I went to Oxford with my best friend to see Bat for Lashes this evening. We wandered up Cowley Road and found somewhere to have a curry and a chat. I talked for ages and feel I may have monopolised the chat somewhat.

After eating we went across the road to the O2 Academy and watched the gig. It was great to see the diversity of the crowd and the population of Oxford. It's such a vibrant and cultured town.

The performance itself was wonderful. The artist was eloquent, vocal and interactive, her band were multi-instrumental and talented and the show was captivating. The atmosphere was buzzing and tangible, not least because went from almost overheating to veritably chilly when the air-conditioning came on after three songs.

We noticed many influences in her music and presence, from Bjork to Kate Bush, PJ Harvey to Alanis Morrisette. These are legendary influences, and she wholly deserves the comparison. Although the performance seemed short - less than ninety minutes, certainly - it was a lovely evening in great company.