Mechanical Animals Acoustic Sessions

06/12/2025

Two years of Mechanical Animals gigs...Or as one of the friends of Mechanical Animals said: "...almost fifty acts, ninety individual performers, some from as far afield as London, Brighton, and Somerset, all getting a chance to play in a special atmosphere and to express themselves artistically,..."

It is lovely to be part of this community and we are proud to have raised over £500 for Florence Park Community Centre over the 2 years.

Another huge thank-you from us to all the artists, audience members and volunteers.
📷 Keiko, Alan D, Ian Hanham, Andy Moore

25/11/2025

https://youtu.be/iqa3at5zs0Q?si=0Ou5PGbap0hCe_7y

Bonus clip featuring OctaviaFreud and Emma Hunter singing No Venue Situation ⚡

Thanks again to Alan D for the extra reel!🤩

25/11/2025

https://youtu.be/E5V-KDnJ9I8?si=N2dJ8DpV_ROY8WHC

Our latest fabulous showreel is also out now on YouTube!!! Featuring
OctaviaFreud
Sharron Kraus
Emma Hunter and Ian De Quadros from Tiger Mendoza
⚡♥️

Thanks Alan D for making this plus another BONUS clip to follow!👀

19th Nov 2025at Florence Park Community Centre, Oxford Thanks to Alan D for the showreel

22/11/2025

Wow! What a way to end the last Mechanical Animals Session of 2025 (and foreseeable future). So GOOD to see these all these very different artists but with equally STORMING and EMOTIONALLY CHARGED sets by martin andrews Octavia Freud, Sharron Kraus and Emma Hunter with surprise guest appearance Ian De Quadros Tiger Mendoza!!!! What more could we ask? It was a wonderful evening and thank you as ever to the amazing volunteers Alan, Alan D, Keiko, Jo and the brilliant team behind the bar.

19/11/2025

Tonight Tonight! 🦒🐍🦒🐍🦒🐍🦒🐍🦒🐍
Mechanical Animals Vol 16 - Emma Hunter / Sharron Kraus / Octavia Freud

15/11/2025

👀👇
Mechanical Animals Vol 16 - Emma Hunter / Sharron Kraus / Octavia Freud

09/11/2025

The 3rd and final of our OUTSTANDING artists for you will be the spellbinding EMMA HUNTER https://www.emmahuntermusic.co.uk/

1950s-inspired guitarist, and loop-maker Emma Hunter, together with the trip-hop-inspired percussionist Tom Bruce, and bassist Hayley Wright, create evocative, sun-blistered soundscapes. Intricate melodies and harmonies lie at the heart of every darkly imaginative song.

Emma Hunter is an experienced singer and songwriter working collaboration with Tom’s and Hayley. Their influences include; PJ Harvey, Imogen Heap and the mysticism of Ancient Mexico. Sharon Van Etten and Anna Calvi are her most prolific comparisons. They have played the main stage of Truck Festival, Cornbury Festival, the Oxford 02 Academy and other venues throughout England and have features in numerous music magazines both published and online and have been played on radio shows around the world.

Wed 19th Nov Vol 16 8.00-10.00pm

Pay what you can on the night (suggested £10)

Approximate timings:
Octavia Freud - 8.10-8.40
Sharron Kraus - 8.50-9.20
Emma Hunter - 9.30-10.00

This will be our final show of the year (and foreseeable future) so come and help us celebrate as it promises to be very special.

Poster by Keiko

09/11/2025

Introducing the second of our 3 OUTSTANDING artists for you the utterly bewitching SHARRON KRAUS https://sharronkraus.com/

Sharron Kraus's musical career spans 2 decades and ranges across sparse acoustic songs, layered soundscapes, improvisations and psychedelia. She has performed solo, with a full band, as well as in collaboration with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. She has recorded with a wide range of collaborators, including members of Espers, Bellowhead and Loop Guru, and writers Helen Tookey and Justin Hopper.

Over the years Kraus's music has been given many labels - dark folk, acid folk, psych, experimental, hauntology, folk horror – but has defied categorisation and remained distinctly her own. Her current projects include creating soundscapes for poetry, composing for recorder ensemble and recording a synth pop album inspired by songs of the female troubadours of the 12th century.

Wed 19th Nov Vol 16 8.00-10.00pm

Pay what you can on the night (suggested £10)

Approximate timings:
Octavia Freud - 8.10-8.40
Sharron Kraus - 8.50-9.20
Emma Hunter - 9.30-10.00

This will be our final show of the year (and foreseeable future) so come and help us celebrate as it promises to be very special.

Poster by Keiko

09/11/2025

Hey! We have 3 more OUTSTANDING artists for you on Wed 19th Nov Vol 16 in our final show of the year (and foreseeable future) so come and help us celebrate as it promises to be very special.

First up the insanely talented OCTAVIA FREUD www.octaviafreud.co.uk

Octavia Freud is the alter ego of Mancunian musician Martin Andrews when he makes personal and political vocal electronic songs. He is part of Oxford’s flourishing DIY electronic scene. His latest album, ‘RLTNSHPS’ explores a range of different relationships from the ones with his family and friends to those with big tech, the social contract with government and
his own sense of creative success. The album mixes social commentary, self-examination and vivid storytelling with a mixture of acid house, disco and synth-pop. His music has been played on BBC 6 Music, BBC Introducing and featured on BBC Radio Four.

8.00-10.00pm

Pay what you can on the night (suggested £10)

Approximate timings:
Octavia Freud - 8.10-8.40
Sharron Kraus - 8.50-9.20
Emma Hunter - 9.30-10.00

Poster by Keiko

29/10/2025

Wed Nov 19th will be the last Mechanical Animals for a while, so put the date in your diary and come celebrate 2 years of incredible live music with these three top artists ♥️
Emma Hunter
Sharron Kraus
OctaviaFreud