDAY 24 desolation stakes. Anyway, back recently KILL MURRAY + THE SEA THE SEA + 1975: O2 Academy – Hark! Tis the new Deacon with his second album, `Overgrown’, it FREADA: The Old Fire Station Blue! Come to save us! – see main preview features guest turns by RZA and Brian THE MIGHTY CADILLACS: Eagle Vaults, LIAM FRAY: O2 Academy – Solo acoustic Eno and is set to be the sombre soundtrack Witney tour for the Courteeners frontman. to the end of summer for swathes of the JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon population, tonight’s already sold-out show MONDAY 23rd OPEN MIC SESSION: The White Rabbit evidence that genuine emotional depth and SWIM DEEP: O2 Academy – Digbeth’s rising musical innovation aren’t always mutually indie starlets follow up supports to Mystery Jets WEDNESDAY 25th exclusive with commercial success. and Two-Door Cinema Club with a headline MADINA LAKE + FEARLESS VAMPIRE tour to coincide with debut album `Where The KILLERS + SUPER HAPPY FUN CLUB: Heaven Are We’, sharing musical space with O2 Academy – Farewell tour for Chicago’s near neighbours Peace, JAWS and Superfood in post-hardcore crew Madina Lake. their love for classic indie sounds, particularly ALL TAMARA’S PARTIES: The Library The Stone Roses. – Tamara & the Martyrs host their regular live KING MO: The Bullingdon – Haven Club music club night as they build up to the release night with the Netherlands’ soulful blues rockers, of their debut album in December. There’s warming up for their 100 Club show emotionally-turbulent gothic folk-pop from the THE KEITH THOMPSON BAND: The hosts, who are joined by Candy Says singer Jericho Tavern – Texan, Delta and Chicago Juju Sophie and darkly-inclined local songstress blues styles from the British r’n’b veteran at Bethany Weimers. photos:Pier Corona dog, she’s a bitch, she’s my muse,” a bitch, she’s dog, she’s Akiko) at which point all rules chirps of rock and roll implode and run home crying to their mummy. But if one single act this wonderful weekend sums up the spirit of Supernormal, it is ZOMBIE CRASH, a gaggle of youngsters from Brighton nurtured by the city’s learning disabilities music project and who are equally hilarious and chaotic and brilliant and more punk rock than the distilled soul of Jimmy whose clarion-call oik-punk Pursey, the band occasionally resemble. Learning disabilities or not, they’ve obviously had no problem learning every heavy metal cliché going, nor every swear word in the dictionary, and the feverish joy they get from spewing their racket out is shared right back at them and sums up the anything-goes ethos of a festival that and lives proudly on the margins where each and every act is created with utter conviction and a disregard So next for commercial viability. year just make sure you’re there. And bring your unicorn. Dale Kattack Mugstar Hookworms preposterously cataclysmic climaxes. Which is instantly bettered by scouring, soul- HOOKWORMS’ cleansing worldstorm where pensive build-ups give way to terrifyingly intense kraut-psych drone-core spirals punctured by reverbed-to- buggery screams and eviscerating They may wear their keyboards. influences on their sleeves – think early Spacemen 3 and Six By Seven – but by god those are great influences and any hype the young quartet are getting is more than deserved. For pure spectacle COMANECHI’s set is unrivalled, diminutive singer Akiko Matsuura appearing on stage with what looks like an entire bowl of fruit atop her head. Like a demonic Carmen Miranda she proceeds to holler like a tormented monstrous banshee over the band’s machine-gun hardcore before, a mere two songs in, she strips topless and takes us on a searing flight of invective from which the words “cock” and “fuck” are pretty much the only discernible lyrics. Spiteful, badly-brought-up pop melodies lash out from beneath the brutal riffage a (“She’s until they reach `Patsy’ broken Atari games console fighting broken to the death with an old dial-up connection, all played by a man dressed in swimming trunks and a gimp mask. Mexican wrestler’s compelled to After which we feel Park’s wander over to Brazier’s elegant mansion house where you can sit on the lawn enjoying a cream tea and watch people attempting to When we get there play badminton. to be a chapter what appears there’s Angels reclined around of Hell’s petite tables eating scones and jam and looking like they’re happier than they’ve ever been. and hear so much to see There’s across three days of Supernormal (we even mentioned the late night haven’t rave in the woods, or Nightshift’s Throbbing Gristle, own DJ set of old Gary Numan and Fad Gadget gems), but three sets over the weekend take the breath away. awesome swell ’s GSTAR First MU and blast of space-rock noise that recalls Lemmy-era Hawkwind with everything ramped up to buggery: cavernous subterranean psychedelic jams that rise via elongated, overdriven crescendos to Coma Wall Coma Comanechi Birthday Party’s `Release the Bats’ `Release the Bats’ Birthday Party’s across their 20-minute set, while ire middle-aged HAIRS’ GREY (the programme notes about them Yes state simply: “Are they angry? Can they be arsed to they are angry. They cannot”) do anything about it? White takes the form of vaguely Stripes-ish blues, filtered through heavy- Queens of the Stone-Age’s duty riffery. a lot of sludge-stoner-drone There’s across the noisemaking on offer to get tired of easy weekend, so it’s another torrent of downtuned riffage, are a class but 11PARANOIAS! apart. Made up (pretty much on the spot it seems) by members of Bong and Ramesses, they should really be Death, or Armageddon called Mega Molten Sonic Death. Something with There is death in the name anyway. there are beards and there is hair, made There are also riffs growling. our ribcage Afterwards of girders. Good work, collapsed. feels like it’s chaps. up to ANTI ANTEATER It’s to subsequently add EATER tinnitus to our litany of physical damage with what sounds like a Evil Blizzard fuzzy and would have gone down a treat on a Sarah Records all- dayer back in 1988, or the fantastic WOODPECKER WOOLIAMS, whose witchy blend of dark electronics, harp and quirky folk-pop comes in between Zola Jesus and Joanna Newsome. Not sure about the dancing, mind, which makes the attempting her look like she’s Charleston while a wasp flies up WEIRD Then there’s her skirt. MENACE, who are neither weird or menacing but play a pleasantly straight-up approximation of alt.pop. Throwing Muses’ , the WALL By contrast COMA acoustic incarnation of Undersmile, near as dammit turn Saturday a bleaker sunny skies morning’s shade of grey with their ghostly doom-folk, proof that you don’t need to be loud to be intense, and the perfect soundtrack to the most seethingly creepy southern gothic horror film never made. are the sound of Wall If Coma OF slowly creeping evil, ART are a short, BURNING WATER sharp shock of sound, mostly The sounding like Godflesh covering
