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.

RWKUS is an electronic jazz trio from Bristol, blending Jungle and Broken-Beat with a jazz sensibility. Their music is rooted in improvisation, weaving songs together in a spontaneous and dynamic way, much like a great DJ set. The band features members of Snazzback, Cousin Kula, and Madly, and their extensive experience playing together in various projectsalong with years of running jam sessionshas created a deep musical connection. Their live performances are known for their energy and unpredictability. Recently, they have been performing live interpretations of classic 90s Jungle and Hardcore music to packed-out nightclubs in Bristol, while their original work has drawn comparisons to artists like Yussef Kamaal, Richard Spaven, and Kaidi Tatham. RWKUS has played extensively throughout the UK and is a well-known name on the festival circuit, performing at events such as Glastonbury, Shambala, and Boomtown. They have also completed two European tours, visiting France, Belgium, and Germany. The trio released their debut EP, Music from the Chamber, in the summer of 2022 and is set to release new music in the summer of 2025. Their most recent release is a live video titled Ricochet, filmed in the derelict upstairs of Ashton Court in Bristol. Joe Wilkinson - Drums/Samples Hal Sutherland - Keys/Synth Bass Alfie Grieve - Trumpet/Samples/Synth

Jeanines and Lightheaded, two of the brightest American indiepop bands, have new albums coming out. Skep Wax Records (UK and Europe) are delighted to be co-releasing them alongside Slumberland Records (US). Jeanines third album How Long Can It Last sees the New York band in total control of their songcraft, with thirteen miniature pop gems. Jeanines can fit in more melody and more breathtaking choruses in two minutes than most pop bands manage across an entire album. First single On And On demonstrates this perfectly. How can such a brief pop song be so overwhelming Lightheaded, from New Jersey, are one of the most exciting new US pop bands, and this album combines a brand new set of songs with five tracks from their delightful Good Good Great EP, a cassette-only release on Slumberland, now available on vinyl for the first time. Lightheaded bring together the songwriting discipline of Nancy and Lee with a modern appetite for noise and reverb. It's possible to get utterly lost and absorbed in this album. The songs echo classics of the past but also feel like they've arrived from the distant future. It's quite disorienting, but very exciting.

Three acts bursting with character will keep you guessing constantly in a night of musical twists, turns, and possibly tumbles. Double Yellow Lines are a new and wildly inventive Oxford act, a mariachi klezmer metal version of The Bad Seeds. Sort of. Agents Of The Lexicon come from London, and will deliver twisted avant hip-hop whilst dressed as clowns. mOrTiFi'D are a punk-pop trio full of pep and bounce, with a wide and bewildering range of lyrical topics. 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.

Common Ground welcomes NOFLIPE in their tour from France! NOFLIPE is a band composed of seven individuals on the fringe of society. In their songs, we learn their story from the origin of the band to the discovery of the one who will become their worst enemy. At the heart of an increasingly superficial and inhuman society of appearances, the story plunges us in the gloomy atmosphere of DullTown. Then, the seven characters experience the world on their way : Doctor E, the vigilante of shade, Flush, the «scum of the society », Natch, the swindler, Rudy Tiger that nothing prevents from creating, Pew, the blind, SLow, the « offbeat » and TokToc, amnesiac in spite of himself. It's time to enter the NOFLIPE Universe ! NOFLIPE is also two EP and three albums autoproduced with a music influenced by bands like Beastie Boys, Transplants, Stupeflip, Puppetmastaz, Funkadelic ou or Bad Brains. All of this with an aesthetic aspect inspired by comics like Métal Hurlant or comics illustrators such as Franck Miller or Robert Crumb. By building their universe step by step, NOFLIPE have first transpired their energy on stage with a particularly communicative dynamism! Tickets are £10 and £12 on the door. More of NOFLIPE: www.noflipe.com https://www.facebook.com/Noflipe https://soundcloud.com/noflipe https://www.youtube.com/@NoFlipe

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.

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.

