Gigwise Vs Oxford: More Than Just Spires

Hreda

Hreda, according to guitarist Jamie, are “an indirect response to modernity; based inside a third angle orthographic projection of Oxford. Isolated by the demonisation of mainstream polity and vehemently haunted by the poltergeists of subjection; they hit back with colossal orchestration… they produce a din similar to that of petrol doused icons spitting the poetic pungency of conflict.” Get that? We think it means they’re lost in a city with no soul and war is bad. But they are good! You’ll probably need a thesaurus to translate the rest of it. They’re presently on tour, some dates with Jonquil and others with Theo.

 
We Aeronauts

James from We Aeronauts says they sound “like an evening of warm watercolour skies with damp grass underfoot and a beer in one hand, although this was somewhat incidental.” Hugo from Jonquil says, “Chalon House Valley Band (one of their songs) is an amazingly beautiful song. I have been singing it walking down the street everyday and then I get home and listen to it again.” Apparently, they went to France and came back a band.

 
The Youngs Plan

Johnny Foreigner’s new tour bus soundtrack comes from The Youngs Plan. They are a group of teenagers from a town outside of Oxford (coincidentally the very same town where this music writer went to school). They call themselves “a bunch of A Level hipsters producing intricate hipster nosh with an indie and progressive edge.” The lead singer evokes early incantations of Tom York; we’d presume Mike Kinsella is not alien to this group either, propagating similar melodic overtures. We like these baby faced teens A LOT.

 
George Pringle

Sweet, svelte, siren George Pringle brings her spoken word/ipod electronica to the fray. Although not strictly from Oxford she is an alumnus of Brookes’ University. Pringle is emotionally entwined with the city, heart and soul. Her single ‘Carte Postale’ is, according to her, “a song about ennui and the monotony of living in a small city.” Yes, that’d be Oxford then! Pringle is supporting Does it Offend You, Yeah? as we speak.

So these are Gigwise’s ones to watch in Oxford. Keep your ear to the ground, as these artists are shedding themselves of Oxford’s skin and venturing out into the wider world and coming to a venue in your city sooner than you think.