on stage with them and do a brass rubbing. since been some 20 years It’s CHEESECAKE TERMINAL trod the boards, and for the first part Technical of their set you can tell. issues add to a general air of chaos as they tear up their crusty punk ire but once they and nasty metallic riffs, they’re hit old classic `Blowhound’ into a groove that they mine with an expertise that befits their vintage. years is but the blink of an Twenty lifespan, eye in RED SQUARE’s the jazz improvisers having formed in Southend back in the early-70s before decamping to Cropredy. They’re genially sedate. For about six seconds, before they tumble into sax, a dissonant tangle of guitar, clarinet and electronics burrowing into and scrabbling against each other as they drift between confrontational tetchiness and soothing ambience. Lest anyone worry that Supernormal sonic is all about uber-noise punishment (and much of it is, gloriously so), there are plenty of FEATURE lighter treats on offer. for instance, who are sweet and
guitar with a screwdriver is over- guitar with a screwdriver it could long and less fun than by SALLY be but is easily offset creepy sound and GOULDING’s woods video performance in the faces and where she superimposes to an eerie body parts over herself and industrial soundtrack. Innovative unnerving in equal measures. though, as Not nearly as unnerving, BLIZZARD, up on the main EVIL stage on Friday evening. Masks are nothing new in rock music but these We’re guys are genuinely freaky. scariest: the man- not sure who’s woman-Auton hybrid in pink, or the grimacing troll creature. Possibly the decrepit-granddad-dressed-as- trumps Alice-Cooper-for-Halloween they’re an them both. Either way, astonishing spectacle, drums and four bass guitarists belching up something unpleasant from the darkest corner of Butthole Surfers or psychedelic-dub-drone closet, PiL’s climaxing with the goblin chap playing a sort of anti-theremin made head while a man out of a doll’s dressed as a pig takes to the stage to fire a smoke machine at the ecstatic even a kiddie stage There’s crowd. invasion, each child wearing an expressionless mask stamped with Slipknot the word EVIL. Seriously, Tweenies look (and sound) like the compared to these guys. also have a troll BASTARD SEA their songs and just in one of but it’s from not being nearly they suffer as mental as Evil Blizzard, their raspy sludgecore powerful but not OF as convincing as CARAVAN superior set earlier on. WHORES’ of following on from great Talking & things, last time we saw SHIT SHINE there were about ten of them and they were playing one of the greatest gigs we have ever six Audioscope about seen, at there are only Tonight years ago. three of them, sat around in a drum circle, hammering out a robotic tattoo as cybernetic cogs grind What it lacks in around the beat. incendiary aural carnage it makes up for in hypnotic insistency, like a post-apocalyptic industrial pagan dance ritual – sacrificial unicorn optional, herbal incense In front of seemingly compulsory. us a gnomish little man attempts to Who sketch the band as they play. needs photographers, eh? Still, if he was proper alternative he’d get up
LIVE dismantling of an amped-up electric ’s PISTACECI Similarly GRETA probably goes over our heads. quotation from Diamanda Galas, set before it, accompanied by a failing to speak into the microphone mouth applies and removes lipstick, only a tiny TV screen on which a TV only a tiny and snacks, but the room containing connection between man, machine fake vomit as a statement about the stuffed with litter and slathered in stuffed like the BMW laden with burgers, laden with burgers, like the BMW sublime and ridiculous: we quite art that cross the line between there are displays of conceptual blur boundaries between disciplines, and arts festival, with a manifesto to Given that Supernormal is a music bike. expecting to see a man playing a mess.” And to think, we went along And to think, mess.” the weekend: “Bollock out the noise provide us with the catchphrase of in the holidays, although he does their summary of what they did watching a five-year old reading kind of genius. At times it’s like it’s At times kind of genius. astonishingly appalling he is some , who is so GOODMAN GARY sonic savagery, followed by poet sonic savagery, it in an abrupt set of abstract they do systematically destroying setting up their equipment than REICH, who spend more time MOTHERS OF THE THIRD MOTHERS OF Straight after which we encounter convinced it’s meant to be a cow. meant to be a cow. convinced it’s so rubbish we spend most of the set and a robot. In fact the unicorn is blokes dressed (badly) as a unicorn . Which is basically two ROBODAD. Supernormal is UNICORNDAD VS much the first act we encounter at And speaking of unicorns, pretty entire world isn’t here to witness it. entire world isn’t the only negative aspect is that the music that is so joyous, so thrilling, faculties desert us in the face of weekend where Nightshift’s critical weekend where Nightshift’s a few times it must be said – over the than anything, there are times – quite even the crap bits are funny. More even the crap bits are funny. a pint or something to eat and where a pint or something to been mugged every time you fancy been mugged every time where you don’t feel like you’ve where you don’t rarely encountered at festival level, rarely encountered at festival eclectic and challenging to a degree eclectic and challenging than for profit, friendly to a fault, than for profit, friendly countryside, curated with love rather countryside, curated with like Supernormal: set in idyllic like Supernormal: set in really exist, all festivals are made really exist, all festivals possibly one where unicorns possibly one where unicorns In another, parallel, universe, parallel, In another, Braziers Park SUPERNORMAL photo:Johnny Moto MAYORS OF MIYAZAGI / IRREGULAR photo:Giulia Biasibetti PUNCHING SWANS / MASIRO / FOLK ALL- JUMPSTART