FIVE ALIVE. Wrap your eyeballs around this winsome digit: Oxford Art Factory is turning 5! (Yes, it has already been five years since 2007!) It goes without saying that we plan to celebrate this historic milestone the only way we know how: by throwing a gigantic, FREE party.

We have gathered together a veritable "Cadbury Roses" selection of bands, including some new favourites and a few old mates. Our twin stages look forward to welcoming a high-energy line up that includes The Preatures, Kill City Creeps, Group, The Shooters Party, Spirit Valley, Sures, Bloods, Sweet Teeth, Reckless Vagina and Whipped Cream Chargers. Supporting them on the decks will be our very own Friday I'm In Love DJs, the OAF Gallery DJs & the BRAG DJs, playing tunes to make you get down and get up again until the early hours of the morning.

No fifth birthday party would be complete without a game of 'pass the parcel', so the generous folk at the Brag will be providing just that. Join in this merry game for the chance to score free CDs! Plus party favours in the form of yummy lolly bags will be given away to the first 100 through the doors, so if you have a sweet tooth (shout outs to my homies Sweet Teeth) then don't be late!

BLUDDY OAF, it has been a pretty fun year. There's so much good stuff we could mention, like the time that Outkast's Big Boi jumped on stage (unannounced!!) for a mini-set with Theophilus London. Or all the amazing festival side shows and international tours that we've played host to, including Bombay Bicycle Club, Girls, Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti, Wavves, Gaslamp Killa, Active Child, Chairlift, Yuck, Twin Shadow, Youth Lagoon, Of Monsters and Men, Brian Jonestown Massacre or Michael Rother, the list goes on. Not to mention all of the local legends who could sell out night after night, like Tijuana Cartel, Matt Corby, Underground Lovers, Snakadaktal, The Rubens, Emma Louise, Set Sail, Oliver Tank, Neil Finn's Pajama Club, Last Dinosaurs or Husky. Yup, our beloved main stage has been well traversed over the past twelve months, to say the least.

There have been a few transformations to the venue. Our new bar menu sports a wider range of delicious cocktails and shooters (there is a drink that tastes like A PANCAKE!! COME ON!) and we've opened a little pop-up whiskey & tequila bar in the Cloakroom on Friday and Saturday nights. We are constantly striving to update our sound and lighting systems so we can provide the best possible experience for our audiences. This year we have upgraded our front of house desk, lighting desk and added a brand new lighting rig, in order to maintain a high standard of quality for our artists and guests. Our next 'Home Improvement' plans are directed at the Gallery Bar, so stay tuned for that!

Speaking of the Gallery Bar, you might have noticed we are open on Wednesday nights now for 'Folk Club' - great folk acts, cheap drinks and a nice cozy room full of lamps and couches. Speaking of Wednesday nights, we are honoured to have Secret Walls back again, with art battles, cool DJS & live acts kicking it in the main room once a month. Speaking of live art, our friend John Douglas has started a new program of Free Fall - live art installations & performances in our glass cube on Friday and Saturday nights. Speaking of art, have you seen all the incredible wall artworks we have exhibited over the past 12 months, including work from Heesco, Anthony Lister, Shannon Crees, Sprinkles, Alex Lehours, Michael Peck or Benjamin Reece, just to name a few? (Plus Ben Frost has repainted our rear hallway and green room!)

But if you ask us what we are most proud of, it would be the things that haven't changed. We are still offering free live music in the Gallery Bar four nights every week. We've been able to continue putting on showcase nights in the main room too, like our 'Night On The Town' events ($5 entry), the infamous Hat Parties (free entry) or our Music Makers Club nights (free entry) that are put on in partnership with the A&R Department. We are determined to keep offering live music for cheap or free on a weekly basis.

All in all, it really has been another amazing year for Oxford Art Factory and we are so proud to say that the original concept for the venue has stayed firm and true. It has always been our belief that art in all forms - visual art, performance art or live music - should be freely available to anyone and everyone. We hope that in these past five years we have entertained, beguiled, captivated and surprised you. We hope that we have done our part to support the local community and show Sydney that art need not be restricted to the four white walls of a fancy gallery: art can be ink, aerosol, digital, musical or whimsical. It can be a beautiful landscape or an image of three penises sticking out of a cake (thanks ma. Gallery!)

And five years on, we are so glad that OAF is still able to provide just that. Whether it be our ever-changing wall art, live art installations in our glass cube, or our regular free live music - we are here, we are alive, we are happening. And Oxford Art Factory couldn't be more grateful to you, our audience, who continue to support us on a weekly basis. This party is celebrating YOU as much as us. So come on down to OAF on Saturday, September 15 for lots of drinks, merriment, sick bands, and above all - free art!

