Bully for you

At first glance ‘The Bully’ is like any other pub but the venue it houses out back – complete with stage, bar and impressive lighting set-up – is home to a unique and special place.

The ‘Famous Monday Blues’ is a weekly night of musical splendour that has been alive and kicking since 1984, making it the longest running event of its kind in the country.

Tireless promoter and organiser ‘Silver Phil’ (often described as Oxford’s King of the Blues) has no doubt held the title by ensuring the level of talent showcased is more than worth your £10 at the door – regularly attracting artists from around the UK, Europe and the US.

With a décor that has been relatively unchanged for 20 years – black painted walls, candles dotted around on tables, and low ceilings – you can’t help but feel this is the ‘real deal’, in the words of Silver Phil himself.

The crowd is a mix of older rock ’n’ roll scensters whose experience of good music heightens the wave of anticipation for a great live show, as well as a trendy younger posse – who all gather in a collective buzz for an eagerly awaited performance.

And when 9pm arrives, with no airs or graces, the seven piece band of Earl Thomas, Paddy Milner and the Big Sounds step on stage.

Within minutes, the crowd are tapping feet and nodding heads and by the end of the set there is some full-on dancing up front.

The charismatic front man draws us in with a voice full of recognisable blues notes, from the quintessentially smooth to the slightly experimental. This plus a powerful trombone solo and a piano player to make you go weak at the knees was all in all a performance that put your everyday gig night to shame.

It’s easy to see why the night is popular with students, locals and visiting musical enthusiasts alike.

Whether you’re 18 or 80, Monday Blues is a jazz haven where you’ll get a taste of the real deal at the hands of...the King of the Blues.