THE JUNGLE DAYER The Wheatsheaf The Perch Irregular Folk’s offbeat, intimate Punching Swans are good at endings. rockers, they never forget how great events have been among the Does that sound snide? It’s not meant it sounds when rock bands make a highlights of Oxford’s musical to. They have a knack of knowing noise like machine guns. No matter calendar so far this year, kicking off precisely when enough of their how complex their writing gets, they with a series of fascinating line-ups at tannoy-blaring repetitive pop scuzz is always bring the music back to the the Cellar and upgrading to the ornate, enough, never dragging a riff beyond sound of heavy field artillery, which is decadent surroundings of a huge its use-by date, and often stopping fine by us. There are odd melancholic Bedouin tent at the Perch for their with precision just when you think guitar moments that aren’t too far summer season. the music is running headlong down from Metheny territory, but they Though ostensibly showcasing a giddy hill of disco hi-hats, beyond soon pummel any poncy thoughts of the more acoustic, folky end of the control. Their sound adds an elastic false harmonics or modal declensions musical spectrum, the real charm in twang to thick, grungy ratchetting, out of your mind with jackhammer Irregular Folk is in finding the rough like Duane Eddy pitching in with The intensity. This may be math rock, but diamonds working around the edges, Jesus Lizard, and if it can occasionally it’s likely to beat you round the face dipping into world music, art-pop and fall back on easy sloganeering yelps, with Fermat’s last theorem and stick electronica. Fittingly, this all-dayer the effect is powerful. an abacus up your rectum. is their most ambitious show yet, Earlier we saw the debut set from Mayors Of Miyazagi have made bringing down the curtain on their Jumpstart The Jungle, a bass and friends in Oxford, and it’s easy to see current season. drums duo who transcend the clichés the fit: they play sprightly Johnny Alas, Irregular Folk’s commendably of the line-up, and at their best are Foreigner-like songs, with just enough egalitarian line-up policy means deeply intriguing, playing heavily twists to avoid begin called “indie that the running order is hard to find distorted chintzy basslines that repeat chug”, and they have that blasted in advance. Thus we miss out on headlong like the music from some romantic vibe that seems to go down a Message To Bears and illness forces trigger-happy Megadrive game, and treat in the town. Trouble is, although Salvation Bill to withdraw, so our first it’s a nice nod to classic English folk of stripped-back, quirky songs with with precision and pleasingly sparse, throwing big, simple vocal lines over the music is an enjoyably tuneful experience is of some real traditional in amongst the eclecticism. knowing lyrics just on the right side in front of an apparently spellbound, the top, like bullet point summaries clatter, the vocals have a geeky folk courtesy of IAN GILES. His a Salvation Bill are replaced at the last of archness, without preparation or diligently attentive crowd who lap up of full songs. By the end of the set, chortling tone that drags the songs cappella renditions of traditional folk minute manfully by DAI BOWE the backing of his usual band. every note. A triumphant end to an however, they drift into meandering, down: be honest, “we drank sunshine storytelling and murder ballads (all from Oxford folk troupe The Oh So BETH PORTER AND THE invigorating season of events – come wistful melodies that don’t suit the through the haze of your cigarette” is that reminds us of Secret Rivals but energy, and there are hooks enough to delivered with a pint of real ale in Many, stepping out from behind the AVAILABLES bring the show to a back soon. vocalist, and leave the drummer with not a line that gets any more profound the Mayors don’t quite capture the snare the ears. Mayors Of Miyazagi hand) feel like a step back in time and bar at the Perch to deliver half an hour close with a deft showcase sparkling Stuart Fowkes little to do. by sounding like it’s sung by Moss sneering vitriol, although they’re are a decent little live band. Does that Promoters Masiro are next up, and from The IT Crowd. Sometimes, a better act. And yet, the set is sounds snide? Well, you know… whilst they might be intricate math- there’s a fizzing boy-girl exchange enjoyable, the band are suffused with David Murphy
X-1 / PARTLY FAITHFUL stood, rooted, on the track. for the musical story of the summer, ensuring a X-1 may well have been around since last century, sell-out crowd tonight. Formed in Cavan, Ireland / JORDAN O’SHEA and compound this by being dads and some of in 2008 their effervescent take on Dr Feelgood and the nicest guys in town, but they have still got early Stones was soon turning heads, including The Wheatsheaf enough piss and vinegar in them to make the Elton John who signed them to his management Jordan O’Shea, one of the rising stars of the loudest of rackets while being both deftly melodic company. Still with only two EP under their belts, local Bear On A Bicycle stable, may appear to be and having plenty worthwhile to say. Theirs is a one self-produced, their debut album seems certain the standard open-mic fare: young man, acoustic great skill, balancing the sheer heaviosity of Big to create an orgy of excitement, and all this with guitar, satchel of poignant songs (taken from Black and DC hardcore with typically wry lyrics an average age of sixteen. his album, `Desolation, My Dear’), but with the about police surveillance or alpha male politicians, Bassist Pete O’Hanlon is a blur of curly hair and soft, world-weary flicker of such greats as Colin watching as it climbs harder and higher until it non-stop motion, Josh McClorey’s guitar has just Blunstone and Nick Drake on the margins of his topples into the epic fall out jam of `(My Son’s) the right mix of grit and virtuosity, while drummer phrasing and voice, he is someone who, if nurtured Gecko’. Age shall not weary them. Evan Walsh keeps the beat with a minimum of away from the hothouse of commercial pressure, Paul Carrera superfluous flourishes. Stage centre stands singer could produce some timeless classic songs. Ross Farrelly, ice cool in his shades and dapper The loss of their guitarist Gemma Thompson, suit, contributing some fine harmonica just when who went on to form Savages, could have been THE STRYPES / it’s needed. His somewhat reserved presence sits the demise of cool, subterranean London band in contrast with the furious energy surrounding Partly Faithful, but her replacement, the wildly AARON KEYLOCK him, even leaving most of the between-song banter innovative Anouska Haze, has proved to be the to his guitarist, but they’re unmistakably a unit, making of this fiercely passionate and gothic act. O2 Academy seamlessly swapping around instruments as the set Her sensational walls of `Scary Monsters’-era Oxford boy Aaron Keylock’s musical progress progresses. O’Hanlon’s bass playing is their secret Robert Fripp-inspired expressionist guitaring, almost makes tonight’s headliners look like weapon, running up, down and around every song against which singer Ed Banshee intones his tortoises. Assembling his own band at the age with restless urgency. New single ‘Hometown music theatre of metaphors and poetry, simply of twelve to headline a Friday night spot at Girls’ is surely catchy enough to see them land moves the Bauhaus-esque oeuvre up to a ballsier London’s Charlotte Street Blues, he’s gone on to their first mainstream hit, though towards the end higher plane. Their debut album, `Lazarus playing international festivals and open for the it becomes clear that variety is not their current Under Glass’, provides the set with such riff- likes of Albert Lee and Nazareth – and all before strongpoint. The Stones have managed fifty years laden standout numbers as `We Are Insects’ and his sixteenth birthday. Sporting clothes and hair at the top by shifting their focus and looking for `Underset’, but it’s the lasting impression of Ed, straight out of 1974, he looks like Rory Gallagher new ways to approach songwriting, if not always on his knees in front of the audience, wielding his and sounds like him on the hard rocking blues of successfully. But The Strypes can cross such personalised cruciform mic stand, that remains, ‘Medicine Man’, while the slow numbers bring bridges as they come to them; for the moment while Haze and bassist Chris Blake replicate the to mind Eric Clapton in his 1970s prime, only let they’re riding a wave and it’s an unbridled tunnel collapsing sound of a desperate tube train down by a slightly tentative drummer. pleasure to be there as they do. braking from 100mph to zero, as if we were all The buzz surrounding The Strypes is a candidate Art Lagun photo:Alice Watanabe
WILDERNESS FESTIVAL Cornbury Park It’s a strange thing, Wilderness. intentional, and if in fact the aim is more visibility than at last year’s is every bit as good as the large In its sprawling Cornbury Park to create the likelihood of surprise; Wilderness, the music is spread out crowd hoped and expected - for an splendour, it combines several regardless, it makes the experience across several large stages and a old guy who’s had a hard life, he kinds of happenings: music, food difficult to take on in any other variety of smaller platforms. For a may be slightly frail-looking but and literary festivals, talks, theatre form than an almost random series festival with so many distractions, his songs, voice and performance and drama, late-night clubbing, of events. The workshops and it’s difficult to treat Wilderness are very strong and, because of the woodcraft’n’whittling workshops, talks? Surprisingly enjoyable - and like a music festival as much as a film, beautifully familiar, speaking new age hokum and all kinds of at time frustratingly busy - with festival with some music, but there of personal and counter-cultural pop-up artisan paraphernalia. everything from Ruby Wax to are highlights. NICK MULVEY of beliefs that are still relevant. More so than in previous years, Jon Ronson, to a Dragons’ Den Portico Quartet’s solo performance the organisers seem to have entrepreneur who invites us to is mellow, charming and relaxed, That the music programme tends neatly pulled off this balancing embrace failure as thriving young translating his band’s sense of subtle towards the mainstream or non- act of entertainment, creating an businesspeople. The food? Very experimentation and repetition into challenging – the other headliners atmosphere that genuinely does impressive: four-hour banquets a more traditional singer/songwriter EMPIRE OF THE SUN are create a sense of wonder and from Yotam Ottolenghi, Russel setting. Temples, despite looking cloyingly perky and slick; NOAH what’s-around-the-next-corner Norman and Mark Hix; exquisite like a series of identikit black- AND THE WHALE terrifyingly surprise, and providing the means halloumi and chorizo flatbreads trousered, tousle-haired alterno- bland enough to drive this reviewer The for a diverse group of visitors to and some of the best fish and chips rockers, capture the expansive away – seems rather unimportant each have their own experience. ever tasted from J Sheekey. The sense of 1960s psychedelic pop in a in the context of Wilderness as So, as an exercise in logistics, drama and theatre? Everything similar way to The Coral. Japanese a whole, as it doesn’t set out its EST 1999 thumbs up; everything is subtly, ranging from a Shakespeare one-man band ICHI is utterly (pop-up, organic) stall as anything Cellar yet very carefully organised, with reading up a tree, to the remarkable captivating, arriving on stage on musically bold or experimental. a overall relaxed and safe feel Les Pepones providing a trapeze- a pair of stilts which are quickly Taken as such, it’s a terrifically Oxfords only truly permeating the, at times, genuinely based tribute to silent film, to transformed into a steel drum enjoyable couple of days. strange things that are taking the magical ‘Maudits Sonnants’ stand, to provide the backdrop to a Expensive it may be - it’s widely independent gig place. Admittedly, the exact details piece by Transe Express, which super-quirky set of songs generated reported as ‘the posh festival’, and club venue can be difficult to uncover, with comprises several bell and drum- with odd vocals, home-made which can give the wrong idea; many things not running quite to playing entertainers slowly and instruments, kazoos, bells, and all despite the braying Chelsea schedule, musical acts switched delicately rising fifty feet into the kinds of strange things. halfwits who keep the campsite around and the festival programme darkness of night whilst playing Saturday night’s headliner awake all night with their booming providing – in return for eight quid circular, rhythmic tunes. RODRIGUEZ, the 71-year idiocy, it’s actually a pretty nice, Frewin Court, Cornmarket St, Oxford, OX13HZ www.cellaroxford.co.uk – the only timetable on offer. old Dylanesque folk singer slightly confusing place to be. And And, of course, the music. With reintroduced to the world by way that seems to be what they aim for. It’s hard to say whether this is performances overall given slightly of the Searching For Man film, Simon Minter
