Tim Hughes talks to guitarist and promoter Osprey about his eclectic seven-day, 120-act extravaganza of local music: Oxford City Festival

When guitarist and gig promoter Osprey first voiced plans to launch his own city-wide music festival, he knew he was being ambitious.

While there are no shortage of summer camping festivals out in the sticks, there has never really been anything for contemporary music fans in the city itself – at least not lasting more than a day.

So his Oxford City Festival – a multi-venue feast of locally-sourced rock, metal, blues, jazz, dance, punk and most other things lasting a week, seemed at best hopeful, and at worst a recipe for disaster.

Now in its third year, Osprey’s home grown gathering has sprouted wings and soared, and is about to begin its biggest year yet.

“I’ve created a monster!” grins the East Oxford blues-rocker, real name Mark O’Brien.

“The whole idea of the festival is a celebration. A lot of places around the world celebrate their music but we never really have, despite the contribution Oxford bands have made internationally. So I decided we needed to do the same.”

He smiles and adds: “It has gone from three nights to seven.

“I’m really amazed that it is still here – and how much it has grown.”

For seven days from Monday, he will oversee performances by more than 120 bands and artists in 10 venues – with action taking place everywhere from Jericho to Cowley.

Music ranges from extremely loud to minimal; bright and breezy to downright gloomy. Similarly the acts line-up cover a similar spectrum with some well-known favourites and popular buzz bands sharing bills with complete unknowns.

“It’s a great line-up says Osprey,” in a broad Middlesbrough accent – the native ‘Smoggy’ still proud of his Teesside roots, despite being one of the Oxford music scene’s great ambassadors.

“People always say this, but there really is something for everyone, with every genre covered – apart from classical. And next year I really want to get an orchestra involved.”

Bands include rising stars Balloon Ascents and The Trophy Cabinet, joyous Francophiles Les Clochards, former Candyskin Mark Cope, singer-songwriters Eloise Rees and Lewis Scott, country-guitarist Ags Connoly, cellist Duotone and jazzman Denny Illot.

Then there are The Mighty Disco Biscuits, The Aureate Act, Art Theefe, Lucy Leave, Pastel Frontier, Lewis Scott, Callow Saints, Hidden Rivets, Sweet Pink, Storyteller, The Mighty Redox, Des Barkus and many more. No-local talent comes in the form of punk veterans Peter & The Test Tube Babies and comic punk-rocker, and self-styled two hit wonder, John Otway (who, nonetheless, began his career here, playing at the former Oranges & Lemons on St Clement’s).

Venues include the O2 Academy, The Bullingdon and The Library bar in Cowley Road; The Marsh Harrier, in Cowley; The Jericho Tavern; and The Bear, The Wheatsheaf and The Cellar in the city centre. Other spaces will also be used. We didn’t just want to concentrate on one area of Oxford, but involve as much of the city as possible – including venues in the centre.”

As well as organising the whole thing, Osprey will be kept busy, propping up various line-ups and even appearing with his own band Osprey & OX4 All Stars.

“I will be guesting all over the shop,” he says. “I’ll be grabbing my guitar and heading off to lots of places, as well as playing with the OX4 All Stars.”

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Special talent: Eloise Rees

“It is essentially a celebration of Oxford music,” he goes on. “But there are a few guests, like Peter & The Test Tube Babies, who are an iconic punk band from the late 70s and early 80s – but when the chance came up to put them on, it was too good to turn down. I am always being asked to put them on, but the last time they played Oxford was something like 1983 at a place that doesn’t exist any more. But they are still going strong, and are a brilliant band – so this will really bring the party alive. We also have John Otway.’’

Comparing the festival to the career of a rock band, he said: “We had a great start, stormed through our ‘difficult second album’ stage and now have ‘third album syndrome’. I know it’s going to be brilliant though.”

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  • Local legend: musician and band promoter Osprey organises the festival (Picture by Johnny Moto)

Asked to pick out highlights, he was initially diplomatic, before whispering his personal favourites. “The Aureate Act (The Bullingdon, on November 29) are absolutely amazing,” he says. “If you take prog-rock, blues, Radiohead and Talk Talk, and stick it all in a washing machine, this is what comes out. Their frontman, Dominic Baum, is pure operatic. I also can’t wait for Balloon Ascents (also at The Bullingdon, on November 29), who have worked non-stop since getting their feet in the door. They are awe-inspiring, and like so many young bands seem to have been listening to their parents’ – or even their grandparents’ – record collections. Their melodies fly.”

And others? “Storyteller (The O2 Academy on November 27) are a mix of folk, indie and reggae with great tunes that seem to warm the heart,” says Osprey, whose avian nickname comes from the CB radio handle he adopted while working as a fish farmer in the Lake District, “We’ve got Arthur Turner’s Lovechild (ATL), who have reformed and are playing the Friday night at The Wheatsheaf."

They will be joined by Mark Cope and Les Clochards - unmissable in their own right.

Also Duotone – aka Barney Morse-Brown (Jericho Tavern, November 27) – who is a fantastic cellist and Denny Illet (The Library on November 26), for some classic jazz.

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Two-hit wonder: John Otway (Photo: John Haxby)

“Then, of course there’s Peter and the Test Tube Babies (The Cellar, November 28), who are going to be unmissable.”

Metal is represented by the Church of the Heavy, and more bubbling local talent by Gappy Tooth Industries. There will be old-school house music at the official after-party, being held at The Bullingdon on December 4, with DJs Northern Mark, Prism and Spectrum turntable legend Kieran Alexis, Nathan Gould and Invisible.

Relaxing before the storm, Osprey says he can’t wait for it to begin. “I love it all,” he laughs. “I’m not one of those people who just wants it all to be over as soon as it’s begun.

“There was nothing like it here before, and people seemed to really feel the need for it. And just look at it now! Having created this monster, we are just going to have to keep it alive!”

Where and when
Oxford City Festival runs from November 23-29. Check out the festival’s Facebook event page for details. Tickets from wegottickets.com

C'est formidable: Les Clochards play The Wheatsheaf on Nov 27

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