Essex/London indie rock band Don't Worry returns to Oxford for the first time since their sold out show at The Library in 2022 as part of their UK Tour celebrating the release of their 3rd full length album "Idealism" - due for release on Specialist Subject Records on 18th July. Support TBC.

Jackie-O Motherfucker's music draws from a variety of subgenres including various folk musics of the world (American folk and blues, Traditional English folk ballads, etc.), drone, free jazz, psychedelia, and noise rock , and is heavily improvisational in its nature. Because they are a collective, rather than a consistent band or group, the sound of their music can change from performance to performance. Jackie-O Motherfucker began as a duo consisting of multi-instrumentalist Tom Greenwood and saxophonist Nester Bucket. The group has had more than forty members drawn from the U.S. experimental scene, notably Natalie Mering, who now records under Weyes Blood, briefly on bass; the core of the group is founding member Greenwood. The group has had recordings released by Fire Records, Ecstatic Peace, Feeding Tube Records, ATP Recordings and their own U-Sound Archive and has been on several international tours including performances at All Tomorrow's Parties Festivals. In collaboration with the band, Fire Records will be reissuing one of their albums this summer - the first official vinyl reissue of ‘Flags Of The Sacred Harp’ with restored original artwork and a download card featuring unreleased extras and rarities. Presented by Melting Vinyl. Under 16s accompanied by an adult

Common Ground welcome Vetna! Vetna are a car crash between different genres and eras, in a comfy, compact format for your own post-modern, liquid entertainment. A music collective founded by Lore Chia in Turin in 2019, and based in Bristol since 2020. Their act proposes a bold experimentation, beginning with alternative rock and post-rock, with an unmistakable 90s and 00s imprint, mixing it with a powerful electronic outfit. Everything spiced up with a punk attitude and a riveting psychedelic vibe. Vetna have released their debut album 'As Lips Run' at the end of 2021, and have been touring tirelessly for the following two years around the south of England. They started to record new music with Jim Barr at J&J Studio in Bristol in April 2024, and have released a new single Marta in May 2024. This was followed by a second (odyssey of a) single King Whammy in 2025. A promising taste of what is yet to come. Sometimes, venturing into experimentation pays off, and Marta is a prime example. The song gains an additional facet from it. With a proud length of 7 minutes and 44 seconds, one could almost argue that shorter wouldnt sound better. Vetna succeeds with Marta in making a statement, conveying emotions, and impressing in every way. -Nenes Butler Music Blog (UK)

Gwenifer began playing guitar at the age of eight shortly after having been first exposed to punk and grunge. After years of playing around the Welsh valleys in various punk outfits she began listening more to pre-war blues musicians as well as Appalachian folk players, eventually leading into the guitar players of the American Primitive genre. It was then that Gwenifer began writing her own moody and often-times manic original American Primitive styled compositions and started playing shows around the UK.

"History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake" James Joyce How can we truly look the imperial past - and present - in the eye, in order to address a plethora of injustices and imagine a better future Join author and curator Dan Hicks and Jelena Sofronijevic, producer of the podcast EMPIRE LINES, for a special evening of conversation and a live podcast recording in a third space in the heart of Oxford. Dan's latest book, 'Every Monument Will Fall: A story of remembering and forgetting' (Penguin, 2025), explores and interrogates the legacies of violence we have inherited, in Oxford and across the world, in the form of the monuments, statues, buildings and other structures of commemoration which cast their shadows over us. From the militarism and white supremacy enshrined in many of our cultural institutions, to their decolonial counterweights in the Rhodes Must Fall campaign and Saidiya Hartman's critical fabulations, the text takes the reader on a journey through the landscape of our memory culture and plots trajectories to future reconciliations. Dan will be joined in conversation by Jelena Sofronijevic, a writer, curator, researcher and producer of the acclaimed EMPIRE LINES (available on all major podcast platforms), which examines the unexpected and often fascinating influence of empires in art. Working at the intersections of cultural history, politics and the arts, Jelena has curated exhibitions including 'Invasion Ecology' (2024), and is currently undertaking a practice-based PhD focused on the representation of diaspora communities and cultures from the Balkans and Yugoslavia. Together, they'll discuss 'Every Monument Must Fall' and consider the tangled histories of colonialism and the different artefacts attached to it. This will be a live podcast recording which will include plenty of opportunities for audience participation! Ticketholders will also receive a discount on Dan's book, copies of which will be available on the night. This promises to be a really special evening of stimulating discussion, reflection and imaginative work - don't miss out!

