Currently in fashion

4:07pm Thursday 8th May 2008

One night, five venues and 18 bands. Yep, it can only mean one thing ... the Punt!

Conceived as Oxford's version of London's notorious Camden Crawl, the annual Oxford Punt has grown to become the city's best night of new music. This evening-long festival of talent has become a local institution, and is the city's best single night of eardrum pummelling fun.

A six-hour crash course in what's hot on the Oxford music scene, the beauty of the Punt is that anything goes - as long as it's unsigned ... and good.

And, refreshingly, it takes place slap bang in the city centre, with bands holding forth at a clutch of venues, none of them more than a beery bimble from each other.

Always a night to relish, this year's event, which takes place on Wednesday, looks like being one to savour.

Artists span everything from acoustic blues, to funk, indie, reggae, metal, garage-rock, experimental improvisation, electro, digital hardcore and all-out noise.

Bands include ferociously in-your-face rockers King Furnace, spine-tinglingly delicious boy-girl band Little Fish, talented young scamps Tristan & The Troubadors, and devastating riff-laden metal duo 50ft Panda.

The event, now in its 11th year, is the brainchild of Oxford's musical missionary, Ronan Munro, of Oxford music mag Nightshift.

"It tends towards more heavy and experimental, but that's where the city is at the moment," he says.

"But, with bands ranging from Rubber Duck and Raggasaurus to Elapse-O, it should be varied."

The night will also see an appearance, at The Wheatsheaf, by International Jetsetters, featuring former-Ride drummer Loz Colbert and his current Jesus & Mary Chain bandmate Mark Crozer.

"The night is a bit more condensed this year," says Ronan, "but there's still plenty of opportunity to run around.

"Everyone goes to see bands like Foals now. But I can remember when they were playing to 50 people.

"And it was the same for Radiohead, Supergrass and The Young Knives. Local bands are the lifeblood of this city. And it's unlike anywhere else its size."

And who's Ronan looking forward to? He is, predictably, too diplomatic to say, but hints he will be among the crowd for Little Fish.

One of the biggest draws, Little Fish's Juju and Nez are Oxford's next big thing - and find themselves (if there's any justice in this world) on the cusp of fame and fortune beyond their wildest dreams.

Juju (guitars and vocals) and Nez (drums) have just returned from America, after catching the eye of musician, songwriter, producer and A&R woman extrordinaire, Linda Perry.

This industry kingpin (formerly of 4 Non-Blondes), who first saw the pair play at our very own Wheatsheaf, has previously worked with Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Pink and Gwen Stefani, so things are looking good. (She also signed James Blunt, but hey!) "We're really excited to be playing the Punt," says Juju, still buzzing after picking up an Indy award for best independent rock act, a couple of weeks ago.

And how does she describe their sound?

She laughs. "Beatnik punk with a fun edge. Our philosophy is, you only get one chance to live, so you may as well do it the way you want to."

The Punt show follows two support slots for Supergrass at Oxford Town Hall, just before Christmas - an experience Juju describes as "a privilege".

But it is the Oxford Punt which she is most excited about.

"Most people go to one gig, watch it, and go home," she explains. "But with the Punt you get to go all round town discovering things. It's like a treasure hunt!"

The Oxford Punt kicks off at 6pm on Wednesday. Entrance to each venue is just £4. Alternatively, pick up an all-venue pass, for £7, from Oxfordmusic.net

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