WHILE bands and fans head down to join the fun at Truck this weekend, a select bunch of artists will pitch up in a pub garden for an altogether more intimate gathering.

Taking place at the Isis Farmhouse, beside the Thames at Iffley Lock, Oxford, Halfway to Seventy-Five features eight bands and artists hand-picked by music-lover Will Banks.

The day is headlined by rock, jive and blues act The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band, and also features sets from The Long Insiders, former Candyskin-turned children’s songwriter Nick Cope, singer-songwriter Ags Connolly, buzz band Empty White Circles, voodoo-blues act Vienna Ditto, London-based rock & roll band Ronnie Ripple & The RipChords, and Australian duo April Mays.

Will, whose day job is Assistant Editor of BBC Radio Oxford, organised the event to fulfil an ambition of staging his own festival.

The mini-festival’s name is a humourous reference to his age: 37-and-a-half. “This was a little personal challenge. and something I’ve always wanted to do,” he says.

“I’m not sure why, but this seemed a good time to do it. My birthday is in January, which is no time for a party, but this summer I’ll be half-way to 75 – which seemed a good excuse.”

The bands will be joined by chef Sophie Grigson who will bring her Pop-Up Cookery School and The Big Bang’s Max Mason will supply his trademark sausages.

“Before I started to arrange this, there were many acts I’d never heard of, but of whom I am now a big fan – such as Vienna Ditto, who are fantastic, and The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band. I was told they were the best live act in Oxford, and now I have seen them, I can confirm they clearly are.”

The not-for profit event is themed “a festival of Americana, roots and good honest music”. “It’s all down to personal choice,” says Will, with a smile. “My love is American country and soul and lots of this music comes from that tradition without sounding the same – so we have acoustic, electronic, rock and roll, and a wonderful party band in the Rabbit Foots.”

Some of the bands playing also appear at Truck, offering punters a cut-price alternative to the bigger event in Steventon. “It gives people a chance to see some decent music without spending the money,” he says.

  • LIVE The event runs from 1-11pm on Saturday, at the Isis Farmhouse, Iffley, Oxford, and has sold-out.
  • Festival-goers are advised not to travel to the gig without a ticket