Thrilled to welcome 90s indie stars Prolapse to Oxford! The band are touring brand new album I Wonder When Theyre Going To Destroy Your Face, and we cant wait to host the band at our fave venue Common Ground! Prolapse formed in Leicester in the early 90s and are now spread across the UK and Scandinavia. Still pursuing their own path of repetition and twisted melodies, they merge influences from post punk to krautrock and even folk. Their previous releases have included numerous singles and four albums on various labels, including Cherry Red and Radar. They feature vocalists Mick Derrick and Linda Steelyard, whose intense duelling vocals combine with ferocious triple guitar assault and pummelling rhythms. The fifth Prolapse album I Wonder When Theyre Going to Destroy Your Face will be released on Tapete Records and marks the bands first new recordings since their last album, Ghosts of Dead Aeroplanes, released 26 years ago, but in some ways it feels like there hasnt a break at all. From the opening incessant riff of The Fall of Cashline, Prolapse set their stall out, hammering the message that theyre back, over and over (and over and over) again. Supports TBC but this will undoubtedly be an epic and unmissable Halloween show!

This is the ticket for the early show 6:30 pm - 8 pm (doors open 6 pm) Join Jericho Comedy at the super cool Common Ground. A different mix of comedians on every show, hosted by Alex Farrow - "a well-spoken, amiable but razor-witted comedic maestro" - Oxford Mail With a friendly and electric atmosphere, Saturdays at Common Ground are one of the best places to see live comedy around. Jericho Comedy has recently been recommended in the Times, The Sunday Times, the iPaper and the Telegraph. Our Saturday shows have won the Chortle industry award two years in a row in 2019 and 2020 for being the best comedy night in the area. 'Top 4 most memorable shows of 2020' Chortle. Nominated for the 2021 Spirit of the Leicester Comedy Festival. As heard on BBC Radio 4. The room gets very full so latecomers risk not being able to get in after the show start. Age guidance is 16+. Expect some adult themes. Under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult. There are no steps at this venue. Excessive or disruptive chat during performances isn't cool, a bit like in the theatre or cinema. We encourage large groups above 6 to contact us before booking. Stag and hen bookings are discouraged. Message us if you'd like to know more about the setup :)

A laid-back, guided life drawing class open to people of all abilities. Expect comfy chairs, a spacious setting, luscious plants, and atmospheric lighting. Tickets cost £8 and become available online at 10am on Saturdays. There will be 10 tickets available to buy on the door on the night. Drinks and drawing materials will be available to buy upon arrival, and please show your email with your ticket to the person behind the bar . You are very welcome to bring your own drawing materials and sketchbook too.

Chelsea Birkby is back at Jericho Comedy with a new work in progress show for 2026 Following Chelsea's award-winning debut and sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe she is back. Playfully combining pop culture and philosophy in this smart and silly show unpacking being in the moment, desire and also ass. 'Very funny... There's a sharp mind behind the sweet exterior' ★★★★ (Telegraph). 'Brilliant... Hugely promising and already accomplished' ★★★★ (Scotsman). 'A real star' ★★★★ (Sunday Post). 'Deceptively smart' ★★★★ (Fest). Amused Moose Best Debut 2022. Comedian's Choice Best Show Nominee. Best Jokes 2022 (Telegraph, Times). Writer on Mock the Week. Ass seen on BBC Three. Opening the show with a short set from a fabulous Jericho Comedy opener a break and then Chelsea's show

