Beardyman (Wednesday 26 November @ O2 Academy, Oxford): Quirky beatboxing and loop manipulation from a man who has sometimes been known to wear a colander on his head. If that sounds like your thing, here’s the perfect gig for you.

Oxford City Festival (Monday 24 November to Saturday 29 November @ various venues, Oxford): The annual Oxford City Festival takes place once again; it’s a week-long shindig that sees a huge variety of local musicians plying their trade across many of Oxford’s venues. It’s going to be hard to avoid it, so instead, why not embrace it?

PADDOX ‘Aphrodisiaque’ album launch (Saturday 29 November @ Old Fire Station, Oxford): PADDOX (formed by the ex-drummer of Trophy Wife – capitals theirs) launch their debut album at this special gig, which promises to be rather an audiovisual treat. Copies of the album on vinyl should be a thing to behold – each one is packaged in a sleeve made of solid concrete!

Simply Gershwin (Wednesday 3 December @ St John the Evangelist Church, Oxford): Something a little different here; pianist Viv McLean and singer Sarah Gabriel will be performing a set of Gershwin’s songs in this spectacular venue. It’s a fund-raiser, to help restore the building housing the venue, so why not, eh?

Buried In Smoke Long Xmas Weekender (Saturday 6 December @ The Wheatsheaf, Oxford and Sunday 7 December @ The Bullingdon, Oxford): Get into the Christmas spirit by spending an entire weekend in the Wheatsheaf and/or the Bullingdon, getting your ears blasted by several types of noise. This stonking weekender features Desert Storm, Mother Corona, Girlpower, Lee Riley and a metric ton of other acts. Earplugs at the ready…

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