Matt Ayres talks to the mighty Kill Murray

You’ll find all kinds of weird and wonderful music in Oxford, but indie pop is the big hitter. Radiohead, Supergrass, Foals and Stornoway all have elements of this catchy genre in their sound, and another band of a similar background looks set to take the country by storm with their infectious noisemaking: Kill Murray.

The guys who formed this formidable four-piece, pictured, are stalwarts of the Oxford music scene, having previously played in promising outfits like Dial F for Frankenstein and Phantom Theory.

“We formed in 2011 after Gus (Rogers, guitar/vocals), who already knew Scott (McGregor, bass) from Cherwell college, put an ad up on Nightshift Magazine forum,” explains the band’s guitarist and synth player, Aaron Delgado. “I responded, then we found Chris (Hutchinson, drums), and the rest is history.

“We sort of knew each other already from playing gigs together around Oxford with our previous bands.”

Kill Murray played their first show for the Ley Lines festival at the O2 Academy Oxford, winning over new fans with a rough and ready take on modern indie rock, combined with sugary elements of synth-pop. It’s a sound that the band continue to be recognised for today: “catchy songs with big beats, guitars and synths” is how Aaron puts it.

Having been around the block a few times in previous acts, these savvy musicians have had no problems making friends with the right people. One of their biggest shows was in support of the late but great Oxfordian legends Trophy Wife earlier this year. Elsewhere, their friends-in-high-places include the influential fellas at Truck Store, with whom they have played both instore and at Truck Festival, and Safehouse Studios on St Clement’s, where the band rehearse on a regular basis and recorded parts for their most recent EP, Microscopic Feel. For their next public appearance, Kill Murray will raise the roof at the North Wall theatre in Summertown.

“We haven’t played for a while, so we are really looking forward to it” says Aaron.

Also on the bill are fellow indie kids Wild Swim, see facing page. Tickets cost £10 from thenorthwall.org.