Gappy Tooth Industries welcomes back some favourite electronic artists for a special summer celebrating of all things bleepy bloopy, and generally delightful. Ballardian acid industrialists Means Of Production will be playing their new album Joy in its entirety, bright bouncy technopop duo Snuggle Dice are brining their party vibe from Manchester, and local hero NIgel Ali-Firth will be crouching on the floor surrounded by bits and bobs as Old Man May, doling out quirkstep enthems. See www.gappytooth.com for more info in the weeks leading up to the gig, or use the contact box on the site to ask any questions. Also, find us on Facebook and Instagram, should that tickle your digital fancy. DON'T BE AN ARSE Our gigs are often highly eclectic, so there might be a wide variety of punters in our little venue. We want everyone to have a good time, so relax, express yourself and have a good gig, but be thoughtful of other people and don't ruin their night with your fun. Basically, just be considerate and nice, and everyone will be happy. Naturally, anyone who is actively aggressive, or who abuses anyone else on the grounds of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, Monster Munch flavour preference, or whatever the hell else might make a bigot irrationally angry, is out the door. WE'LL DO OUR BEST TOO In return, we'll make every effort to create a warm and pleasant environment, and we'll try our hardest to keep to the timetable (music starts at approximately 20.20, and will go on till about 22.35). Also, we've kept the door price as low as we can, but rest assured that GTI is a non-profit event, and all the money after expenses goes to the performers. ACCESSIBILITY NOTE Our venue is a smallish, relatively simple room, but it is at ground level, and so should be accessible to most people (although there is no accessible toilet). We will also have some chairs available if standing for the duration might be a challenge. We are also able to admit under-18s, though anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. There is no dedicated parking at the venue.

Divine Schism are delighted to be bringing Cheerbleederz back to town! The band are Kathryn, Phoebe and Sophie, three pals from London. They formed the band through a mutual appreciation for their other projects and the desire to write music in a collaborative, and unselfconscious space. Already boasting a fine pedigree of lo-fi underground hits between their individual members various bands (Fresh, ME REX, Felicette, and Happy Accidents), with this project the trio have hit upon an instantly infectious brand of no-frills, melody-driven punk. Taking influence from the likes of The Breeders, Snail Mail, Hop Along, Alvvays, Charly Bliss and Cayetana, their songs touch thoughtfully on the lived experiences of women and marginalised people. Support comes from two other supergroups: indie punks Felicette - featuring members of Cheerbleederz, Supermilk, Matagot, Painter and many more - and hyperpop punks Dream Phone - featuring members of Junk Whale, Basic Dicks, Spring Major, Worry and more! This is a matinee show at Common Ground, which is wheelchair accessible, and will be an all ages show with under 14s needing to be accompanied by an adult. Will be a lovely afternoon!

The September Gappy Tooth Industries event is a typically wide-ranging affair, featuring Oxfordshire's Burning Oats, whose sophistipop takes in indie tunage, funky grooves, and introspective delicacy Southend's Pettaluck (50% of brilliant abstract folk types Lost Harbours), with an indescribable set of quirky song experiments Elective Affinities, a new duo project from Oxford's songwriter/philosophy professor, Paul Lodge, bringing some Fripp & Eno ambience to his eloquent songs See www.gappytooth.com for more info in the weeks leading up to the gig, or use the contact box on the site to ask any questions. Also, find us on Facebook and Instagram, should that tickle your digital fancy. DON'T BE AN ARSE Our gigs are often highly eclectic, so there might be a wide variety of punters in our little venue. We want everyone to have a good time, so relax, express yourself and have a good gig, but be thoughtful of other people and don't ruin their night with your fun. Basically, just be considerate and nice, and everyone will be happy. Naturally, anyone who is actively aggressive, or who abuses anyone else on the grounds of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, Monster Munch flavour preference, or whatever the hell else might make a bigot irrationally angry, is out the door. WE'LL DO OUR BEST TOO In return, we'll make every effort to create a warm and pleasant environment, and we'll try our hardest to keep to the timetable (music starts at approximately 20.20, and will go on till about 22.35). Also, we've kept the door price as low as we can, but rest assured that GTI is a non-profit event, and all the money after expenses goes to the performers. ACCESSIBILITY NOTE Our venue is a smallish, relatively simple room, but it is at ground level, and so should be accessible to most people (although there is no accessible toilet). We will also have some chairs available if standing for the duration might be a challenge. We are also able to admit under-18s, though anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. There is no dedicated parking at the venue.

