THERE is a brand-new sound coming from an East Oxford estate.

The new committee at the Florence Park Community Centre is hoping to turn it into “Oxford’s Cavern”, with regular music nights, a new youth club and a film club.

Already, Matt Sage, who runs Cowley Road’s Catweazle Club, is running monthly kids’ music clubs.

Leading the transformation is father-of-three and committee member Mick Conmy.

He said: “There has been a big change in the demographics here over the last 10 years.

“There has been a big influx of families and there is a bit of a buzz.

“With a school in each corner of the estate, children get separated and the only place they can meet up is in the park or, in winter, the community centre.

“A group of us realised this space could cater for a wider community.”

Mr Conmy, who works at Unipart in Cowley, volunteered to start a monthly Saturday band night for families.

On June 29 the first act, St Gregory the Great School choir, took to the stage, and Mr Conmy has booked a flamenco band and more.

He added: “I want to turn it into Oxford’s cavern.”

Mr Sage, who has run the Catweazle open mic in Oxford since 1994, has been running a similar club for children at Florence Park since April.

At the end of June, he invited East Oxford bluegrass band Swindlestock to play while the children got to try out different musical instruments.

Swindlestock trumpeter Ed Thornton, 32, said: “It was a nice day, so we pulled an extension into the courtyard and played outside.”

The film club organisers are still looking for equipment to get their night up and running.

Florence Park, built in the 1930s, is 80 years old next year. The change at the city council-owned community centre came three months ago after the committee of 10 saw an influx of new members, which brought down the average age to about 40.

Mr Conmy said he was inspired to join up after Jubilee street parties.

He said: “This is a great space and we’re afraid the council will shut it unless it gets used.”

Email florencepark communitycentre@gmail.com