Nightshift (magazine)
| Editor | Ronan Munro |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Monthly |
| First issue | March 1991 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Based in | Oxford |
| Language | English |
| Website | http://nightshift.oxfordmusic.net/ |
Nightshift is a free monthly music magazine in Oxford, England. Distributed via music venues, pubs, and shops, it provides music news, gig listings, and reviews for the city and surrounding area.
History
First published in March 1991, it was originally titled Curfew, and continued under that name until the end of 1994, when the then main venues in Oxford - The Venue, The Jericho Tavern, and The Hollybush - closed down temporaily and there was little music scene to cover. Curfew was notable for featuring the earliest reviews and interviews with Radiohead and Supergrass, including in their incarnations as On A Friday and The Jennifers.
In July 1995, publication started anew as Nightshift[1], ahead of the opening of venues The Zodiac and The Point.
Content
Each month has a feature on one local artist or group, with their picture appearing on the front cover, and an interview inside. There are occasional exceptions to this format, for example the November 2010 issue featured a round up of the Metal scene, and July 2010 covered Truck Festival.
The magazine includes local music news, new release, gig, and demo, reviews, and a gig guide for the month. Advertisements support the magazine's production and distribution.
In the Demos section, editor Munro reviews demos sent by local musicians, with no pretence of being unbiased. The reviews are entirely based upon his opinions and preferences, but — despite sometimes harsh words for music deemed lacking — there is genuine constructive criticism, and many bands later submit improved demos[2]. The best and worst entries in a month are put in Demo of the month and The Demo dumper, respectively.
Parachutes are apparently a five-piece band, though they sound more like some sausage-fingered bedroom hermit collapsing on the random play buttons of every instrument in his room and deluding himself that it’s something akin to avant garde genius.
— Ronan Munro, The Demo Dumper, Nightshift August 2009.
The instructions for submitting demos include the warning "If you can’t handle criticism, please don’t send us your demo".
The Nightshift online web site features PDF downloads of the magazine since 2005, and a bulletin board for local musicians, fans, and promoters.
The Punt
Nightshift organises The Punt, an annual music event typically featuring around 20 unsigned Oxfordshire-based bands in five venues around Oxford[3]. The Punt was originally conceived during the warm-up for Oxford Sound City in 1997 [4]. Among the acts that received early exposure after being picked to play at The Punt were Young Knives, Stornoway, Little Fish and Elizabeth, the band featuring a teenage Yannis Phillipakis and Jack Bevan, later of Foals.
References
- ^ "Preview: Nightshift night", "Oxford Mail", July 6 2000, accessed January 19, 2011
- ^ "New Year's Day Unsigned Music Guide", "BBC Radio Oxford, BBC Introducing", January 1 2011, accessed January 19, 2011
- ^ Tim Bearder, "The Punt", "BBC Oxford", March 2, 2009, accessed January 19, 2011
- ^ "Punters land a festival gem", "Oxford Times", May 11, 2001, accessed January 19, 2011