Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Nick Dent-Robinson watches an electrifying set from seminal electro act Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark to promote their new 'Bauhaus Staircase' album.
Gaz Coombes
Nick Dent-Robinson watches Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes play an impressive homecoming performance at the New Theatre in Oxford.
Fairport's Cropredy Convention
Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys this year’s three day Fairport’s Cropredy Convention, which as well as Fairport Convention also featured excellent sets from Robert Fripp and Toyah and Nile Rodgers.
Peter Doherty
Nick Dent-Robinson watches Peter Doherty play an intimate and introspective set at the O2 Academy in Oxford.
Bob Dylan
Nick Dent-Robinson finds Bob Dylan on fine form at an intimate show at the London Palladium on the opening night of his ‘Rough and Rowdy Ways’ tour.
Rewind South Festival
Nick Dent-Robinson attends exuberant 80's festival Rewind South, which included set from Holly Johnson The Human League, Midge Ure, Belinda Carlisle, Blancmange and The Selecter.
Fairport's Cropredy Convention
Nick Dent -Robinson enjoys this year's Fairport's Cropredy Convention, which as well as two sets from Fairport Convention, also saw performances from Richard Thompson, Clannad, Genesis, the Trevor Horn Band, Seth Lakeman and Turin Brakes.
Wilderness Festival
Nick Dent-Robinson is impressed by this year's highly unusual Wilderness Festival, which as well as sets from Underworld, Years and Years and Sophie Ellis Bextor, included a lecture from evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, celebrity cooking and a streakers' game of cricket.
Truck Festival
Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys this year's Truck Music Festival, which included performances from Kasabian, Piney Gir and The Ocford Symphony Orchestra.
Cornbury Music Festival
Nick Dent-Robinson attends the last ever Cornbury Festival in Oxfordshire, which included sets from Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Bryan Adams. The Waterboys and The Darkness.
Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical
Despite soft pedalling over his biographical details and infidelities, Nick Dent-Robinson finds much to enjoy in a new stage show about Bob Marley.
London Grammar
Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys a rare, intimate show from stadium-filling act London Grammar at the O2 Academy in Oxford.
Supergrass
Nick Dent-Robinson watches Supergrass back after a decade away play a set of classic anthems to an enthusiastic crowd at the Alexandra Palace in London.
Lulu
Nick Dent-Robinson watches Scottish entertainer Lulu play to a packed house in Oxford with remarkable energy in celebration of her 55-year career.
Purdy
NIck Dent-Robinson watches vocalist Rebecca Poole AKA Purdy, accompanied by a stellar ensemble, returns to her native Oxfordshire to perform originals and cover tunes.
Van Morrison
Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys a diverse, career-spanning set of blues/rock from Van Morrison at the New Theatre in Oxford.
Fairport's Cropredy Convention
Despite torrential rain, Nick Dent-RObinson finnds plenty to enjoy at this year's Fairport's Cropredy Convention, which as well as a three-hour set from Faiport Convention, included performances from Richard Thompson, Gogol Bordello and the Waterboys.
Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys a spoken word gig at Hexagon in Reading by Status Quo guitarist and frontman Francis Rossi to promote his new autobiography, ‘I Talk Too Much’.
Zoots
Nick Dent-Robinson finds infectious the enthusiasm and energy of 60’s covers band the Zoots at the Arlington Arts Centre in Newbury.
Mike And The Mechanics
Mike Rutherford, on tour with his band, Mike and the Mechanics, played a series of Genesis hits at Oxford's New Theater that rekindled fond memories for his enthusiastic fan base.
Jacqui Dankworth and Charlie Wood
Nick Dent-Robinson at the Kenton Theatre in Henley-on-Thames watches Jacqui Dankworth, accompanied by her husband and Memphis-born pianist Charlie Wood, play a superb and versatile set that extends far beyond her jazz origins.
Purdy
Nick Dent-Robinson watches Purdy, the new name for Oxfordshire singer-songwriter Rebecca Poole, play a stunning set of jazz classics and her own material in a homecoming gig at the Corn Exchange in Wallingford.
Le Vent du Nord
Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys French Canadian folk band Le Vent du Nord's recent performance at Fairport's Cropredy Convention.
Miscellaneous
Music is just one element of the UK's most freewheeling and eclectic summer festival, Wilderness, says Nick Dent-Robinson. Nile Rodgers gets a rapturous reception while a celebrity cricket match prompts a record number of streakers.
Fairport's Cropredy Convention
Brian Wilson plays an unforgettable set at Fairport's Cropredy Convention in North Oxfordshire.
Cornbury Music Festival
Despite organiser Hugh Phillimore declaring that last year's Cornbury Festival would be its last, Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys its resurrection this year and an impressive set from veteran reggae star Jimmy Cliff
Truck Festival
Nick Dent-Rpbinson enjoys the Truck Festival, which in its 21st year was originally started by indie band Goldrush from the back of a truck and is now one of Oxfordshire's largest music events.
Miscellaneous
Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys this year's Big Feastival, Blur bassist Alex James' annual festival of food and music in Oxfordshire.
Towersey Festival
Nick Dent-Robinson admires Oxfordshire's friendly four day Towersey Festival, which this year featured sets from KT Tunstall, Eliza Carthy, Newton Faulkner and the Blockheads.
Pet Shop Boys
Nick Dent-Robinson asserts that 1980's icons Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have as the Pet Shop Boys, 'constantly pushed the boundaries' since their inception. He enjoys two dynamic sets of synth pop at the prestigious Henley Festival.