Divine Schism present Since 2015, Nina Garcia has been researching and creating around the electric guitar, halfway between improvised music and noise. Her set up is reduced to a minimum: a guitar, a pedal, an amp with which she sculpts sound and delves into chaos to bring out the unheard-of. Her concerts draw audiences into an immersive sonic space where power and fragility intersect with communicative intensity. In just a few years, she has attracted the attention of numerous international stages. Her solo work focuses on gesture and research into the instrument, its resonances, its limits, its extensions, its impurities, its audible corners: working with or against it, containing it or letting it sound, supporting it or assault it.

"Why would you watch a film made by two amateurs with a £100 camera, about a town you've never heard of" Austerity. Brexit. The mental health crisis. Climate change. Decline. To paraphrase Mark Fisher, the first quarter of the 21st century has been marked by cancelled futures - alongside a generalised sense of hopelessness in the UK and globally. 'It Doesn't Affect Me Directly', filmed throughout the tumultuous months of 2016 and released the following year, represents a remarkable attempt to capture these powerful anxieties head on. Two guerrilla filmmakers, Stephen Mead and Marcus LS Welsh, grabbed their cameras, hit the streets and attempted to capture the impact of creeping economic and social decline on everyday people. Curious, furious and unapologetically DIY, this searing piece of punk filmmaking turns an unflinching eye towards the fragmenting decline of Britain as experienced by the vast majority of us, framed within the grey mediocrity of an average English town. Come and join us for a free screening of this unique documentary, meet the filmmakers and help us answer the question: Where the hell do we go from here

Divine Schism are stoked to be welcoming The Tubs back to Oxford - they were last seen in these parts supporting Fucked Up and have recently released their sick second LP, Cotton Crown! The new album sees the Celtic Jangle boyband venture into darker, more personal territory while continuing to hone their highly addictive brand of songcraft. It's a true level up album which sees the band expand their sonic palette to take in a kaleidoscopic range of influences: everything from soulful pub rock (Chain Reaction) to Husker Du aggression (One More Day) to melancholy sophisto-pop (Narcissist) gets a look in. As Pitchfork noted, The Tubs see jangle as a vast world of moods and muses and Cotton Crown sees them continuing to explore this world and creating a distinctly Tub-ular sound in the process. This is in no small part down to Owen O Williams vocal performance- often compared to a young Richard Thomson- and his frank, bleakly funny lyric writing. Cotton Crown sees him delve further into his favorite themes of love-psychosis, unsympathetic mentally ill behavior, and the humiliations of being a musician in London. This time around, however, there's a palpable sense of risk in his self assessments/confessions. No more so in the track's closing track Strange- an accounting of the clumsy, intrusive, well-meaning social interactions that took place in the period following the suicide of his mother (the folk singer Charlotte Greig.) As Williams says: Id tried a few times to write a song about it. The result had always seemed either mawkish, simplifying or like I was hawking my trauma. But then this one came out, and it felt right because it looked at something smaller: the weird, unsatisfying, strangely funny ways everyone, including myself, acted after the dust settled. The album artwork features an image of Williams as an infant being breastfed by Greig in a graveyard- a promotional shot taken around the release of her debut album (the re-issue of which was featured in The Guardian in 2023.) The essential trick Cotton Crown plays is to offset Williams lyrical bleakness with joyous, hook-laden blasts of pop perfection. This is largely down to the guitar work of George Nicholls, who, across the album, effortlessly slips between the virtuoso jangle of Marr, the driving folk-rock of Pentangle and the chorus-heavy hi-fi grooves of contemporary bands like Tops or The 1975. Add to that the breakneck rhythm section of Taylor Stewart (Drums) and Max Warren (Bass)- who attack each song with power-pop ferocity, recalling Guided by Voices at their drunken-yet-tight best- and youve got yourself a recipe for indie rock greatness. The band's debut Dead Meat was a word-of-mouth sensation that saw the band earn accolades from Pitchfork, The Guardian, MOJO, SPIN and more. They even gained some celeb fans: the inimitable Mark Proksch (The Office (US), Better Call Saul, What We Do in the Shadows) starred in the video for their Round the Bend single & punk legend Iggy Pop has praised them on his BBC 6Music radio program. Standing in opposition to the UK norm of post punk, and hookless high-minded indie prog, the album was described by Kitty Empire (Observer) as a 'shot in the arm for indie rock. The band's hard touring and raucous, beery live show have seen them stand out at festivals like Greenman, End of The Road, Melbourne Rising and Canela Party. The band minus Stewart) were previously members of Joanna Gruesome- who won the Welsh Music Prize, toured the UK and US extensively, and were praised in Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, The NY Times, The Guardian and others. Lan McCardle (Joanna Gruesome, Ex-Void) also provides backing vocals on several tracks. The Tubs are part of the Gob Nation collective- the London-based network of bands, writers and promoters who were recently profiled in The Guardian.

