The second Irregular Folk night takes place at The Cellar in Oxford on Thursday 15 November. This new gig series aims to present quirky and offbeat folk-esque bands and musicians in a warm and welcoming environment, and the line-up for this one certainly fits that bill. They have Gravenhurst, the Warp Records-signed delicate master of vocal fragility, Chilean folk singer Soledad Vélez, and Oxford’s extraordinary soundscape creator Seabuckthorn.
On Saturday 17 November the excellent, but lengthily-named promoters Upstairs In Association With BBC Introducing In Oxford are presenting hipster dance-popkids du jour Chew Lips, along with a superb selection of Oxford support in the form of Grudle Bay, Tiger Mendoza, Stem and After The Thought. All for just six quid, and the masochists amongst you can then stay on for free entry to the Propaganda/JackFM and Trashy/Room 101 club nights!
They’ve done a couple of these before, and Spring Offensive have another non-traditional gig taking place on Sunday 18 November. They’ll be appearing along with Among Brothers and Toliesel at a “secret OX4 location”, the exact details of which will be revealed to ticket-holders two days before the event. Fingers crossed it’ll take place slap bang in the centre of Cowley Road Tesco – that’ll liven up the often unbearably drab environment in there… although who knows. Based on Spring Offensive’s sense of style and taste, it’s likely to be somewhere considerably more lovely than that.
Cool underground sounds to be heard on Friday 23 November at the latest in the regular Basement Session series at Modern Art Oxford. ‘Experimental pop’ band Laurel Collective will be supported by the very clearly-named electro-indie-popsters Peter & Kerry and After The Thought, the solo multi-instrumentalist/electronica project of Matt, one of Truck Store’s staff!
‘The Feast Of Novembris Mensis’ is a one-off gig being run by independent foodies Oxfork on Friday 23 November. To be held at the quirky, beautiful venue that is The Rotunda in Oxford, it’s an opportunity to enjoy music by Ralfe Band and Rhosyn and, most excitingly, some mulled wine or hot chocolate included in the ticket price! You can even pay a little more to precede the gig with dinner laid on by Oxfork.
A bit of a homecoming event on Sunday 25 November at The Cellar in Oxford: Chad Valley, who has been touring the world and recently released the fantastic Young Hunger album, will be supported by fellow Blessing Force cohorts – and similarly refined melody maestros – Trophy Wife and Solid Gold Dragons. It’s likely to be nice and busy, despite being on a Sunday night!
Full details of these and loads more gigs can be found in the events calendar.
If you’re so inclined, tell us about gigs you’ll be checking out in the next two weeks in the comments!