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)

Morning Tourist is founded by London-based indie folk rock artist Sean McKinney. Since the release of his 2018 debut EP Quiet Lives, Morning Tourist has played extensively on the London circuit, toured Europe, supported Mel C, and performed at Glastonbury. In November last year he headed out on an extensive tour across the UK with shows in Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle, London and more. Over the past few years he's received international attention from Amazing Radio, Pinguin Radio, Unrecorded, to name a few. With a new single release and UK shows around that he's due another great year this year! Delivered solo-acoustic, or in full guitar-driven band form, the album expresses less of an emotional stagnation, and more of the exhaustion our subject feels as they struggle to draw the line through past laments and unmet expectations at the end of young adulthood. Swelling with atmospheric synth, bold percussion and soaring harmonies, the album is firmly anchored by assured production and assertive melodies. Morning Tourist has been touring Europe and the UK in 2024, with fantastic shows in Amsterdam, The Hague, Carlisle, Bristol, and London, and is ready for the next step; to reach the incredible audience that will undoubtedly again be attending your festival. His alternative folk style will fit in seamlessly with the others that have been performing on your stages the past few years and aside from his soft yet powerful and emotive storytelling, he also brings a great stage presence and bags of humour to make sure no one will be looking at their phones during his set. The support: Sparrow are a newly formed Oxfordshire Folk band based in Iffley currently made up of three members: Simeon on the guitar, Emry on piano, and Oliver as the bangoist. Their dreamy and comforting style can be compared to The Lumineers, Noah Khan and Gregory Alan Isakov. This will be their first time performing at Common Ground and we can't wait to host them on the North Oxford side of town. Tickets are £11, more on the door.

Causing a Scene is a non-profit co-operative that acts as the collective voice for Oxfordshire's music scene amplifying, advocating, connecting, and taking action to encourage a vibrant local music culture that is diverse, resilient and deeply valued not only for its creativity, but for the vital role it plays in wellbeing, community and the local economy. We believe that inspiring things happen when creatively minded people come together, and take the trouble to understand each other's dreams, schemes, skills, hopes, fears and frustrations. So join us for our next quarterly Social event, in a safe, friendly, wheelchair accessible space, in which our diverse community can bond, galvanise and plan for the future. Everyone is welcome, whether you're a fan, musician, blogger, crew, DJ, festival, graphic designer, journalist, label, manager, photographer, producer, promoter, PR, publisher, record store, studio, tour manager, venue, or videographer etc. Start time: 18:30. Last orders: 22:30 All ages welcome. Wheelchair accessible. Kindly supported by Truck Store - Oxford, Witney, Online. More Social dates for your diary: Thurs 25 September & Thurs 11 December.

Gappy Tooth's July event comes packed with aural good ness in the form of Proggy space rock from Lunar Kites Fizzy indie garage from Reading's The Dazed Minded Guitar and electronica soundscapes from Gorali 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.

Keith, Maff & Raph's Groovy Soul Jazz Night; We present an exciting evening of Soul Jazz with the house rhythm section of Maff Potts - Keys/ Raph Mizraki - Bass and Keith Fairbairn - Drums. Joining us for this gig is the amazing Guitarist Chris Cobbson as our special guest. Chris is a wonderfully fluent guitarist and is currently also working with Courtney Pine and Osibisa. An evening not to be missed!

Common Ground Sounds is excited to welcome Tawanda Mapanda, a multi-instrumentalist and performer specializing in Zimbabwean folklore music. Tawanda creatively fuses his Zimbabwean inspirations with elements of funk and jazz. As a solo artist, he plays the saxophone, marimba, mbira, and incorporate vocals to create a dynamic and soulful performance. When performing with his three-piece band, they bring an energetic and harmonious blend of Zimbabwean and African traditional music enriched with vibrant funk and jazz influences. Tawanda's aim is to connect deeply with audiences through rhythm, melody, and storytelling rooted in cultural heritage.

Divine Schism saw Ut last year at JT Soar Fest and though 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

Join award-winning poet Nick Makoha and Dr Malachi McIntosh, Professor of World Literatures in English, at Curio Books + Culture for a special evening of poetry, discussion and creativity! How can artistic expression help us to confront the horrors of racism past and present As part of Dr McIntosh's ongoing exploration of Black archival history, this event invites us to reflect on how poetry and art can re-engage with the narratives of violence hidden within the archive, opening up space for reappraisal and fresh responses in the here and now. Nick Mahoka, who released his latest poetry collection, 'The New Carthaginians', this year, will be reading selected poems and joining Malachi in conversation. Together, and with the audience, we'll consider the Black Archive as something that lives beyond the storeroom; the Black Gaze through the temporality of art, history and myth; the healing potential of poetry, literature and creative expression - and plenty inbetween!