OXFORD’S Cowley Road is set to come alive with the sound of music next weekend as it plays host to a music festival.

The OX4 Festival will take over 10 venues next Saturday to showcase the best of the city’s musical talent.

It was launched in 2009 by brothers Robin and Joe Bennett, founders of the Truck and Wood festivals, in a bid to re-envigorate Oxford’s music scene.

Robin said: “When I was younger, I lived on Cowley Road for many years and there were lots of venues which are no longer there.

“The street also used to have independent record stores, which are not there anymore.

“We became worried that Cowley Road wasn’t going to be a musical place anymore and so this was about trying to change that.”

Oxford produced 1990s chart stars Radiohead and Supergrass and recently indie group Foals.

The event, which also raises money for Oxfam, attracted more than 1,000 revellers last year and will be staged at venues including the O2 Academy and East Oxford Community Centre.

He added: “In 2009, there was a fantastic festival atmosphere, even though the event was on a road and not in a muddy field.

“We want lots of interest again because Oxford has a history of fantastic bands and we can’t let that dry up.”

Two new additions join this year’s festivities.

Saturday’s ‘OX4 university’ will feature county music professionals telling young musicians how they broke into the music business.

And the second looks set to combat Oxford’s lack of independent record shops.

Organisers are running a three-day record shop in an attempt to prove there is market for them.

Mr Bennett said: “The idea is to live the life of a record store in one weekend, from opening party on Friday night to closing down sale on Sunday.

“Other cities have independent record shops, so I think it’s remarkable that Oxford doesn’t – they were a great place for people to meet and learn about music.

“Ultimately that’s what this whole event is just about – good music, young and old.”

Tickets are available online from wegottickets.com and in person from the O2 Academy, Scribbler in New Inn Hall Street, Oxfam in Headington and the Oxford Guitar Gallery in South Parade. The music starts at 4pm and runs through until 3am.

For more information, visit thisistruck.com

  • The bands include:
    Everything Everything
    Abe Vigoda
    Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
    Willy Mason
    John Spiers
    Crocodiles
    The Winchell Riots
    Dog is Dead
    Chad Valley
    Breton
    Fixers
    Dreaming Spires
    Glitches
    Boat to Row
    Phantom Theory
    The Half Rabbits Hreda Dead Jerichos Mr Shadow Roxy Brennan Steph West