Love from OAFY
xoxo

WHAT: The Oxford Art Factory's 5th Birthday Party

WHO: The Preatures, Kill City Creeps, Group, The Shooters Party, Spirit Valley, Sures, Bloods, Sweet Teeth, Reckless Vagina + Whipped Cream Chargers, Friday I'm In Love DJs, the OAF Gallery DJs & the BRAG DJs

WHERE: Both rooms, Oxford Art Factory, 38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst (VIEW MAP)

WHEN: Saturday 15th September, from 8pm

HOW MUCH: Free + a complimentary drink on arrival between 8-9pm

RSVP: on Facebook here

'TAKE A CARD' - THE PREATURES

The Preatures' blend of Gothic Soul and rock & roll combines classic songwriting with raw, infectious delivery. Described as The Velvet Underground crashing into Motown, their live shows are cultish: deliriously charged, moody and magnetic. Led by the ferociously sexy and cool-toned Isabella Manfredi, and the rich and brazen vocals of Gideon, the result is a dynamic union of feminine and masculine energy: a constant trade of light and dark, elegance and dissonance. Bensen's punk-styled rhythm guitar growls under Jack Moffitt's schooled lead, while rhythm section Luke Davison (drums) and Tom Champion (Bass) have a modern-day Booker T & The MG's magic.

The Preatures formed in early 2010 after Jack, Tom and Izzi met Gideon at The Lansdowne Hotel in Sydney's inner west. After releasing a self-recorded EP in April that year, Luke Davison joined the band on drums. They played relentlessly for the next year, recording and releasing a string of demos, until in late 2011 the band headed to LA to record their second EP, Shaking Hands with producer Tony Buchen. The studio was The Bank, owned by renowned session drummer Joey Waronker (Beck, Elliot Smith, Jack White).

'Shaking Hands' spans the sophisticated and eclectic direction of The Preatures' sound. From the gloriously upbeat "Take a Card" and "Young Brave Me" to the mournful and cinematic "Pale Rider", there is a seamless fluidity and charisma to the record that suggests a band on the edge of something spectacular.

http://www.facebook.com/ThePreachersband

'I GOT A LETTER' - KILL CITY CREEPS

Up from the sleazy streets of Sydney's inner-west come the swampy sounds of Kill City Creeps: Daniel Darling (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), formerly of The Dolly Rocker Movement, Knives (lead guitar/vocals) and Mon Cherie (drums), both of Dora Maar, and rogue musician, Nina B (organ). Conceived in the backseat of Sydney's underground music scene and born from the loins of rock n' roll herself, the Kill City Creeps sound can be traced back to many influences, some of which you'll recognize, others you won't. But what The Creeps have given birth to is entirely apart from anything that has come before... There's is a sound, a look, a language and an attitude...to and of itself...

The bands' first 5 track demo, mixed by Nic Dalton from the Lemonheads, while somewhat reminiscent of late 60s psychedelia and 70s glam, has taken on an unhinged, scuzzy demeanor that is very much parentless. This is the sound of a depleted youth, broken, bored, wired and horny. But while such words paint a vivid picture of Kill City Creeps, they serve only to capture a portion of the band's sound and even less of its essence. Listening through radio waves and speaker stacks, or watching them on stage, or screen, it is clear that, in truth, this enigma can't be described...it can only be felt.

http://www.facebook.com/killcitycreeps

GROUP are a Sydney Blues Band featuring Nick Meredith (Drums), Daniel May (Piano/Organ), Jesse Lyleson (Vocals/Harp), Brendan Clark (Bass) and James Manson (Guitar). They formed in January this year at the infamous Blues Night 'Charlies' and have been playing as a five piece ever since.

After packing out OAF Gallery Bar every Saturday night in June during their four date residency GROUP are ready to step up to the big stage. With their debut EP set for release in November, it's shaping up to be a productive first year for them. GROUP are an absolute force to behold live and will be debuting their first original songs mixed with their long repertoire of Blues Standards from Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker and B.B King to name a few. Do not miss this set!

http://www.facebook.com/group.theband

'NEEDY BLUES' - THE SHOOTERS PARTY

The Shooters Party are a band who play a devilish swig of blues and 50s rock n roll coming from the beer soaked streets of Surry Hills. The sound reveals a cocktail of influences from Howling Wolf and Muddy Watters to Chuck Berry and Carl Perkins.

The band was formed in 2010 by singer, songwriter and author Josh Jones with drummer Bill Danger and guitarist Daniel Connors jr, with the idea of creating a modern performance take on classic blues sound. In 2011, Nate Cairns became the new bass player and completed the bands current line up.

The Shooters Party is the kind of band that leaves people with ears ringing and legs hurting from dancing: tell tail signs of a good night. The band has been hitting up Sydney venues playing with bands such as Whisky Go Go's and the Hell City Glamour and the Art.

With the recent release of the band's first EP 'Needy Blues' the band has been gaining a reputation for their energetic and memorable live shows.

http://www.facebook.com/theshootersparty

'DOOMSHINE BLUES' - SPIRIT VALLEY

Spirit Valley is a 'Doom Blues' 2 piece formed by Dave Spirit and Chris Valley in 2010. They sling atmospheric guitar riffs over heavy drones, complex drum rhythms and time signature changes. This is all drenched with themes of high seas, alcoholism and living forever in outer space, then delivered in an energetically livid live show.

