• GIG-goers are invited to join a night featuring some amazing bands and artists while backing a great local cause.

Meursault, Family Machine, These Are Our Demands and Huck unite to play a benefit show for Helen and Douglas House at The Cellar on Monday.

The show is a tribute to keen gig-goer Leila Soltau who recently died at the hospice after an illness. Edinburgh’s Meursault are renowned for their mix of epic choruses and intimate interludes.

Indie-pop band The Family Machine are one of Oxford’s best-loved acts, while former Sextodecimo and Handsome fee member Huck Astley and Chris Beard’s dark post-punk trio These Are Our Demands top off a very impressive line-up.

Leila’s friend, promoter Seb Reynolds, said: “The staff at Helen and Douglas House were amazing and a group of friends and I who loved Leila wanted to give something back. And Family Machine were Leila’s favourite Oxford band.” Doors open at 7.30pm. Entry is by a minimum donation of £6, with generosity encouraged.

All proceeds to Helen and Douglas House.

•ESCAPING the storms on the other side of the pond is US singer-songwriter and star-in-waiting Josephine Foster, who brings her brand of psyche-folk to the Bullingdon, tomorrow. Also up are the wonderfully eclectic Brickwork Lizards. Tickets are £8 in advance from wegottickets.com.

  • Gig-goers at the Jericho Tavern will have no excuse for partying on an empty stomach, following an offer by the venue’s manager, Owen McCall.

Anyone turning up early for a show can enjoy a main dish off the pub’s new autumn menu and get a free burger for either themselves or a friend. Go to thejerichooxford.co.uk to download an invitation.

  • HEAVY metal band Twisted State of Mind are getting ready to rock out at Fat Lil's in Witney this Saturday.

The band, have a reputation for furious guitar work, a great range of self-penned songs and a formidable stage presence. Oh, and they are all just 12 years old. Not that you’d know.

On Sunday they will be back at the venue shooting a video. Extras are needed for the audience. If you want to get involved, go down be at the venue for 11.30am.

Under-18s will require a parent or guardian to sign a consent form which will be available on the day.