Getting into music

The Oxfordshire music scene is exciting, varied and very sociable. Whether you want to make music, watch music or just listen to it, there's a lot to see and do. Read on to find out more about:

• Oxfordshire's festivals
• Practice space for your band
• Your local radio stations

There are plenty of groups, spaces and venues which are friendly towards young music fans and artists.

Making Music

If you're into classical music, there are many choirs and orchestras. You can find ones which are aimed at young people listed on Activities Oxfordshire.

• www.activitiesoxfordshire.info

Lots of Oxfordshire's Young People Centres have music projects, where you can access practice space and recording suites, sample D-Jing and M-Cing, and use amps, decks, drums and other equipment.

• Find your local Youth Centre

If you're into folk or jazz, Oxford Folk Club welcomes young people, and there's a jam session especially for young musicians at the Mill in Banbury.

Watching live music

There are lots of great venues for seeing music all over Oxfordshire, from large Oxford venues like The New Theatre, Brookes University and the O2 Academy (formerly the Zodiac) to smaller pubs and arts centres that run weekly or monthly gigs, like the Red Lion in Witney and The Mill in Banbury.

Gigs are often 14+ or 16+ but club events are usually for 18+ only. It is legal to go into a pub from age 14 as long as you don’t buy or drink alcohol, so lots of landlords recognise that many young people into music (and in bands!) are under 18, and let younger people in for gigs. There are also occasional all-ages events or under 18 clubs, look out for notices in the local press, or Nightshift, Oxford's free monthly music magazine.

Lots of Oxfordshire's Youth Centres put on regular gigs. The Net Youth Centre in Abingdon, Leys Youth Centre in Cowley, Witney Youth Centre, and the Sweatbox in Wantage are all well known for their live music and DJ/club nights, but most Youth Centres put discos and gigs so try the one closest to you first.

Going to festivals

Oxfordshire is a great county for festivals, battle of the bands and other all-day gigs. Festivals are open to all ages, although children usually need an accompanying adult. Some of Oxfordshire's more famous festivals:

• Truck Festival Small indie festival with a strong youth focus, popular with local young bands
• Cropredy Legendary folk festival in an Oxfordshire Village
• Cornbury Big-name festival with a family feel
• Garsington Opera Festival World-renowned month-long festival of opera in Garsington Manor

There are also smaller events all over the county, including plenty of shows in the winter. Whatever your taste in music, you should be able to indulge it thoroughly.