Oxford band Fell City Girl have had an amazing year, but frontman Phil McMinn tells Tim Hughes, tomorrow looks like being the highlight so far.

Few new bands command as much respect as Oxford's Fell City Girl.

Not only are their gigs routinely packed out but many of their fans follow the four-piece from show to show. Every release is greeted with barely disguised rejoicing - not just from music lovers, but by usually cynical reviewers.

So the release of a new EP - and a supporting tour - is enough to send devotees into a frenzy.

"We have a real elite hardcore fan base and inspire total devotion or nothing," laughs frontman Phil McMinn.

The second night of their 14 date tour sees Phil, bass player Adam Drake, guitarist Joe Gibbons, and drummer James Shrek' Pamphilion come back to Oxford.

The tour comes as they release their new EP February Snow (on Lovalta) - the follow-up to acclaimed EP Swim.

"It feels good to be touring again. This is the best part of it all," says Phil.

"We weren't necessarily happy with all of Swim, but this time we have a much better EP on our hands. We're starting to master that epic' sound. Before, what me and Joe were doing was an accident!"

He is, of course, being modest in the extreme - their gigs in Oxford have taken on near religious proportions.

They have been playing together for only three years but last year, they appeared at Reading and Leeds Festivals, then, surreally, played in front of 15,000 people in an aircraft hangar at RAF Brize Norton, for the BBC's Children in Need show.

This year they have played Oxfordshire's Truck Festival and Cornbury Festival - where they proved to be many people's highlight of the festival.

"That was the best gig of the year so far," says Phil. "We were in a tent with no-one in it - within 10 seconds of starting, it was rammed."

The beauty of FCG's sound is a glorious concoction of Phil's soaring vocals, Joe's guitars and James's intense drumming.

Phil sees another reason for the band's appeal. "It's all positive stuff," he says. "It may be brooding but never negative. It has to feel uplifting."

Tomorrow's gig at Oxford's Zodiac is the big one: "People in Oxford are the ones that liked us first. Playing the Zodiac is always a total dream come true - and It'll only take five minutes to stagger home."

The band are playing with local favourites The Rock of Travolta. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets are £6 in advance.