Clean your ears out on Saturday 18 January, at The Cellar in Oxford. The much-missed and haven’t-been-around-for-ages guitar fury rock’n’roll powerhouse Winnebago Deal are back in town, and they’ll be very ably supported by the rambunctious, chunky and huge-riffed Desert Storm. What’s more, first on will be the wittily-named Flack Blag; a Black Flag covers band featuring two members of Winnebago Deal. Rock! Devil horns! Mosh! Booze! Mayhem!

If that’s not your cuppa tea, also on Saturday 18 January is a fine line-up at the Jericho Tavern in Oxford. Noisy guitar types Hot Hooves are launching their new album Nutritious Cascades, with support from Mary Bendy Toy, Agness Pike and A Reluctant Arrow. Noise, strange goings-on and flamboyant stage presence are expected.

One of Oxford’s best bands, Spring Offensive, have a special show on Sunday 19 January at East Oxford Community Centre. It’ll include previews of tracks from their forthcoming crowd-funded album, Young Animal Hearts, due for release in March, but attendees (who need to purchase tickets in the form of a funding pledge on the album) will get an advance copy!

One-man electronic/ambient/drone-ish outfit After The Thought launches a new EP, I Am No Different, with a gig at Port Mahon in Oxford on Friday 24 January. Entry is free! Free is always good. As well as ATT there’ll be a DJ set from the intriguingly-named Man Of Science. Man Of Faith.

The lengthily-named Upstairs in association with BBC Introducing in Oxford are back with their regular gigs at O2 Academy 2, Oxford, on Saturday 25 January. These gigs are always a good way to get up to speed with a selection of what’s going on in Oxford music right now, and this one is no different. The slick’n’moody Wild Swim will be supported by Beta Blocker And The Body Clock, Theo Bass, Whale And More Whale and The Aureate Act. Where do these people get some of their band names from, eh? Who knows…

Full details of these and loads more gigs can be found in the events calendar.