MULTI-VENUE festival Ritual Union returns for its third year next month with a showcase line-up of hot new bands and emerging talent, writes Eleanor Launchbury

Based in Cowley Road, the festival will be an all-day celebration of alternative music.

The event, on October 19, will see quality names including Aussie newcomers Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, who have swiftly become one of the bands to watch for this year, and Liverpool’s She Drew The Gun, who have released two well received albums, including last year’s Revolution of Mind, The band won Glastonbury Festival’s prestigious Emerging Artists competition in 2016.

Also appearing are Japanese alternative rock act Bo Ningen and Fiction Records’ Another Sky who are currently on the rise with support from Jack Saunders and Annie Mac.

They will be joining a line-up that already boasts such talent as Teleman, Oxford’s Young Knives, Mercury Prize nominated The Comet is Coming, BBC Radio 6 Music favourites Pigs x7 and the sublime Self Esteem.

Oxford Mail:

Candy Says

The event is not to be confused with the another one-day only festival of new music, If Not Now When? – which takes place in Cowley Road on September 14.

Read more: If Not Now When? brings new bands and DIY ethos to Oxford's Cowley Road for one night only

Promoter Simon Bailey says: “I’m pleased that we have even more amazing homegrown Oxfordshire talent performing along acts from as far afield as Australia and Japan. The reaction to our first announcement was fantastic and hopefully this finished line-up adds to that excitement.”

Shows take place at the O2 Academy, Truck Store, The Library, and the Bullingdon. Starting at 11am and continuing until 3am, the day features performances by many emerging artists. Oxfordshire musical talent includes Candy Says, Knobblehead, Lee Riley, Max Blansjaar and Julia Meijer.

Julia Walker from Candy Says, said, “Being asked to play Ritual Union is pretty special as it’s fast become a huge event, with so many incredible artists coming from across the UK to perform.

"We can’t wait to get on stage. It’s going to epic!”

Tickets from seetickets.com