TOP OXFORD jazz outfit the Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band are swapping the muddy fields of Glastonbury for the more genteel surroundings of Oxford’s South Park.
Fresh from three shows at Glastonbury Festival’s Bourbon Street Jazz and Blues Stage, the band will entertain at this year’s Cowley Road Carnival, in South Park on Sunday.
And the seven-piece jazz and swing act said although Glastonbury was the biggest gig of their career to date, it didn’t compare to performing at the carnival.
Band leader and pianist, Stuart ‘Baron’ Macbeth, from South Oxford, said: “Carnival is the highlight of our year and it’s a really big deal for us to play there.
“It’s our favourite gig of the year and the one we enjoy playing the most because we all live around Cowley Road.”
He was full of praise for the carnival, which is Oxfordshire’s biggest free public event and attracts up to 35,000 people.
Mr Macbeth said: “A lot of bands from all over the country get a real buzz from Oxford crowds because it’s a great cosmopolitan city and East Oxford has a great party spirit that comes alive during the carnival.”
The band will headline the carnival’s main stage at 7pm.
Other performances on Sunday include The Empty Vessels, Secret Rivals and jazz funk act The Heavy Dexters, who will be making their carnival debut.
Carnival runs from 11am to 8pm on Sunday, with Roots Manuva headlining Fiesta in the Park tomorrow evening to help raise funds for next year’s event.
fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk
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