The sounds of Brazil come to The Cellar, Oxford, on Saturday, with a night of tropical rhythms courtesy of the sublime Mariana Magnavita.

A former hit at Truck and Cornbury, Mariana, pictured, blends the bossa nova melodies of her native land with the folk, Celtic and acoustic traditions of her adopted Britain.

Her band includes members of Wheatus (yes...as in Teenage Dirtbag), Lily Allen and Amy Macdonald.

She is joined by indie classical singer and composer Ana Silvera and soulful electro-pop act Gil Karpas – who accompanies himself with special effects from his ‘multi-loop station’, into which he sings, plays guitar and adds percussion beatbox and bass.

Tables are available, and tickets are £6 from wegottickets.com.

GET THE BLUES IN BANBURY Visitors to Banbury could be forgiven for thinking they had ended up in Memphis or Chicago this weekend, when the town holds its 25th blues festival.

The Banbury Blues, Roots and Acoustic festival is one of the highlights of the town’s musical year – and attracts a dizzying range of artists from both close by and very far away.

The festival is curated by musician and promoter Tim Porter, from Brailes, who has put together a stunning array of acts in three performance spaces at The Mill Arts Centre on Saturday.

The sessions take place in the afternoon and evening in The Miller’s Bar, The Mill Theatre and The Long Room.

Topping the bill will be the Larry Miller Band and talented harmonica virtuoso Will Wilde. Also appearing are Beth Porter – cellist with folk star Eliza Carthy’s group – who will be fronting her own band Beth Porter and The Availables and Oliver Darling.

More blues come from The Big Blues Tribe, Babajack, and, fresh from the USA, Eddie and Frank Thomas and The Reverend Robert.

The Banbury Blues, Roots and Acoustic festival takes place at The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury, on Saturday, from 2pm (tickets cost £12 including a hot supper) and 8pm (tickets £18 adv or £20 on the door).

Excitement is building for what promises to be the festival of the summer – Wilderness.

As reported in today’s Oxford Mail, the eclectic gathering at Cornbury Park will feature such luminaries as Spiritualized, Wilco, Rodrigo and Gabriela and Grant Lee Buffalo.

We predict a sell-out weekend.