It has been a breakneck year for the Oxford music scene – with great festivals, awesome gigs and some incredible achievements by our favourite local bands. As we look forward to an even more exciting 12 months, Tim Hughes asks a clutch of the Oxford music scene's most interesting personalities for their highlights of 2009, and their hopes for the future.

Tim Bearder, musical missionary and presenter of the BBC Radio Oxford’s The Download local music show.

Highlight of 2009: Truck Festival. We had a battle of the bands and The Scholars beat some really good acts. Weirdest moment: Hugging Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis at Pilton Working Men’s Club in Somerset. We were supporting Stornoway who were trying to win a slot. They did it and we were overjoyed. I may have had a couple of drinks!

Most rock & roll happening: The BBC Introducing end of year party. I was there with former Dowload presenter Suzy Healey and had such a good time I missed the last underground train and had to make my way across London and back to Oxford – and still be in work at 9am the next morning.

Gig of the year: I saw Stornoway play at Christ Church, and it was the best gig I’d ever seen. Then I saw them play at the Sheldonian, and it was the best thing I’d ever seen. Then I saw them on Jools Holland’s TV show and that was the best thing I’ve ever seen. Sublime!

Album: Joy Through Work by Borderville. They are theatrical, are fabulous musicians and are doing stuff no one else is doing.

Most looking forward to in 2010: Going to the USA for the new Truck Festival in Woodstock, New York.

Local band to watch out for: Ute. They make a sprawling epic sound with wonderful harmonies and epic choruses.

Top tip: Marina and the Diamonds. She’s mainstream and pure pop but has real attitude and charisma.

New Year’s resolution: We’re recreating Radiohead’s album The Bends with local bands. My resolution is to make it work.

* Aidan Larkin, East Oxford reggae and ska DJ/promoter.

Highlight of 2009: Going on tour with The Wailers (Bob Marley’s legendary band). It was incredible. I was Djiing before the shows and ended up being compere and host – which was pretty unbelievable.

Weirdest moment: Playing Glastonbury for the first time. I was on the decks when the news of Michael Jackson’s death came through – which was weird. Luckily I had some Jacko covers which I played; the crowd went wild.

Most rock & roll happening: Playing a gig at the Brixton Academy with The Specials. Backstage was a Who’s Who of everyone I grew up listening to. I also did a show with Jerry Dammers – who wasn't touring with the band – which makes me the only person to play with all members of The Specials!

Gig of the year: Either Toots and the Maytals or Madness at Glastonbury.

Album: James Hunters The Hard Way, he’s a modern Sam Cooke.

Local band to watch out for: Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – big live, mad, crazy mash-up jump around music.

Top tip: Laid Black – they fuse reggae, dancehall, hip hop, jungle and dub.

New Year’s resolution: I’m not going to drink on English soil all month. I am doing a gig in Paris, though!

* Joe Swarbrick, theatrical frontman with cabaret art-rockers Borderville Highlight of 2009: Finally finishing our album. It took years of work and I was so focussed, I wasn’t able to listen to anything else. Playing it live at the Cellar was amazing.

Gig of the year: A show by cabaret artist Camille O’Sullivan in London. She swings high above the audience to music that sounds like Nock Cave crossed with Jacques Brel.

Album: The Sweeney Todd soundtrack!

Most rock & roll moment: I don’t do rock & roll. I couldn’t possibly condone that sort of behaviour.

Most looking forward to in 2010: I hope to go down a more thaeatrical route, go to Edinburgh and put together a musical.

Local band to watch out for: Barbarella. They do glam-rock properly – in a way we don’t.

Top tip: Desmond Chancer and the Long Memories. His writing is stunning – like early Tom Waits doing jazz standards.

New Year’s resolution: To get another record out – and to do it quicker... maybe even live.

* Robin Bennett, co-founder of Oxfordshire’s summer Truck Festival, and frontman of Dusty and the Dreaming Spires Highlight of 2009: Staging the first OX4 Festival in October. We took over all the venues in Cowley Road and had lots of bands and workshops.

Weirdest moment: Seeing the Truck Monster playing a DJ set in the barn at the festival.

Most rock & roll happening: Introducing Supergrass at Truck was something I never expected to do. Though we nearly had to send drummer Danny Goffey back because he brought his dog on the farm without a lead!

Gig of the year: We’re lucky at Truck having all those gigs to choose from – though I don't get to see that many. I couldn't possibly choose just one.

Album: Just lately I’ve been re-listening to Thirteen by Teenage Fanclub, which is fantastic.

Most looking forward to in 2010: Recording a Dusty album, and also putting on our first Truck America festival in Woodstock, New York.

Local band to watch out for: Stornoway. They are hotly-tipped and I’m very pleased for them.

Top tip: Jason Sebastian Russo of Mercury Rev, who has recorded his new low-fi album in Steventon.

New Year’s resolution: I’m considering taking up jogging. But I don’t really do exercise!