A VINTAGE jazz band, rockabilly blues duo, Balkan-rock act and an experimental cellist are among the local artists selected to play a new festival in Oxford’s South Park.

The organisers of Common People, which takes place on May 28 and 29 have unveiled a bill of 18 Oxfordshire bands and artists for its local band stage – with a span of music covering everything from hip-hop to folk.

The acts will play the festival’s Uncommon Stage, which is curated by Ronan Munro, editor of Oxford’s free monthly music magazine, Nightshift.

Oxford jazz-blues artists The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band, fronted by Oxford Mail columnist Stuart Macbeth, headline the stage on the Saturday, and Eastern European party band The Balkan Wanderers on Sunday.

Also playing are cello player Barney Morse-Brown – aka Duotone; lush folk-pop act The August List, Cowley rising star Cameron A.G, Chipping Norton’s Esther Joy Lane, rockabilly rebels Vienna Ditto, buccaneer-rabble rousers Peerless Pirates, experimental electronica types Maiians, Witney blues-rock-lovers Little Brother Eli, blues-pop act Death of the Maiden, Zaia, Neverlnd, Undersmile, Cassels, Inner Peace Collective, and singer-songwriter Julia Meijer.

There will also be a set by Cowley’s Young Women’s Music Project.

The event is headlined by Duran Duran on the Saturday and Primal Scream on the Sunday. Also playing are Public Enemy, Sugarhill Gang, Katy B, Chas & Dave, Ghostpoet, Soul II Soul, Craig David and Mercury-nominated artist Gaz Coombes – former frontman of Supergrass, who lives in Wheatley.

Mr Macbeth, from Thrupp, near Kidlington, said: “Nightshift have selected many of the best in Oxford for this stage ¬- it's been done with characteristic good taste and insight. For me the likes of Undersmile and Balkan Wanderers are every bit as enticing as the Sugarhill Gang, Public Enemy and Primal Scream. Lure me away from Public Enemy, and I think it's the front row of the Uncommon Stage every time."

The Balkan Wanderers - Antica Culina, Emma Coombs, Stu Wigby, Clare Heaviside and Marc Witte ¬– describe their sound as “indie-punky-pop music with a Balkan party element.”

Mr Wigby, from South Hinksey said: “We are very excited. When we first heard about the festival it sounded amazing and we had our fingers crossed that we’d get involved.

“There are lots of exciting going on – on the main stage, with Primal Scream and Duran Duran, but also on our stage. Ronan has tried to showcase the diversity of what’s going on in Oxford – with all its different styles. He’s done a great job.”

Common People founder Rob da Bank said: “The beating heart of all our festival adventures is getting people to discover new music and uncover new bands. Our curator, Ronan from the seminal Nightshift magazine, is an expert in these matters.”

Mr Munro said: “It’s fantastic that so many local acts are getting the opportunity to play at Common People, with the opportunity to play to a whole new audience, and it’s great that we get the chance to show the variety of music that comes out of Oxfordshire – from hot jazz, reggae, hip hop and blues to doom metal, electronica, punk and even pirate pop.

“I’ve always tried to make musicians proud to come from Oxfordshire, and Oxfordshire be proud of its musicians and this weekend is proof that Oxfordshire is home to a wealth of music talent”.

Full details and tickets from commonpeople.net