Pop
Ordinary Boys
AKA Banbury
Tomorrow
ents24.com

Remember The Ordinary Boys? Boys Will Be Boys? Preston? Celebrity Big Brother? Well, he’s back, and so are his band after a 10-year hiatus. Preston has kept himself busy writing songs for the likes of John Newman and Example. He even had a number one for Olly Murs with Heart Skips A Beat. They also play the Bullingdon next Thursday.

Indie-pop
Balloon Ascents
O2 Academy Oxford
Tomorrow
tigmus.com

Following their success at last weekend’s wonderful Oxjam, Oxford’s rising stars Balloon Ascents launch their excellent new single Don’t Look Down. They are joined by fellow Oxjammers Little Brother Eli and the remarkable Esther Joy Lane – both names to watch out for.

Americana
Co-Pilgrim
Bullingdon, Oxford
Saturday
wegottickets.com

Mike Gale’s gorgeously laid-back country-rock act returns to the Cowley Road to play tunes from new album Slows to Go. The album, out this week, also features the talents of Steventon’s Joe Bennett on slide guitar and other wonderful things, which makes it even more essential in our eyes. Support from party animals Shapes and the Rutland Troubadour Paul McClure.

Reggae
Ruts DC
Bullingdon, Oxford
Sunday
Ents24.com

Fusing reggae with punk, Ruts DC are true survivors, having first started kicking the sonic furniture around back in 1977. The Babylon’s Burning stars – who were a favourite of John Peel – return with a hat full of new tunes including the epic Psychic Attack.

Folk
Bella Hardy
Nettlebed Village Club
Monday
nettlebedfolkclub.co.uk

Delectable Derbyshire lass, and former BBC Folk Singer of the Year, Bella Hardy appears with her band to promote her new album. With The Dawn is based on a year in the singer-songwriter’s life and is going down well.

Indie-rock
Darwin Deez
O2 Academy Oxford
Monday
Ticketweb.co.uk

Darwin Deez is a band, and also, confusingly, the name of its frontman – real name Darwin Merwan Smith. The guitarist is a lo-fi genius with a deft hand for the quirky and humorous.