TAKE 40 bands, artists and DJs. Stick them on stage at a clutch of neighbouring venues – add a bubbly crowd of punters, and simmer gently for 15 hours… The result, is a feast of amazing music at what promises to be one of the best nights out in town.

Ley Lines festival is the latest addition to Oxford’s rapidly shifting musical landscape. Taking the shape of Truck festival’s urban offspring OX4, it offers a similarly diverse range of talent in the same stretch of Cowley Road.

But while OX4 appears to have fallen victim to Truck’s, err… financial readjustments, following the liquidation of its summer festival in Steventon, Ley Lines has leapt into the breach by laying on a new multi-venue bash for the city.

Organised by local promoter Isla Miskelly – a familiar figure on the city’s music scene – it pulls together a hard-hitting bunch of national and, importantly, local acts. So headliners include breakthrough garage-soul singer-songwriter Jamie Woon, London rock band Futures, and Sheffield’s one-man dance-powerhouse and remix genius Toddla T.

Other sets come from indie rockers Another’s Blood, gothic multi-instrumentalist Catherine A.D., sonic experimentalist Hyetal, Welsh electronica duo Man Without Country, Liverpool based rave producer Melé, and London pop darlings Theme Park.

Also up are Tyneside outfit Let’s Buy Happiness, Nottingham indie-poppers Dog Is Dead, Bear’s Den – featuring Ex-Cherbourg front man Andrew Davie, young singer-songwriter Rae Morris, Starlings and Troumaca.

Representing their hometown, meanwhile are an eclectic assortment of Oxford’s finest – including Gunning For Tamar, Secret Rivals, Vixens, Lewis Watson, Listing Ships, Adam Barnes, I Said Yes, Kill Murray, Static Prevail, Beta Blocker and The Body Clock. “We’re really excited to be bringing a new festival to the city,” says Isla, who lives in Cowley.

“We hope that, even in the current economical climate, people can still experience the atmosphere of a festival and discover new acts as well as seeing some great bands at a reasonable price, all on their doorstep. We’ll be bringing a host of exciting national acts into the mix with the best of Oxford’s new emerging talent, so there really will be something for everyone.”

The action takes place, predictably, at the O2 Academy and Bullingdon, but also at new arts space The Old Boot Factory in St Mary’s Road, and other intimate spaces – including a few as-yet-to-be-announced venues. And, is if to further prove its cutting-edge credentials, food will be provided by East Oxford’s guerrilla-chefs-turned hip young restaurateurs OxFork.

“We are excited by the range of venues, and they are all within five minute’s walk of each other,” says Isla. “It will be especially good to have music at The Old Boot Factory, which is a really incredible space.”

While regretting the demise of the OX4 festival, Isla is pleased to be offering an alternative.

“This will hopefully fill the gap left by OX4,” she said. “It’s important something carries on. This will be more music-orientated, though, with double the number of bands that OX4 had, but we will be keeping the workshops, music classes, talks, stalls and exhibitions.”

All in all, it looks like the perfect autumn pick-me-up after the comedown following the end of the summer festival season. Isla agrees. “I’ve always worked with festivals, but I don’t actually enjoy standing in the mud and drinking expensive beer,” she says.

“This gives people a great range of bands but the comfort of being in the city, close to home. And it’s cheap.

“How can people afford not to come?”