Oxford Music Trail

Discover the great haunts, organisations and stores around Oxford.

Instagram: @jerichotavern

Truck Store The Jericho Tavern

Find it: 101 Cowley Rd, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 1HU Find it: 56 Walton Strt, Jericho, Oxford, OX2 6AE

Find it: 53A Cowley Rd, Cowley, Oxford OX4 1HP Find it: https://www.ywmp.org.uk/

Located on Cowley Road, Truck Store is a staple for tunes on wax. You pick up almost anything from indie, pop, jazz, RnB and rock and more on vinyl and has become an infamous music lover’s stop in Oxford. They’ve got delicious coffee supplied by Mostro Coffee and in normal times host live in-stores right in the window! Across the other side of the city lies The Jericho Tavern just outside the old city gates. Known for it’s classic yet quirky pub features and a huge beer garden out the back, this spot is also renowned for hosting live music, including the likes of Mannequin Pussy, Penelope Isles, Cassels and Happyness. Defi nitely check out this local loved spot next time you’re in the city!

Music Box

Music Box is a treasure trove for any musician. Covered from fl oor to ceiling in all manner of instruments, from trumpets and guitars to saxophone, ukeleles and fl utes, there’s plenty to discover in this hole in the wall on Cowley Road.

Photo by Helen Messenger

Young Womens Music Project

YWMP provides an inclusive, supportive space for young women to make music, learn new skills and express themselves in Oxford. The project is a community that has worked with hundreds of young people across the area and they’ve recently moved into a new home in Makespace, Aristotle Lane. Check out their work and become part of this brilliant organisation online.

Twitter: @TheLibraryPub

The Library

Find it: 182 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1UE The Library may be small, but as a venue and boozer it packs a punch. Across three different levels: including a garden out the back and music venue in the basement, The Library is a friendly, vibrant pub/venue that’s loved by the local music scene. They’ve got a great selection of craft beers in the fridges plus pizza on offer - this place is packed out any day of the week past 6pm when the sun is out or there’s a band playing.

Stepping inside The Wheatsheaf is like stepping into your favourite rock and roll bar, except it’s full of friendly faces and wallet friendly pints. Upstairs is the music venue which has seen the likes of Supergrass, Stornoway and Foals grace it’s stage. Sadly there are plans to close the music venue and convert it into fl ats, rendering the city centre without a single music venue. While there is a campaign to #savethesheaf online, do pop in for a pint (and hopefully a show) when the world allows.

Ffi n Colley

Now, it will come as no surprise to anyone that I really, really like beer. They are like my little babies, so choosing favourites can be a little tricky but fuck it here we go, you’re getting a fave from each style.

Merakai’s ‘I’m Your Biggest Fan’ DDH Pale Ale has loads of tropical notes: big, full bodied, juicy delicious business. Augustiner’s ‘Maximator’ Dark Lager: Big ass bottle, 7%, like £4, class. Pastore’s ‘Blood Orange Waterbeach Berliner Weisse’ has got that tang but not too much tang, you feel like you’re getting stabbed in the mouth by fl avour. Belching Beaver’s ‘Viva La Beaver’ Peanut butter & Chocolate Stout is literally like drinking peanut butter and chocolate and I love both of those things.

I think that there’s a few records I’ve really gotten into over this fi rst quarter that might have fl own under my radar if it hadn’t been for the shop.

Photo: oxfordmail.co.uk

The Wheatsheaf

Find it: 129 High St, Oxford OX1 4DF Me Rex’s Triceratops/ Stegosaurus has really beautiful songwriting, evocative, charged lyricism with some massive hooks. ‘Swingset’ (and I say this with no exaggeration) might be the best song ever written. Ever.

Origami Angel’s Somewhere City! My man is fuckin mad good on guitar and I can’t wait to see them live and sing along to ‘Find Your Throne’ when that bit, the bit comes in, you know the bit, the big bit.