All fresh-picked and locally produced talent at the Oxford Punt

It’s an Oxford institution, as quirky a tradition as May Morning madness. Twenty acts – all new and all local – playing five venues on one night: it’s the Oxford Punt – and there’s nothing else like it anywhere.

While other cities have multi-venue festivals, none are solely dedicated to their home-grown music scene.

“It’s the best showcase of Oxford’s new music,” says Ronan Munro, editor of local music monthly Nightshift and the man responsible for making the whole event happen next Wednesday.

“It’s the kind of thing that could probably only happen in Oxford,” he goes on. “I don’t think anywhere else in the UK would do this. I took the idea from the Camden Crawl, but that’s not just for London bands.

“It shows our independent spirit and the strength of our music scene, which is something that has built up over decades.

“The bands have to be from Oxfordshire and not played the Punt before. It’s a hard rule to enforce and some try to creep under the radar by playing again, but I have a photographic memory.”

While always impressive, this year’s line-up is particularly interesting. Acts include electronic rising stars Maiians, 23-year-old singer-songwriter and producer Esther Joy Lane, Indica Blues, Balkan Wanderers, Peerless Pirates, My Crooked Teeth, Adam Barnes, Little Brother Eli and, starting the whole thing off, party band The Shapes.

Action takes place across the city centre, at the Purple Turtle, the Cellar, the Wheatsheaf, Turl Street Kitchen and the White Rabbit, which hosts closing act Rainbow Reservoir.

All the venues are within easy walking distance, allowing ‘punters’ a chance to see as many of the bands and artists as possible over the Punt’s five-hour duration.

A recognised launchpad for new bands, previous ‘Puntees’ have included a number of acts who have gone on to make it huge; among them the Young Knives, Stornoway and members of Foals, who played the festival with their earlier band, Elizabeth.

“I think this is one of the best line-ups we’ve had in years,” Ronan says. “I was worried whether enough new bands were coming through, but I’m really chuffed. I think it’s really diverse, with everyone from Maiians, who are a phenomenal crossover indie-electronic-dance band with live drums, to Katie Jackson, who is a 17-year-old from Banbury, and Cassels who are two brothers in their teens from Chipping Norton.

As ever, he is too diplomatic to pick favourites, but adds: “Maiians are spectacular and very exciting. Esther Joy Lane is also going to be something a bit different.

“People compare her to Grimes, and she’s got that that R’n’B thing, with a lovely soulful voice while looking like a ferocious young punk girl.”

He also tips Balkan Wanderers. “A Balkan folk band is not what you expect from Oxford, but that sort of thing is always bubbling below the surface and fits in its own way.

He advises Punters to see as many acts as possible, even if that means running between venues and not seeing complete sets. “See as much as you can,” he says.

Rainbow Reservoir will play The White Rabbit

“There are no headliners or support acts, no egos, and everyone is under pain of death to play on time, so you can plan your night. And take the next day off.”

Entry to the Purple Turtle, Wheatsheaf and Cellar is £5, the Turl Street Kitchen and White Rabbit are free. All-venue passes cost £8, with proceeds from the night split between Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Haddenham, and the Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre.

As regular Punters know, the Oxford Punt wouldn’t be the same without Ronan vowing to never do it again.

“I never really get a huge amount of time away from it,” he says. “It all starts in December, then I spend May and June saying ‘never again’. Every year I say this might be the last. Yet here we are again.

“Venues come and go, and it’s always an effort working out what to do next, and trying to explain to new people what the Punt is. This year was a lot easier as the venues are the same as last time. But I can’t enjoy it until it’s all over.”

Plus, Ronan knows more than anyone that Oxford needs the Punt as much as it needs Nightshift; without it, the scene would be far worse off.

“I want to give people a sense of pride in Oxford,” he says, “Oxford is proud of its bands and those bands are proud to be identified with Oxford.”

The Purple Turtle (Tony Jezzard Stage)
7pm: The Shapes
8pm: Indica Blues
9pm: Cassels
10pm: Wardens

The Cellar
7.30pm: The Balkan Wanderers
8.15pm: Rhymeskeemz
9.15pm: Peerless Pirates
10.15pm: Zaia

The White Rabbit
8.30pm: White Beam
9.30pm: Water Pageant
10.30pm: Esther Joy Lane
11.30pm: Rainbow Reservoir

Turl Street Kitchen
8pm: My Crooked Teeth
9pm: Katie Jackson
10pm: Despicable Zee
11pm: Adam Barnes

The Wheatsheaf
8pm: Ghosts In The Photographs
9pm: Cameron AG
9.45pm: Little Brother Eli
10.30pm: Maiians

All-venue passes cost £8
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