RACHAEL O’CONNOR tunes into a brand new night for local bands that’s packing ‘em in at Oxford’s O2 Academy 2.

If you’re a fan of local new music, then there’s a brand new night that you really must check out.

Upstairs Oxford at O2 Academy 2 is a monthly musical showcase of only the very best new acts from the city of dreaming spires.

The Cowley Road’s legendary venue has teamed up with BBC Introducing in Oxford to present the cream of the county’s crop in OX4.

Even from the off, there’s a keen crowd anticipating the exciting line-up of musical talent just waiting to burst forth from backstage.

And by 8pm, the 400 capacity venue – with it’s smokey atmosphere, low lighting and cheap drinks deals – is almost full and brimming with musical scenesters.

This is a crowd who like their music live and loud. Fashionably dressed in festival season attire, sporting a sea of plaid shirts and state of the art sunglasses, most of them look like they belong to a band of some sort themselves – and that’s probably because they do.

Great performances were seen from an eclectic mix of talent including Vixens, Gunning For Tamar and headliners Ute, who are previous winners of BBC Introducing in Oxford’s Act of the Year and easily stole the show.

Midnight arrives and as if the quality showcase of local talent wasn’t enough for your £5 at the door you are granted free entry to the O2’s Saturday night clubbing extravaganza, Propaganda, where BBC Radio One DJ Huw Stephens spun some of the best dancefloor fillers known to man, right up to the early hours.

This is a night not to be missed, so ensure June 18 is firmly inked into your diary and look forward to seeing fresh performances from Spring Offensive, Phantom Theory, Cat Matador, Message to Bears and Deer Chicago – as well as the irresistible opportunity to continue the party and shake your booty until the wee hours at Oxford’s most versatile venue.