We’re a bit late to the party on this one, but we’ve noticed that several of the events in this year’s OXDOX documentary film festival have an interesting musical connection. OXDOX, which runs from 27 April to 24 May (and which is therefore in progress, hence our lateness to said party), is a huge event presenting all kinds of interesting documentary films at several venues. It’s all worth a look, but events that might be of particular interest to ‘music people’ include:
Saturday 12 May, 4.30 pm: Northern Sounds and Cellar gig
This is the world premiere, at Oxford’s Ultimate Picture Palace, of Alain Boegner’s Northern Sounds, a two-hour ‘road trip’ through the Nordic music scene. Ticket buyers can also get a combined ticket including entry to gig at the Cellar that evening, which starts at 7.45 pm and features Listing Ships, Nøught and Wild Swim.
Tuesday 15 May, 7.00 pm: Anyone Can Play Guitar
The final Oxford screening (for a while, at least) of Jon Spira’s Oxford music documentary Anyone Can Play Guitar, at the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford. To be followed by a Q&A with Spira at Truck Store on Cowley Road, and Alphabet Backwards playing live instore.
Sunday 20 May: Vinylmania and Marley
Two screenings on this day, both at Oxford’s Ultimate Picture Palace – at 4.15 pm it’s Vinylmania, exploring the persistent passion for the vinyl format. There’s a Q&A with the director at Truck Store afterwards. At 6.00 pm, back at the UPP, it’s Marley, Kevin MacDonald’s comprehensive history of Bob Marley.
Tuesday 22 May, 7.00 pm: Music forum on DIY Mainstream and Stornoway Concert
A discussion taking place at Holywell Music Room in Oxford, which will see panellists from NME, Sony Music, 4AD, DrownedInSound, Truck/Rapture Records and more talking about the state of ‘DIY Mainstream’ in this country. Followed up at 9.30 pm by an acoustic Stornoway concert at the same venue, also featuring an acoustic set by Kill Murray.
Thursday 24 May, 9.00 pm: Turksib and Bronnt Industries Kapital
Turksib is a 1929 Russian silent film charting the building of the Turkestan-Siberian railway: “one of the most breathtaking documentaries ever shot”. Bronnt Industries Kapital – who you may have seen at Oxford festival Audioscope in 2009 – will be performing a live electro-acoustic soundtrack, mixing melody, drone and rhythm to complement the imagery.
Tickets for these events and, of course, all of the other OXDOX happenings, are available through the OXDOX website.