INTRODUCING.... SEPTEMBER Nightshift’s monthly guide to the best local music bubbling under Mondays THE HAVEN CLUB 2nd THE HOAX / THE KRISSY MATTHEWS BAND £15adv 23rd KING MO TRAPS Every Tuesday Who are they? THE OXFORD JAZZ CLUB Anthemic rockers Traps are: Alexis Goodyear, Roger Blake, Tim Gardiner Live Spanish-flavoured music. 8-10pm; jazz bands from 10pm; free (vocals, guitar, bass) and Peter Canning (drums). Roger set up Traps having entry. 3rd THE HUGH TURNER BAND 10th NEW JAZZ COLLECTIVE split from Kill Casino, “keen to create some loud, epic sounding music but 17th / 24th TBC with a bit of a twist on a common line-up, having a girl in the band”. Having found Pete, classified ad style, in May 2011 and reconnecting with old friend Wednesdays Tim, the band recruited powerhouse vocalist Lex, ex-housemate of Tim. The 4th CAITLIN ROSE four started with their first gig at The Bullingdon and have since played the Every Wednesday – acoustic music session from 8pm; free entry. O2 with BBC introducing, supported Everclear, Tennis and Danananakroyd and performed at this year’s Oxford Punt, as well as Truck Festival in July. “Gunning for Tamar. It’s inspiring to watch their success and to see them pull Thursdays They released a double A-side single back in December and an acoustic EP it out of the bag at Truck, despite being at the end of a heavy European tour.” for Record Store Day, and this month release a new single, `Capricorn’. DJs in the front bar – free entry If they could only keep one album in the world, it would be: What do they sound like? “Are you trying to start a fight? If so, Lex would champion `Homogenic’ by 12th SUPERFOOD. 7pm; £7.50 Traps’ sounds is an emulsion of crunching guitar and soulful vocals that Bjork, Roger would stand up for `Round the Fur’ by Deftones, Tim wouldn’t walk a tight-rope between rock, punk, soul and pop. Or, as a recent Nightshift show any mercy for anyone knocking `Lateralus’ by Tool and you’d have to Fridays review had it “centred on the powerful, vocals of Lex and pumped up [with th prize Reuben’s `Very Fast Very Dangerous’ out of Pete’s cold, dead hands.” 6 JUICE – Upfront house music with OX105 DJs, plus Elements of guitars] on stadium-pop steroids”. When is their next gig and what can newcomers expect? House DJs. 10-3am; £5, ladies free. What inspires them? “The Cellar on 7th September. Expect a wall of loud, anthemic rocky tunes, th th 13 27 ULTIMATE 90s – Old skool and club classics. 10-3am “Live acts with passion and energy; big, unapologetic guitar effects and other some with a harder edge, some with a soul-pop centre and banter to match.” Early Friday gigs successful Oxford bands.” Their favourite and least favourite things about Oxford music are: 27th COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN / SUPERLOOSE / ADY DAVEY Career highlight so far: There are some great bands and some great venues but there is a big gap “Playing at Truck last month and the fun that ensued post-gig. Highlights between folk and metal in Oxford, so it’s tricky to carve out a space for a Saturdays include cocktails on a boat outside a Hawaiian bar, singing the wrong songs band like Traps. We’re loosely bobbing around somewhere in the middle of 14th LITTLE BLACK DRESS. 10-3am; £5B4 11.30pm along to Ash when they were on stage and drinking cider for breakfast.” the gulf but we’re enjoying that we’re different.” And the lowlight: You might love them if you love: Sundays “Forcing our friends to get us to the MMG Battle of the Bands final by Skunk Anansie; Yeah Yeah Yeahs; Florence & The Machine, Paramore, Hell 22nd COMEDY NIGHT. Humour Tumour presents the best and newest drinking copious amounts of alcohol, for votes. We did get there by a Is For Heroes; Fighting with Wire. landslide, which says a lot for the conviction of our friends.” acts on the UK circuit. 7.30pm; £5 Hear them here: Their favourite other Oxfordshire act is: www.wearetraps.com or www.soundcloud.com/wearetraps
DR SHOTOVER: Florence of Arabia THIS MONTH IN OXFORD Ah, there you are. Nice to see you… to see you, nice. No, not really, oaf … but ALL OUR YESTERDAYS MUSIC HISTORY T H E W H E A T S H E A F I am just back from the Platitude Festival, so what can you expect? Frankly if TH THUR 5 I were in charge of the recent investigations into the BBC I’d have had Spruce 20 YEARS AGO for Ride manager Dave Newton, while the single is Scottish starlets called Franz Ferdinand, making Foreskin locked up by this stage. Just for the irritating facial hair, if nothing “Radiohead gave us one of their songs once, when now a rare collectors’ item. their first national foray and coming to Zodiac LET’S TALK DAGGERS VERA GRACE + SEXWOLF! + I CRIED WOLF 8pm/£5 else. Now, where were we? And don’t say ‘In the East Indies Club bar’ or I they were On A Friday. I had to get up on stage Coming to town this month were Chumbawamba before going stratospheric shortly afterwards. FRI 6TH will be forced to, as the young hoodlums say, NUT you. Ah yes, you were on to repair one of their guitars. There were a bunch and Credit To the Nation at the Minchery Tavern; A quick glimpse at the demos reveals a band in the the point of buying me a pint of Auld Scroggins with extra wood-shavings, in of my friends down the front and they all started Senser at the Oxford Venue and Catherine Wheel Dumper called First Ugly Pop Star, the work of a celebration of the fact that the Florence Park Community Centre is about to shouting my name. Afterwards, Thom was really at the Jericho Tavern. young lad called James Hitchman, later to become a AGNESS PIKE + DALLAS DON’T 8pm/£5 THE GOGGENHEIM start hosting regular gigs. Apparently we can expect local heroes Radiohead, Nightshift favourite with Alphabet Backwards, but TH chuffed because he thought they all loved him and SAT 7 Foals, Stornoway and Ultrasound… not to appear. But hopefully our old pals were shouting his name.” So said Changelings back then a “laboriously strummed, nasally rendered CAN’T will make a welcome return with some toe-tapping endless jams and guitarist Tom in his band’s interview with Curfew 10 YEARS AGO emotional rollercoaster, consumed by negative The Rock Of Travolta were, well, rocking, on DESERT STORM + BLASTED + BEAR TRAP incomprehensible howling. Probably every month. Support from the Florence magazine in September 1993, thus marking out his thoughts.” And he sounds so happy these days. PETER PAN SPEEDROCK the cover of September 2003’s Nightshift as they 8pm/£9/£7 Advanced Park Flower Club – hmm, they sound pretty psychedelic, don’t they? And all claim to personal fame. Not that you’d know it was TH prepared to release a new EP, `Everything’s Opened WED 11 the cake you can eat (it says the September issue, since we’d managed to put Up’ on Idle Records. The song featured vocals from here). Still, however much you October on the front cover. And on the gig guide. 