Backstage news for Oxford's discerning gig-goers

  • The Famous Monday Blues gears up for its lively autumn season with a visit by a group of genuine bluesmen who ooze the spirit of the Delta. Guitarist Aaron Moreland, singer/harmonica player Dustin Arbuckle and drummer Kendall Newby, above, play raw, roots-rock, which is straight out of Mississippi. Playing under the name Moreland and Arbuckle, the trio are currently promoting latest album 7 Cities which will appeal to lovers of raw, rootsy guitar-blues. “That strong pre-war blues sensibility is still there,” Aaron says. “We are one of those rare trios with guitar, harmonica and drums, but we’ve progressed as musicians. We’ve brought in our other influences, and formed a pretty unique sound.”

They play The Jericho Tavern, Walton Street, Oxford, on Monday. Tickets are £12 from wegottickets.com.

  • LOVERS of jazz and Italian food will be in their element later this month with the launch of a new jazz club. The Spires sessions are a weekly series of jazz nights held at the Golden Cross branch of Pizza Express, and they look set to emulate their Soho counterpart as a platform for visiting artists.

The Monday evening sets are being organised by young guitarist Adam Taylor. The first takes place on September 23, with acclaimed Oxford jazz artist Adam Waldmann, frontman of Kairos 4tet.
Future guests will include pianist Alexander Hawkins.

Tickets are still available for the much-anticipated show by Peter Doherty’s indie-rock band Babyshambles, who play the O2 Academy Oxford on September 13. Tickets are £25.87 from ticketweb.co.uk

  • A wonderfully creative evening at the Art Jericho gallery takes place tomorrow. Jointly curated by local collective Bear on a Bicycle and charitable gig promoters Oxjam, the varied line-up includes swaggering groove-meister Sweet William, acoustic ballad-monger Jordan O’Shea and gorgeous-voiced solo artist Gavroche. Also on display will be the whimsical artwork of Victoria Whincup. Punters are invited to bring along their own booze. Tickets cost £4 from boabrecords.bandcamp.com

 

  • Blues-metal favourites Desert Storm have been leaving a trail of dust and whisky around the country once again, in support of Dutch rock ’n’ rollers Peter Pan Speedrock. The Oxford date takes place on Saturday at The Wheatsheaf, and they’ve invited along their old school friends, ex-Winnebago Deal members Blasted, to play a much anticipated set. Don’t miss this if you’re a heavy music lover. Tickets cost £7 from wegottickets.com

 

  • A barmy but brilliant collection of local bands will come together at the Cellar on Saturday for some pre-club night partying. Spanning a wide range of genres, the gig includes hardcore and rockabilly from These Are Our Demands, grunge and powerpop from Traps, blues and Americana from Swindlestock, trippy electro beats from Stem and acoustic tenderness from Mark Cope. Tickets will be available on the door at the venue in Frewin Court, Oxford.