ITS visitors are more used to the classical music of Mozart and Beethoven, but this month Oxford University’s Sheldonian Theatre will be playing host to a very modern sound.

Stornoway – one of Oxford’s top new bands – are to perform in a pioneering concert at the famous concert hall.

The folk-rock group have played increasingly large venues during the past year and even performed a number of shows at Glastonbury Festival in the summer.

Now, for the homecoming leg of their first UK tour, they will be performing a unique concert at the Sheldonian, alongside the Oxford Millennium Orchestra.

The show, on Friday, October 30, will mark the homecoming of the orchestra, who will be flying in from Krakow in Poland, where they have been touring.

The concert is being billed as a chance to witness a collaboration between a rock band and a symphony orchestra in a world class venue.

Keyboard player Jon Ouin, 28, who lives off Cowley Road, said: “We are really looking forward to this concert.

“The building has a very large capacity so it should be one of our biggest gigs. It will be quite different to Glastonbury where we played this year.

“It’s a very unusual venue for us but I think it will be very atmospheric and I hope there will be an interesting hybrid of pop and classical music on the night.

“The concert came about because our violinist, Rahul Satija, also plays in the orchestra and suggested we should do something together.

“We will play one or two of our songs with the orchestra so the songs will be arranged for strings. We will have a few practice sessions before the gig.”

The concert follows a busy festival season for the group, which also features Brian Briggs, 29, on vocals, Rob Steadman, 19, on drums, and Oli Steadman, 22, on bass guitar.

Mr Ouin added: “We were runners-up in the emerging talent competition at Glastonbury, and our songs have been played on Radios 1, 2 and 6.

“Our new single Unfaithful is coming out and we are finishing our first album, which should be out early next year.”

The Sheldonian is used for classical concerts, lectures and ceremonies.

Last night a spokesman for the theatre said she could not remember a pop concert ever being played at the venue.

Tickets for the concert cost £10.