Join Daniel Ma'ani in the Curio vault for a free poetry workshop! Daniel recently rocked the mic at Virgo Events' excellent Missing Soul poetry night, and now returns to Curio to host a special taster workshop for poets of all levels of confidence and ability. Daniel is a poet and musician who is deeply inspired by his roots, his travels and a lifelong connection to the natural world. He also runs the Daniel Ma'ani School of Poetry, and believes we all have the power to harness words to bring unique creations into the world. Tickets are strictly limited for this Saturday afternoon workshop, so make sure you book fast!

Divine Schism saw Ut last year at JT Soar Fest and thought yes, they must play in Oxford! Ut is a radical rock group founded by Nina Canal, Jacqui Ham and Sally Young in NYC in Dec 1978. Originating in the downtown No Wave scene and inheritors of the collision between rock, free jazz and the avant-garde, Ut exploded the rigidity of conventional rock, constructing songs through collective improvisation, swapping instruments and rotating the role of singer/director. Migrating to London in 1981, Ut played with bands like The Fall and The Birthday Party and released music on their own label, Out Records. Ut became a favorite of BBC's John Peel and recorded sessions for his show. Joining forces in 1987 with the label Blast First, they released the critically acclaimed In Gut's House in 1988 and made that year's NME Top 50 Albums. The album Griller followed in 1989, engineered by label mate Steve Albini, who shared Ut's raw aesthetic and captured the band's intensity. Ut disbanded in 1990, but began performing again in 2010. The band is currently reissuing its remastered catalogue on Out Records, through Forte Distribution, and available on Bandcamp. I swear I have never seen a band play harder, I have never seen musicians put so much into their instruments, I have never seen such concentration on stage; in short, I have never seen people make rock n roll so much their own, using the normal tools to create a singular, bone- shaking form of expression. The Village Voice UT have an almost Mishima-like intensity in their attack and their understanding of how what you love the most is often what rips you totally apart." Your Flesh The raw power and sheer drive of Ut is quite straightforward and unmistakable. This is a true threatening guitar band." N.Y. Rocker

Get ready for a night of Contemporary Groove and Smooth Jazz with the souful , fiery and vitrtuosic organ and keyboardist John- Paul Gard. John-Paul is an incredible artist who plays the organ pedals with his feet while playing chords and soloing at same time. Joined by an all-star line-up of Keith Fairbairn (drums) and Tristan Watson (Electric Guitar) the band delivers a dynamic set playing songs by the likes of Bob James, Shakatak, George Duke, Fourplay, Jeff Lorber and many more.