PIXIES frontman Frank Black is set to play a street gig in Oxford city centre tonight, it has emerged.

The singer - also known as Black Francis - is believed to have arranged an acoustic taster set before his concert at Oxford Brookes University Student Union.

A post online at www.blackfrancis.net reads: "7.2.2008. Oxford, England. Precore: Underneath the Bridge of Sighs @5:00p.m."

It goes on to invite gig goers to drinks at the Turf Tavern pub near the bridge in New College Lane.

The set is one in a line of acoustic 'precore' gigs arranged by the singer as part of the warm-up to his European tour.

A spokesman for Black Francis's record label, Cooking Vinyl, said the firm was aware of the event, but added: "This is something that he has organised himself and we have not been involved in at all."

The gig beneath the bridge looks likely be brief, as according to Oxford City Council, the artist has not applied for the licence and can only legally play for a maximum of 15 minutes.

However, news of the impromptu performance has spread excitement among members of Oxford's music scene.

The Pixies were a four-piece alternative rock band from Boston, USA, who had a cult following in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The group, which is said to have influenced Kurt Cobain's 'grunge' band Nirvana, split in 1993, but reformed in 2004.

Ronan Munro, from Oxford music magazine Nightshift, said: "It could be a great thing - as long as people know where it is, and it isn't just muddled students who have never heard of the Pixies!"

Tim Bearder, BBC Oxford's Download show presenter, said: "I am probably going to go down and have a look.

"It will be interesting to gauge his levels of attendance, because he is a legend, but how much of a legend is he now?

"Radiohead tried something similar in a record shop in London recently, and it caused absolute chaos.

"It reflects the DIY nature of the music industry at the moment, that artists are striking out on their own and doing things like this."