THE
OXCENTRICS

The Oxcentrics were a Dixieland jazz band based at Oxford University, founded in 1975. In 2005 the band celebrates its 30th anniversary! The band's name is based on "The Oxontrics", an original 1920s jazz band. Several (although by no means all) members were from University College, where many early rehearsals took place. The line-up who recorded their "legendary" and "highly sought after" recording "The Halcyon Days of the '20's & '30's" on 29 February 1976 at the Acorn Studios in Stonesfield, Oxon, were:

• Adrian Sheen - vocals
• Geoff 'Hot-Lips' Varrall - trumpet
• Adam Brett - trumpet
• Olly Weindling - clarinet
• Glyn Lewis - tenor sax
• Paul St John-Smith - trombone
• Charles 'Herbie' Kuta - tuba
• Simon 'Des' Wallace - piano
• Graham Downing - banjo
• Chris West - drums

Adrian Sheen (left and below top right) originally managed and fronted the band. The "fabulous" Mike Southon (far below, on the right) subsequently took over in late 1976, although his musical tastes have, over the decades, moved on to the '60's and '70's. :)

• Yva Thakurdas - trumpet
• Hugh Wallis - tuba

See also:

• Oxcentrics memories 1974-1977 by Paul St John-Smith.
• Oxcentrics diary 1975-1977 by Graham Downing.
• Oxcentric vagaries 1977-1978 by Yva Thakurdas.
• Oxcentrics memories by Mike Southon.
• History by Adrian Sheen, given as a speech at the reunion, June 2005.
• The Oxcentrics discussion group.
• Archive of photographs and images.
• Reunion photographs, thirty years on, June 2005.
• Videos at reunion, thirty years on, June 2005.
• Larger photographs by Jonathan Bowen and others.
• Entry in Wikipedia
• Entry in MySpace
• Further Oxcentrics links from Google.

The Oxcentrics early line-up at Merton College Ball, Oxford (5 December 1975)

The Oxcentrics at the Roebuck pub, Oxford (15 May 1977)

In 1988, the Oxcentrics produced a CD, Oxcentromania! through Eccentric Records, now a collector's item of course!