I have travelled far and wide, and even waded through the Glastonbury mud, to see Maximo Park, writes Erica Bingley.

So when Vodafone launched a free competition allowing Oxford fans to see our favourite band right here, I jumped for joy - though not nearly as high, or as impressively, as lead singer Paul Smith.

Smith is no stranger to Oxford, having played The Zodiac and even making informal visits to East Oxford watering hole, The Star. But few would have expected such a memorable and historic event.

The location of the gig was kept under wraps until just before the show, adding to the build up for the already hotly anticipated 'secret' performance.

The organisers chose well. Maximo Park are an articulate band with well-written songs and meaningful verses. The venue secured was the Oxford Union debating chamber, which is more used to welcoming presidents, politicians, religious figures and even Kermit the Frog.

But Maximo Park proved that there is not always a need for a debate.

This could have been an established music venue, so well did the band fit into their surroundings. And the crowd responded well.

Smith did not disappoint. His moves were not hindered by the chosen venue, and there were multiple jumps of differing techniques; an important component of any Maximo Park gig.

The band played songs from their new album, Our Earthly Pleasures, as well as favourites from their debut album, including the song Limassol - which got the crowd bouncing on the old floorboards.

An elongated encore meant the first (and possibly last) band to ever rock the chamber, provided one of the biggest crowd pleasing performances ever experienced in this most unlikely of venues.