The music of The Epstein evokes images of the vast American West. And as frontman Olly Wills tells Tim Hughes, there's a good reason With their country vocals, twanging guitars, banjos and western rhythms, The Epstein perfectly conjure up the wide-open spaces of the American prairies. So it may come as a surprise to know that these masters of Americana are good old Oxford boys.

Based in Binsey, the band get the inspiration for their sublime alternative country melodies not from the Rockies or Great Plains, but the open vistas of Port Meadow.

But if you detect a hint of evocative cowboy melancholy in their three-part harmonies, there's a reason: frontman Olly Wills put together the fledgling band in the wilds of Wyoming.

"I started playing about five year ago, while living on a horse ranch," he explains. "That's where my influences come from, and why I started playing.

"We played bars and other ranches, and did pretty well, especially for a bunch of English guys!"

Over the past year, Olly, and band members Jon Berry, Ed Hawkesworth, Rowland Prytherch and Stef Hamilton have acquired local cult status and genuine affection among gig-goers, industry-insiders and other musicians. They were one of the highlights of this year's Truck Festival, packing in the cognoscenti with a spine-tingling set of pure beauty, and they have repeated the feat at numerous performances since - including a remarkable Sunday Steamer riverboat set on the Thames.

Speaking to The Guide from a bar on the windswept wild west coast of Ireland, Olly agreed that 2006 has been a great year.

And with an, as yet unnamed, album on the verge of release, 2007 looks like being even better.

"It's a relief to get the album finished," Olly says.

"It has taken too long, but we have got something we are all happy with at last, which is the main thing."

Olly admits the band are perfectionists - which partly explains the delays to the album.

"I do suffer from perfectionism," he says. "The material is close to our hearts, but I have always believed that if you want to attain success, your music has got to come from the heart."

Tomorrow the band will be at the Zodiac, playing alongside friends, and fellow country pop lovers Goldrush (centred on Truck Records supremos, brothers Joe and Robin Bennett), singer-songwriter KTB (aka Joe and Robin's sister Katy Bennett), and artist Vashti Bunyan, who in the 60s was a key part of the Oxford music scene before disappearing in the 70s.

Olly admits it's a tantalising prospect. "It's going to be amazing," he says. "Goldrush are ridiculously talented - and Joe often plays with our band. He's an enigmatic performer.

Katy is also a wonderful songwriter who we have played a lot with before.

"We are also quite excited to hear Vashti, who now has cult status."

So should we wear Stetsons and spurs for the show? "No, we are not cowboys," laughs Olly.

"We might occasionally dress up in the shirts, but I certainly don't go line dancing.

"It's more to do with the ethos and love of the music. It's Americana - and alt country. But we are developing a slightly different sound, which is more about the alt' than the country'."

The Epstein, KTB, Goldrush and Vashti Bunyan play the Zodiac tomorrow. Tickets are £7 in advance. On December 18, The Epstein celebrate their Christmas party at the Jericho Tavern. Contact the venue for details. Look out for a new Epstein single, featuring song Black Dog