Four well-established independent venues on the Oxford gig circuit are co-hosting a bonanza of live music over the next two weeks, showcasing the best of local bands across a range of genres. The Wheatsheaf is at the heart of the action, with punk rock from Dodo, Arisen and The Overload, electronica from Octavia Freud, psychedelica from The Jerichos and goth pop from Emma Hunter. The standout at the The Port Mahon is an all-day Saturday gig on November 23rd with music from Chalk, Itinerants, Number 38, Get Loose, Bone Machine and Summit 7 amongst others, as well as more bluesy offerings from Oxford Blues Corporation and Scott Gordon Band.

Things take a folksier turn down at The Half Moon, with Doug Grayves & The Sextons and Firegazer in attendance, while there's also an improv dance and percussion set from pulse-raisers The Geee's. The Bullingdon meanwhile have bagged poetic punk trio Flintlock Rifles and indie rockers Aliens. A decent portion of the gigs are free, while the rest are just £7 a pop. This is the seventh year of the City Festival, so the organisers know what they're doing, and with a whopping 69 bands playing it's an excellent chance to loosen up to some live music and support your local scene.