5 YEARS AGO Seafood’s David Line and was the first TROT song A collage of Latin-labelled sea creatures adorned the GAG REFLEX 8pm/£5 may mock – and, oh yes, I hear Like a bunch of retards. DROPOUT to feature proper singing. It would later earn them cover of Nightshift in September 2008. Which could FRI 13TH you mocking – it’s got to be a Anyway, yes, The Changelings, they were right better night out than the Oh Too noisy buggers, penning songs about pain and Song of the Year in Nightshift’s end of year Top 20. only mean it was Stornoway’s first ever interview Echoey, hasn’t it? Actually that misery and drawing admiring comparisons to Crazy And album, `Uluru’, was due to follow in October. feature, the band still hometown cult heroes yet to BLOODSHOT DAWN BLACK SKIES BURN + GOTSU-TOTSU-KOTSU cake really IS rather delicious, Horse and Smashing Pumpkins, while the band Also releasing stuff this month were hot new local taste chart success and festivals-sized adulation. THE FLORENTINE CAMERATA 8pm/£7/£5 Advanced and it goes SURPRISINGLY WELL spent much of the interview bickering between hardcore sensations Shouting Myke, whose `For Borderville’s Joe Swarbrick went to interview the SAT 14TH with this Auld Scroggins, nyom themselves about musical taste, Tom’s claim to love Your Pleasure’ was out on Hanging With The Cool band for us and promptly found himself with a nyom nyom [the camera pans Joni Mitchell bringing a chorus of vomiting noises Kids. It followed a busy year for the band who had microphone stuck in front of him and being forced gigged with Funeral For A Friend and Lostprophets to singing backing vocals on a new song called BRIGHT WORKS + ORANGE VISION 8pm/£3 back to reveal Mel Giedroyc from the rest of them. There was some consensus YELLOW FEVER as well as winning Steve Lamacq’s Unsigned Band `Mullet’, set to appear on their debut album. It THUR 19TH smiling kittenishly beside the on Frank Zappa though, mainly because “he hated bar… a tattered hand-written everyone, especially Americans.” of the Month on Radio 1. was typical of the quartet’s make-do-and-mend sign behind her reads ‘The Great Away from this philosophical debate, this was the More good news for local bands, including DIY recording ethic. The band had already earned TIM WHITEHEAD & THE SPIN TRIO 8pm/£10/£6 NUS British F***-Off’… Then the month Radiohead re-released their classic `Creep’ Winnebago Deal, who were shortlisted for Best themselves the title “Officially the brainiest band TH FRI 20 TARDIS materialises next to the single off the back of some pretty monstrous Newcomers at the Kerrang! Awards, up against ever” for having no les than four PhDs between East Indies Club jukebox, and the American success, having only dented the national The Darkness, Million Dead and Funeral For A them and revealed that Rob was only recruited THE MILLER TEST 8pm/£5 bloke from The Thick of It gets consciousness in the UK previously. The rest being Friend. Also The Samurai Seven, who were set to as drummer because he brought a portable heater DAMN VANDALS take part in a new ITV music show called XPosure, to the audition, which was in a freezing garage. SAT 28TH out, at which point we realise history. A more cult local release was Motorcycle the whole thing was a dream… Ride’s 7” on Fierce Records. Which was Ride showcasing rising unsigned talent in the UK. Stornoway’s stamp on the local scene was sealed Dr S wakes up, having eaten his teaming up with Motorcycle Boy singer Alex Beth Orton (the Town Hall), Calvin Johnson when BBC Radio Oxford DJ Tim Bearder locked THE PUSH + MILLION FACES 8pm/£4.50 THE SCHOLARS pillow]. Taylor for a pair of Blondie covers, `Atomic’ and (Port Mahon) and Andrew WK (Zodiac) were himself in the studio while standing in on the Next month: ‘Benzedrine ‘Oh, Dr S! Thank goodness you have shaved `Union City Blues’. An entire set of Blondie covers among the month’s gigging highlights but the breakfast show and played the band’s songs for a The Wheatsheaf 129 High Street, Oxford OX1 4DF / www.facebook.com/wheatsheaf.oxford Curry – Fast Food’ Shock off that unsightly BBC Pervert moustache!’ were originally played live as a birthday party treat most noticeable name here was a bunch of young solid hour, earning himself a suspension. The Reckless Sleepers use such a self garden while it’s pissing down. `Life & description as their 60s-styled pop has its Limb’ is pretty sullen in a kind of blokey, charming moments. They also describe less aloof Pet Shop Boys kind of way, all themselves as “semi-psychedelic”, synth strings, gently pulsing electronic DEMOS which seems a bit of a cop-out, like Bill beats and unassuming vocals, everything Sponsored by Clinton’s “I smoked dope but didn’t bubbling along nicely without upsetting Demo of the Month wins a free half inhale” claim. `Bus To Carfax’ reminds anybody along its way. `That Boy’ features day at Silver Street Studios in Read- us of legendary local indie janglers The the possibly ironic lines “Behold that boy / ing, courtesy of Umair Chaudhry. Anyways a bit, not surprising really He’s got so much joy / And It’s dangerous Visit umairchaudhry.co.uk/nightshift after we notice that band’s Pete Lock is to behold,” while again sounding for all involved here as drummer. Phil Garvey’s the world like a wet weekend in Bognor lilting voice works nicely on the folky in the cheery stakes. Not a bad track, opener `Between The Rocks’ glides in on `Step Out Of Your Frame’, with its hippy mind, like an electro-pop savvy croon- 01865 240250 DEMO OF a great eerie synth line, like something vibe and vague