SV have recently released their debut Ep 'Death' independently, available at www.spiritvalley.bandcamp.com (12" coming in late August). 

If you're traveling through dimensions, you're gonna need a sturdy vessel. 

http://www.facebook.com/SpiritValley

'POSEIDON' - SURES

SURES are a four-piece from the suburbs of Sydney who play blissed out guitar-based surf pop. Fuzzy around the edges but melodic to the core, SURES have been making waves at home and abroad as a band to watch. Without a release to their name, they were chosen to support acclaimed international artists Best Coast, Real Estate and Wavves and were invited to play both Laneway Festival and Boogie Fest.

In between playing all these live shows, the band found time to finish their debut EP, STARS, which includes the single of the same name and radio favourite 'Poseidon.'

SURES will play a bunch more shows over the next few months to promote their EP before heading into the studio once again to get stuck into to what promises to be an incredible debut album (if the demos are anything to go by!).

"Beautiful mess between Wavves and Washed Out." – Linda Marigliano, triple j

http://www.facebook.com/suressuressures

'GOODNIGHT' - BLOODS

BLOODS is Dirk, MC & Sweetie. They are not the gang from LA that is allegedly responsible for the murder of Biggie. Dirk, the drummer is actually a guitarist. MC, the guitarist is actually a bassist. Sweetie, the bassist is actually violinist. The first half of 2012 has already seen the band play an excellent run of shows alongside legends including Dum Dum Girls (USA), Red Kross (USA), DZ Deathrays, Velociraptor and Step-Panther.

After dropping their first ever single, the know-it-all anthem 'All the Things You Say Are Wrong' earlier this year, Sydney's bratty gangster-punks Bloods are ready to deliver their second single. 'Goodnight' sees Bloods back in the arms of Owen Penglis (Straight Arrows). Recorded straight to tape in Penglis' living room and kitchen, the track is an ode to first love, drunken house parties and unwanted boobie grabs.

http://www.facebook.com/bloodsband

'HOLIDAY' - SWEET TEETH

Despite only forming in late 2010, pop/post-punk act, Sweet Teeth, is already notorious for its catchy jams and zany antics. Partially blamed for re-popularising the 'Rainbow Milk Challenge' through their viral YouTube video, and always inspiring sing-alongs at their shows, the inner-Sydney indie-rockers, fronted by hook-master Nathan Martin, never fail to start the party.

Sweet Teeth has played iconic local venues like GoodGod Small Club, World Bar and Oxfort Art Factory numerous times since its inception and has become known for genre-jumping and an up-beat punk rock attitude. As well as releasing the Sweet Grillz EP, a split with Newcastle's Bare Grillz, and gaining a member (bass player Chris Powell), the band toured the country late last year with fellow locals Doc Holliday Takes The Shotgun and released its own EP, Your Trash Is Our Treasure on 'bedroom' indie label Less Talk Records.

Download their debut EP from Bandcamp (http://sweetteethau.bandcamp.com).

http://www.facebook.com/SweetTeethAU

'DOLLARHYDE' - RECKLESS VAGINA

Reckless Vagina is a future 'Classic Australian Rock Band.'  Sure, they don't have hits yet. Sure, they don't have endorsements yet and none of the five male members have married a Tin Lid (...yet) but don't let these facts change your opinion. A Classic Australian Rock Band comes once every decade. INXS; done, Cold Chisel; done, TISM; done, The Drones; almost done. Reckless Vagina ... about to do.  And so, when the path unravels and the red silky fabric is laid in front of them, five men will suit up and ride down that stream of illustrious dreams straight to the foot of the ARIA Hall of Fame colossal mountain where there they will stand, look up, pinch themselves and ask, "Is Delta really not wearing any underwear?"

In celebration, a perfect moment will be shared, when both Librans will come together to balance the scales and align the stars. OAF and Reckless Vagina will celebrate their joint birthdays as one. Ladies and Gentlemen, your new Classic Australian Rock Band, Reckless "bloody oaf" Vagina.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reckless-Vagina/133363153382005

'COME ON' - WHIPPED CREAM CHARGERS

Whipped Cream Chargers are a ballistic whirling collision of the serious and the absurd. Taking influence from the very best of 50's rock n' roll, punk, surf and garage, their songs evoke stories of selfish drunken cowboys, confused kamikaze pilots, lost love, murder, teenage lust, bad monkeys and diamond studded yachts.

Their vision is of a world of adventure for adventures sake, of personalities so vital that not even death can bring them to a halt. A broken pastiche of their influences, Whipped Cream Chargers are bandit-lords toting ray-guns crying out for a lay in the vast emptiness of space.
Together these six have played countless shows to sold out audiences and to empty rooms. Now a live act in the truest sense, their recordings and performances will become a lingering regret if missed.

http://www.facebook.com/whippedcreamchargers