• BEST remembered for her 1979 hit, Pilot of the Airwaves, Charlie Dore is an extraordinarily prolific songwriter whose work has been recorded by Celine Dion, Tina Turner, Paul Carrack, UB40, Jimmy Nail, Joe Brown and George Harrison.

Next Thursday she makes a rare appearance at the Bullingdon Arms, in Cowley Road, Oxford.

“This is the first time I’ve played in Oxford for seven years, so is long overdue,” she tells us.

She is supported by Oxford’s own Ted Dewan, who starts the evening, accordion in hand, with some of his own eccentric songs before joining Charlie on stage at the end of her set. Tickets are available from ents24.com

  • THE finishing touches are being made to one of the highlights of the festive season — the PinDrop Mid Winter Festival at St John The Evangelist Church, Oxford, on December 16. The event features some gorgeous music from The Epstein, Flights of Helios, Danny George Wilson, Wild Swim, and an acoustic sessions featuring Rainbow Reservoir, Huck, Jess Hall, Matt Sage, Until the Bird... and others.

The night is in aid of Oxford-based homeless charity The Gatehouse. Tickets £10 from wegottickets.com

  • AMONG the new breed of Oxford bands to be attracting attention far beyond the city are The Lost Art. The duo of Gordo Francis and Greg Hooper impressed judges at an Open Mic UK regional showcase and are now only one step away from performing in the final of the national competition, at the O2 Arena in London in January. The pair are hoping to impress judges at the penultimate stage at Sub89 in Reading on Sunday. We wish them the best of luck.

 

  • STAR of musical theatre, Michael Ball has announced a spring tour taking in Oxford’s New Theatre on April 30.

The singer’s credits include West End and Broadway roles in Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Woman In White, Hairspray and Sweeney Todd. Tickets, priced at £37.50, go on sale at 9am tomorrow from www.livenation.co.uk or www.ticketmaster.co.uk