resemblance to punk- collaboration between Matt Monroe and from a spooky old 1960s sci-fi movie. folksters Blyth Power, while `Swimming China Crisis. Thereafter they tend to drift THE MONTH But then in come the clattering drums, With The Sharks’ is a soft-centred, off into inconsequentiality with the fluffy clunky guitars and frankly awful vocals airy lament with just the merest hint of `Don’t Come To My Party’ (we probably and the mood is broken – like the postman Fearghal Sharkey at his most sensitive. wouldn’t as we fear it would involve too TENTH LISTEN barging into your living room just as Where the band lose it is trying to rock out many sensitive souls moping at the foot Like fellow vintage hardcore/punk you’re about to make out with the sexy on `Would She Dance With Me?’, Phil’s of the stairs waiting to be chatted up), revivalists Bear Trap Tenth Listen seem evil robot woman from Metropolis. Same voice gone all nasal and the whole thing until disco loons Coloured crop up with a to be trying to steal those genres back thing happens with `Like Baumgarten’, sounding like a clumsy approximation of decent remix of the opening track. They from the whiny clothes horses on one clunky indie-grunge chugging dumped The Kinks. Or even The Mavericks. Not might stick around to offer tips in up-for-it hand and the atonal thrash merchants unceremoniously on top of great synth sure why it reminds us of the Mavericks, musical recklessness while they’re about on the other. Looking back to 80s bands chimes and hums. It’d probably have but it does. Maybe we’re just a bit quirky. it. like Firehose, The Descendants and The sounded fantastically futuristic back Replacements, maybe even Husker Du in 1976 set alongside punk’s shouty at times, they recognise that even noisy vanguard, but here just sounds a bit MORDECAI THE DEMO bastard music can benefit from having a lumpen. They sort the vocals out for the There appear to be at last a dozen bands melodic beating heart, even if that melody final number, `The Beast’, by sticking around the world called Mordecai, and is sung by a raw, gravelly voice, possibly them through a Vocoder and the bass and they’re all metal bands, which takes DUMPER guitars meld far better, but they’ve left some doing for a name taken from the TURAN AUDIO.co.uk possessed by the sort of ne’er-do-well Professional, independent CD mastering who spent his school lunchtimes giving those cool synth bits out, so the whole old Hebrew bible (oh, please, tell us it BENJAMIN Barry or whatever his name is from One rescue mission seems in vain. Stick the isn’t from the cartoon bird in The Regular Artists mastered in the studio last month include; Direction Chinese burns for being such a best bits of each of those together and Show? It is, isn’t it? Peasants!). But EDWARDS SEVEN DEAD, THE TROPHY CABINET, ARCTURUS, DEAD you’ve got something to build on. A singer with an acoustic guitar, you say? soppy bollocks. `Slow Pain’ is the best of anyway, this particular Mordecai are a KENNEDYS, BOB DYLAN, SLOW LEARNER, IN THE WOODS, Not happy about his lot in life? Can you the two tracks here, a bit of velocity fizz local prog-metal band, one with the odd see what’s coming next, dear reader? GRAVE DIGGER, THE EARLS OF MARS, YA OK YEAH, and fuzz that makes its point well enough Tool album or four in their collection. FUZZY LOGIC Utter fucking carnage, that’s what. Never SALVATION BILL, TOLIESEL, YOUNG KNIVES, ROCKER and knows not to stick around too long. Which isn’t a criticism since we have mind fish in barrels, here’s an elephant COVERS, MATTHEW LEE & THE OCTAVES, RUSSELL The production isn’t all that and you feel at least two in our own collection (and BABY admittedly never listen to either). Both in a teacup to be shot at. Benjamin here SWALLOW AND THE WOLF. it would all sound much, much better Fusion pop is always a tricky field to songs here clock in around the seven (seriously, does anyone other than his ramped up on the Wheatsheaf’s PA, but negotiate, with the risk of losing any minute mark, starting slowly before mum, and even then only when she’s cross good to hear a decent bit of old-school genuine identity or simply failing to fuse 01865 716466 [email protected] trying to build up some kind of a head of at him for not putting his dirty socks in the rocking of this kind on a more regular those disparate genres. Fuzzy Logic Baby steam, each solid and meaty, guided with wash basket, actually call him Benjamin?) basis. mostly get it right here, fixing up a party a deft hand but both strangely failing to is doubtless a nice bloke with good cocktail of funk, hip hop, reggae, ska THE COURTYARD STUDIO hit home with any great conviction. `One manners and a friendly attitude to children and grunged-up rock. The best tracks are Side’’s ambient build-up resolves into and animals, but by crikey this song, `I `Howling Wolves’, a lively funky reggae PROTOOLS HD2, MTA 980 CONSOLE 32/24/24, fulsome chugging but no further, while Still Believe’, is a rotting hessian bag full CLEA DE SEBROCK skank with laddish rapping and a daft OTARI MTR90 MK2 24 TRACK TAPE MACHINE, the smouldering, almost ecclesiastical of rancid bogwater. “We spend the days, A one-song dancefloor banger here from singalong chorus of “Come and touch 2 TRACKING ROOMS, SUPERB CONTROL ROOM `Mobius Lost’ hits a mid-level plateau waiting for the night time / We spend the Refugees of Culture singer Clea whose my belly,” and the Two-Tone-inspired but needs to spread its wings wider and nights, praying that tomorrow / Will give WITH GOOD SELECTION OF MICS & OUTBOARD coquettishly soulful voice is smothered `Gangsta In Da AM’, a horns-powered dig its claws in. The lasting impression us more,” run the opening lines. It appears GEAR + MIDI FACILITIES (Inc LOGIC AUDIO, AKAI over the track’s squelchy electro-disco ska/grunge/hip hop hybrid that flits is of a talented band who are a bit too to be a clarion call for positivity (“Raise S1000, OLD SKOOL ROLAND etc.) stomp like warm, pink icing sugar. between styles with a fair amount of serious, frowning at the sound of the band a glass to the good times,” he incites), She sounds a lot like the singer from fluency. The slick `March On’ settles on in the next studio bashing away at trying but it couldn’t sound more despairing if Residential facilities included. seemingly long-lost synth-popsters more typical low-key hip hop but sounds to be The Locust or The Berserker and it were crawling naked