Tim Hughes presents his weekly pick of Oxfordshire's best gigs

Festival

  • Riverside Mill Field, Charlbury
  • Saturday and Sunday
  • Free

In this age of expensive festivals, Riverside is a blast of fresh air. Not only does this lovely two-day gathering feature some favourite Oxfordshire bands, but it is free. The event, on Saturday and Sunday, attracts 2,500 people to Mill Field in Charlbury for performances by more than 40 artists. Saturday includes sets by db band, featuring former Supergrass member Mick Quinn, Empty White Circles, The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band, Death of Hi-Fi, The Brickwork Lizards, The Epstein, Flights of Helios, Bethany Weimers and The August List, while Sunday has Million Faces, We Aeronauts, Dreaming Spires, Swindlestock, Deer Chicago, Ags Connolly, Nairobi and Tamara & The Martyrs. And, did I mention... it's free!

Festival

  • D Fest
  • The Red Lion, Drayton
  • Saturday and Sunday
  • Free

Another impressive line-up of artists gathers in Drayton, near Abingdon, for the annual tradition that is D Fest. Designed as a post-Truck festival come-down, the event, organised by former Dead Jerichoes artist Craig Evans, is another great excuse to listen to quality music in (we hope) the sun. Highlights across two stages include The Epstein (again), Duchess, The Scholars, My Grey Horse and Orange Vision. Sunday is acoustic day. The music starts at 1.30 on Saturday and 3pm on Sunday, running ‘til late on both nights.

Experimental

  • Gesamtkunstwerk Memetics
  • The Old Fire Station
  • Saturday
  • Tickets £6 from wegottickets.com

Fixers frontman Jack Goldstein presents a night of creative genre-bending fun spanning the artistic spectrum. A champion of the grand concept, Jack’s work is never less than thought-provoking. And, despite the unpronounceable title, this show can be expected to entertain, stimulate and delight.

To read more about the show, click here....

Americana/ jazz

  • Tom Russell
  • St John the Evangelist, Iffley Road, Oxford
  • Tomorrow (Fri)
  • Tickets £16 from wegottickets.com

Highly-respected songwriter Tom Russell is the latest big name to grace the altar at SJE. And, no doubt wishing to make an impression, he is rolling up with the Norwegian Wind Ensemble. Releasing 28 albums over three decades, Tom is phenomenally prolific, working with the likes of Calexico and writing songs for Johnny Cash, Nanci Griffith, Dave Alvin and Joe Ely. He is also regarded as a founding father of what is now known as Americana. He will be joined by guitarist Thad Beckman.

Folk-rock

  • Mike Heron and Trembling Bells
  • St John the Evangelist, Iffley Road, Oxford
  • Tuesday
  • Tickets £12 from wegottickets.com

Multi-instrumental Scottish singer-songwriter Mike Heron of the Incredible String Band teams up with folk-rock band Trembling Bells for a night of lovely rootsy-pop. The show went down a storm at the Celtic Connections festival earlier thias year, with the artists (including the wonderfully-voiced singer Lavinia Blackwell) performing classic String Band songs and more recent Trembling Bells tunes.