Welcome back to our Offbeat Spotlight series. Over the next few days we're highlighting all the strange and wonderful things that the Offbeat Festival has to offer. The Offbeat Festival runs from the 9th-15th of September, and is a collaboration between The Old Fire Station, Oxford Playhouse, New Theatre and Gloucester Green Market. In addition to a multitude of shows, there are also workshops, and exhibition, late night events including a poetry slam, comedy scratch night, and listening party, and more.
Here, we're highlighting the first of the Late Night Offbeat series, six free events that all start at 9pm Tue-Sun. Oxford Contemporary Music, a beloved local producer and highly innovative charity who aim to bring audiences and artists together in a meaningful and memorable experience. We caught up with their Marketing Coordinator Isabel to find out more.
Daily Information: Hi Isabel, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us. How would you introduce Oxford Contemporary Music to someone who is unfamiliar with them?
Oxford Contemporary Music: Oxford Contemporary Music is a producer of exciting and unexpected musical events for everyone. We hold performances in indoor and outdoor venues around Oxfordshire and beyond, including sound sculptures, jazz, classical, folk and experimental music. We also run educational workshops and an artist development programme.
DI: What is the format of a listening party? How does it differ from other musical events?
OCM: At the beginning, we invite people to let us know if they have a track they'd like to have played. We then listen together in two sessions, with a break in between. People can say something to introduce their track if they would like to, but this is optional.
DI: Is there a theme for the evening? What should people consider when choosing a contribution?
OCM: The theme is "Music of Oxford." People can interpret this as broadly as they like. The music doesn't have to be from an Oxford band. It could be something they remember listening to as they moved to the city, or something that reminds them of a book or film set in Oxford. Remember we're open to discovering something new, so don't be afraid to surprise us with something we haven't heard before! All genres are welcome and we like to have an eclectic mix over the course of the night.
DI: Is this a common event type for OCM? What have past OCM events looked like? Any favorite memories? (apologies for the three-in-one question!)?
OCM: Yes, Listening Parties are a regular part of our schedule and are often requested by our listeners. Even when we were unable to hold these in person, we held a Listening Party online. I remember that before I started working for OCM, a Listening Party was one of the events I attended that made me think this is a cool organisation.
DI: After Offbeat, what's next for OCM?
OCM: Booking is open for The Invention of Wonder by Ray Lee. It will be on 30th October as part of IF Oxford the Science and Ideas Festival. Ray will be presenting his "philosophical table," a series of wild sound experiments which will be a theatrical spectacle of sound and light. It's somewhere between a sound art performance and a magic show. All the details are on
our website.
We'll also be holding our residential Communicating Climate Lab in collaboration with 101 Outdoor Arts Centre, which is an opportunity for artists to get together to work on creative projects on a climate change theme. Applications are open until 25 Sep, 5pm.
DI: Finally, please describe the Late Night Listening Party in three words.
OCM: Listening, discovery, relaxation
The Offbeat Late Night: Listening Party with OCM is on at the Old Fire Station cafe, on Tue 10th Sep, 9pm. For more info and to book tickets, click here.