Cornbury Music Festival
Nick Dent-Robinson attends the final Cornbury Festival in Oxfordshire which this year saw performances from Bryan Adams, the Pretenders, Kaiser Chiefs and Jools Holland and speaks to organiser Hugh Phillimore about why he has decided to stop.
Kraftwerk
Nick Dent-Robinson finds electronic pioneers Kraftwerk still sounding futuristic with a set of their now classic material at the New Theatre in Oxford
Jacksons
Nick Dent-Robinson watches the Jacksons play a hit-packed set to celebrate their 50 years in music at the final night of this year’s Nocturne Festival at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire
Stornoway
Nick Dent-Robinson watches critically acclaimed local indie-folk band Stornoway play an emotive final gig at the New Theatre in Oxford
Sam Brown
Nick Dent-Robinson finds much to enjoy at Sam Brown's annual pre-Christmas International Ukulele Club show at the Kenton Theatre on Henley-on-Thames
Chas and Dave
Nick Dent-Robinson watches the still undervalued Chas and Dave play an unglamorous but solid set at the O2 Academy in Oxford
Bestival
Despite appalling weather conditions, Nick Dent Robinson still finds much to enjoy at this year's Bestival on the Isle of Wight, which saw performances from Damian Marley, Caravan Palace, Ride and a three hour set from the Cure
Lisa Hannigan
Nick Dent-Robinson explains why he feels Irish singer-songwriter Lisa Hannigan is a one-off entertainer after watching her perform a gig at the O2 Academy in Oxford
Fairport's Cropredy Convention
Nick Dent-Robinson is impressed by this year's Fairport Cropredy Convention, which took place over three days in Oxfordshire
Elton John/Ennio Morricone
Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys this year's sedate Nocturne Festival at Blenheim Palace, which saw excellent performances from Elton John and 87-year old composer and conductor Ennio Morricone who appeared with a 200-piece orchestra
Cornbury Music Festival
Nick Dent-Robinson is impressed by this year's Cornbury Festival in Oxfordshire, which this year included performances from Bryan Ferry, Seal, Corinne Bailey Rae, Beverley Knight, Booker T and Wilko Johnson
Fairport's Cropredy Convention
Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys this year's Fairport Cropredy Convention, which as well as Fairport Convention, also saw sets from Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, the Proclaimers and Fish
Cornbury Music Festival
Nick Dent-Robinson is impressed by the Cornbury Festival which saw sets this year from Martha Reeves, Lulu and Tom Jones and a fantastic greatest hits performance from the Trevor Horn Band, whose members also include Lol Crème from 10CC and Stewart Copeland from the Police
Bryan Ferry
Nick Dent-Robinson watches Roxy Music front man Bryan Ferry play a flawless and masterful et the New Theatre in Oxford
Miscellaneous
Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys Oxfordshire's week long Towersey Festival, which celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, saw performances among many others from Eliza Carthy, Richard Thonpson, Seth Lakeman and the Bootleg Beatles
Miscellaneous
Nick Dent-Robinson is impressed by this year's Henley Festival, which included a stunning performance from Burt Bacharach
Fairport Convention
Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys this year's Fairport's Cropredy Convention, which as well as Fairport Convention also saw sets from Chas 'n' Dave, Marillion, Steve Hackett's Genesis Extended and remarkable Welsh singer-songwriter Deborah Rose
Miscellaneous
Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys Oxfordshire's annual Cornbury Festival, which saw performances from Georgie Fame, Suzanne Vega, 10cc, Jools Holland, and Simple Minds and a highly impressive set from the Gypsy Kings
Jeff Beck
Nick Dent-Robinson watches former Yardbird guitarist Jeff Beck, who is seventy this year, play a dynamic set at the New Theatre in Oxford
Hazel O Connor
Nick Dent-Robinson watches 80's star Hazel O'Connor play a stunning set of both her own material and covers at an intimate show at the the Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot in Oxfordshire
Blur
Nick Dent-Robinson is impressed by the Big Feastival, the annual food and music event staged by Jamie Oliver and Blur bassist Alex James at James's farm in Oxfordshire and which this year saw sets by Basement Jaxx, the Feeling, Rizzle Kicks, Dodgy and KT Tunstall
Miscellaneous
Nick Robinson is impressed by Fairport Convention's annual Cropredy Convention which, as well as surprise headliner Alice Cooper and Faiprot Convention themselves playing two sets, also featured 10cc, the Levellers and the Mediavel Baebes
Miscellaneous
Nick Dent-Robinson is impressed by Oxfordshire's Cornbury Festival, which saw headline performances from Van Morrison, Echo and the Bunnymen and Squeeze, as well as excellent sets from 'Downtown Abbey' actress Elizabeth McGovern's band Sadie and the Hotheads and Scottish duo Hunter and The Bear
Simple Minds
Nick Dent-Robinson watches Scottish rockers Simple Minds, who are now in their fourth decade, play an elative set a show at the New Theatre in Oxford
Spooky Hi-fi
At the New Theatre in Oxford Nick Dent-Robinson watches 60's folk legends Steeleye Span play an oddly directionless set
Joe Brown
Nick Dent-Robinson watches sometimes under-appreciated 60's icon Joe Brown play a stunning set combining both his own and other classic rock songs at the Anvil in Basingstoke