The weekend is almost here... and with it, our pick of the best nights out in and around Oxford.

Whether you like comedy, funk, folk, gritty drama or musicals *jazz hands!* there's something for you here...

So shake off the stresses of another soggy week, and get that Friday (or even Thursday...) feeling with these 9 bangers!

 

 

1. Surf rock

The Kenny brothers strike out for another swampy, sleezy, delicious rock & roll at the Jericho Tavern.

Not only are The Long Insiders letting loose their inimitable brand of hot grind fever but they have managed to secure the services of The Urban Voodoo Machine's legendary front man Paul Ronney Angel to do a solo set of his bourbon soaked gypsy blues bop 'n' stroll - expect songs of love, drink & death!

Add to this fiery mix a splash of The Great Western Tears to make some roots music – the real sort that’s played loud in the bar and felt deep in the bones.

This one's not to be missed!

 

2. Funk-rock

  • The Fun Lovin’ Criminals
  • O2 Academy Oxford
  • Tonight (Thurs)
  • ticketweb.co.uk

 

Oxford Mail:

Huey Morgan and his band of New York party-starters return to the Cowley Road for more feel-good tunes in a night to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their seminal album Come Find Yourself – featuring the Pulp Fiction-sampling Scooby Snacks and the swaggering King of New York.

Despite what it looks like, the band haven’t travelled as far as it looks: Huey and Brian ‘Fast’ Leiser are now adopted Brits, living in our own London town.

 

3. Something folkie

  • Charlie Dore
  • The Unicorn, Abingdon
  • Tonight (Thurs)
  • musicattheunicorn.org.uk

 

Oxford Mail:

Best remembered for her huge 1979 international hit, Pilot of the Airwaves. Charlie Dore deserves recognition for far more than that. She is a talented singer-songwriter whose award-winning songs have been recorded by many international artists including Tina Turner, Celine Dion, UB40, Paul Carrack, Jimmy Nail, Sheena Easton, Joe Brown and even George Harrison.

She makes a rare appearance tonight in a suitably beautiful venue.

 

4. Heartwarming drama

Toast takes place on a Sunday shift among the repetitious humming and thumping of a Hull bread factory. Matthew Kelly plays Nellie, a long-suffering employee who has spent years making a lot of dough for the factory, but not for himself.

But this shift is going to be different.

Because when a crisis hits the factory, Nellie and the other workers will have more to lose than just their wages.

A big-hearted play coming here prior to opening at the prestigious Brits Off Broadway festival in New York.

 

5. Soundscapes

  • C Duncan
  • Old Fire Station, Oxford
  • Tomorrow (Friday)
  • ticketsoxford.com

 

Oxford Mail:

Mixing lo-fi folk with choral harmonies, this graduate of Glasgow’s Royal Conservatoire, has carved out a reputation for bold and imaginative song writing – which is why he found himself nominated for the 2015 Mercury prize, with his album Architect. And that never does anyone any harm.

Expect intricately arranged pieces heavy with atmosphere. Ed Sheeran he aint!

 

6. Alt-rock

  • John Grant
  • O2 Academy Oxford
  • Tomorrow
  • Ticketweb.co.uk

Michigan-born but Reykjavik-based, John Grant is a cult artist of extraordinary talent and commitment. The former members of 90s band The Czars went solo six years ago, having battled drug and alcohol problems. He has since hogged the Top 20, collaborated with the likes of Sinead O’Connor, Goldfrapp and Elton John, and won a Best International Male Solo Artist nomination at the 2014 BRITS Awards.

He plays the O2 with his third solo studio album, and highest achievement yet, Grey Tickles, Black Pressure.

 

7. Mongolian folk and 'throat singing'

  • Anda Union
  • St Barnabas Church, Jericho, Oxford
  • Tomorrow (Friday)
  • wegottickets.com

Oxford Mail:

With its haunting melodies, and evocative rhythms, it’s surprising Mongolian folk music is not better known. If anyone can rectify that, however, it’s Anda Union- a group of young artists who are delving into the spiritual depths of Mongolian music and give it a fresh, modern voice.

Their distinctive sound comes from 'throat singing' where the singer produces two or more notes simultaneously. Haunting stuff!

 

8. Musical

Oxford Mail:

Chicago starts a national tour in Oxford, starring John Partridge as Billy Flynn, Hayley Tamaddon as Roxie Hart and Sam Bailey as Mama Morton.

The show is based on real-life events back in the roaring 1920s, when nightclub singer Roxie Hart shoots her lover and, along with cell block rival, and double-murderess Velma Kelly, fights to keep off death row with the help of smooth-talking lawyer, Billy Flynn.

 

9. Banter and song

After celebrating 30 years of Fascinating Aida, Dillie Keane is taking a short break from her gal pals to bring audiences around the country her solo show, written by her and Adèle Anderson.

Expect brand new tunes, grand old favourites, gorgeous songs of love and hilarious songs of utter wickedness.