along a filthy city www.courtyardrecordings.com Schmoosh (who did the best version of sterile and way too polite and the livelier, generally having a lot more fun. pavement with a litter of dead puppies PHONE PIPPA FOR DETAILS on 01235 845800 `Sweet Child O Mine’ ever – fact), and anthemic r’n’b of `Glow In The Dark’ and while the whole thing sounds like it could stapled to its broken legs. Ben old chap hysterical, chant-along `No Problems’ are (may we call you Ben?), tomorrow will easily have been made in 1978, 1998 or required to bring the party vibe back, the next week, it still sounds about twenty PRONK indeed bring you more. But only more latter coming with a drunken sway about it Talking of self-descriptions, Pronk, a misery. More despair. More Bob Dylan times better than pretty much everything for that end-of-the-night celebratory feel. on the last Daft Punk album. Sorry, are we guitar/voice/keyboard duo from Oxford albums to clutch to your shivering breast. starting to sound a bit obsessed with that and London, tell us they play “jaunty You may still, as the song title goes, particular subject? pop,” though mostly they sound about as believe, but so do we. In hatchets and THE RECKLESS jaunty as anyone who’s just had to bury hammers and merciless beatings. Unleash SLEEPERS their beloved pet dog at the bottom of the the hounds, the party starts here! DANGERWHALE John Peel once wisely stated that anyone Great name for a band, but one who who claimed they were eccentric most describe themselves as “synth-prog”, surely wasn’t. Similarly any band who Send demos for review to: Nightshift, PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU, or email links something that could easily go either describe themselves as quirky is unlikely to [email protected], clearly marked Demos. IMPORTANT: no review without way in the great/shite stakes. And indeed to possess a single crazy bone in their a contact address and phone number; no more than four tracks on a demo please. If you it does, often at the same time. Demo collective body. It’s unfortunate that can’t handle criticism, please don’t send us your demo. Fri 6th Sept • £7 adv Fri 4th Oct • £6 adv Thurs 31st Oct • £15 adv Fri 29th Nov • £7.50 adv 6.30pm 6pm 6pm - 10pm Slam Cartel Oxford City Festival Present + Liberty Lies + Overlord Evarose Wretch 32 + Motherload The Goggenheim Fri 4th Oct • £10 adv / £6 NUS Sat 2nd Nov • £12.50 adv + The Knights Of Mentis 11pm - 3am • over 18s only 36 Crazy Fists + The Mighty Redox Fri 13th Sept • £23 adv Switch ft. Breach Babyshambles + The Great Big Bargain Mon 4th Nov • £20 adv Sat 6th Oct • £7 adv Sat 30th Nov • £15 adv Sat 14th Sept • £8.50 adv Hawkwind 6pm 7pm - 10pm • Rescheduled - original tickets valid Zico Chain playing the classic album “Warrior on the Edge of Time” The Naked and Famous Janet Devlin Mon 7th Oct • £15 adv Sun 1st Dec • £25 adv Thurs 19th Sept • £6 adv The Quireboys Fri 8th Nov • £11 adv Catfish and + special guests Bonafide & more 7pm - 10pm Ocean Colour Scene The Doors Alive Marchin’ Already Tour the Bottlemen Tues 8th Oct • £8 adv Fossil Collective Fri 8th Nov • £7 adv / £5 NUS Mon 2nd Dec • £22.50 adv Fri 20th Sept • £8 adv / £6 NUS 11pm - 3am • over 18s only 11pm - 3am • over 18s only The Magpie Tour Black Star Riders Switch Switch Weds 9th Oct • £8 adv ft. Karma Kid Thurs 5th Dec • £10 adv ft. Huxley 6.30pm Night Beds Nina Nesbitt Sat 9th Nov • £25 adv Sun 22nd Sept 6pm - 10pm Sat 7th Dec • £12 adv James Blake Thurs 10th Oct • £13.50 adv Boy George (Live) Absolute Bowie Kids In Glass Houses This Is What I Do Tour Mon 23rd Sept • £10 adv + Propellers Weds 11th Dec • £17.50 adv Swim Deep Sat 9th Nov 6.30pm Fri 11th Oct • £15 adv 6.30pm - 10pm Airbourne Tues 24th Sept 6.30pm - 10pm Kodaline The 1975 Johnny Flynn Thurs 12th Dec • £25 adv Sun 10th Nov • £12 adv The Darkness Tues 24th Sept • £15 adv Sat 12th Oct • £10 adv Villagers Liam Fray UK Foo Fighters Thurs 12th Dec • £18.50 adv + Bipolar Sunshine (The No.1 Foo Fighters Tribute) Tues 12th Nov • £15 adv Adrian Edmondson The Rifles & The Bad Shepherds Weds 25th Sept • £15 adv Sun 13th Oct • £7 adv + Life in Film + Dexters Madina Lake Nadine Shah Fri 13th Dec • £28 adv Thurs 14th Nov • £12 adv Farewell Tour Thurs 17th Oct • £8.50 adv My Life Story Happy Mondays + Fearless Vampire Killers ‘Bummed’ 25th Anniversary Tour + Super Happy Fun Club Canterbury Fri 15th Nov • £25 adv 6.30pm Fri 13th Dec • £12 adv Thurs 26th Sept • £6 adv Fri 18th Oct • £18 adv 6.30pm Gary Numan Electric Six The Younger From The Jam ‘All Mod Cons’ 35th Anniversary Sun 17th Nov • £13.50 adv Tues 11th Feb 2014 • £18.50 adv Fri 27th Sept • £8 adv Gabrielle Aplin Less Than Jake Mike Dignam Fri 18th Oct • £10 adv 6.30pm & Reel Big Fish Weds 20th Nov • £9 adv + Zebrahead Fri 27th Sept • £12 adv / £8 NUS Guns2Roses & Rescheduled show - original tickets valid 11pm - 3am • over 18s only Metallica Reloaded The Family Rain Switch Thurs 13th Feb 2014 • £10 adv ft. Sub Focus DJ Set Sat 19th Oct • £20 adv Thurs 21st Nov • £20 adv Cash Gathering Festival Turin Brakes Payin’ Tribute to the Man In Black Sat 28th Sept • £7 adv Multi venue festival 7pm - 11.30pm Fri 22nd Nov • £12 adv / £8 NUS Skeletor ft. Aethara Weds 23rd Oct • £20 adv 11pm - 3am • over 18s only + Mask Of Judas 6.30pm Switch / Ram + Fleisch The Cat Empire + Lest We Forget ft. Andy C & more + Demask Thyself Fri 25th Oct • £18.50 adv Mon 25th Nov • £11 adv Blue 7.30pm - 11.30pm Tues 1st Oct • £22.50 adv 6.30pm Ms Mr Fri 25th Oct • £12.50 adv Fat Freddy’s Drop 6.30pm - 10pm Tues 26th Nov • £13.50 adv Susheela Raman Weds 2nd Oct • £19.50 adv The View 6.30pm - 10pm Sun 27th Oct • £16.50 adv The Wailers Weds 27th Nov • £9 adv + Paighton 6pm - 11.30pm performing Legend in it’s entirety Tyler Hilton Vuvuvultures Mon 28th Oct • £19.50 adv Thurs 3rd Oct • £13 adv 7.30pm The Queen Extravaganza Fri 29th Nov • £12 adv / £8 NUS Limehouse Lizzy 11pm - 3am • over 18s only Performing the Greatest Hits Tues 29th Oct • £12.50 adv Switch of Thin Lizzy Hadouken! ft. Rudimental DJ Set
Tickets for Saturday night shows INCLUDE FREE ENTRY to Propaganda (or £6, £5 NUS / members, £4 NHS on the door)
facebook.com/o2academyoxford 190 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1UE • Doors 7pm unless stated twitter.com/o2academyoxford Venue box office opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-5.30pm youtube.com/o2academytv ticketweb.co.uk • wegottickets.com • seetickets.com • gigantic.com