Notoriously, the start of term is an insanely busy time. If you’re new here, you’re bombarded with self-evident information sessions (TLDR: “your college is the best, so pretty please don’t set fire to your accommodation”), free food, and vodka so cheap it tastes like paint thinner. If you’re returning, you bumble around getting coffee with everybody and their nan to catch up on the summer’s antics. Unfortunately, this leaves very little time for music events. But fear not! We’ve compiled a list of events that spreads right throughout the term, so you can take a much-needed night off now and catch the live music later.

The Fiver - 18/10

While the university boasts an impressively musical population, there’s nothing like breaking out of the student scene every once in a while. Cambridge Junction offers that chance by featuring a series of emerging, local bands on the main stage. On October 18th, (tonight!), 6:45 pm, Heacheck, Chest, the 07s, Romsey, Cookies and Cream, and Krave will all be taking to the stage. Don’t recognise the names? That’s the point! A regular feature at Junction, the organisers have developed a keen ear for bands that are worth listening to, while giving new artists their first taste of a professional gig. And, in case you needed any additional motivation, tickets are under a tenner!

“Compline is open to anybody, so if you’re seeking an evening of relaxation, contemplation, and gorgeous-music-enjoyment-ation, then come along”

Big Band Roulette - 19/10

A familiar nightmare: you’re on stage performing to a crowd but you haven’t rehearsed. Now imagine a variation on that where you’re performing in a band and nobody has played together before. That’s exactly what Big Band Roulette is. Every performance brings together a randomly selected set of musicians from a talent pool and offers them only one day to rehearse the brand-new setlist. While it sounds terrifying to do, it’s incredible to watch. The first of this term’s roulettes will take place at St John’s on October 19th at 7 pm with the band performing famous James Bond themes. An entirely new set of faces will take to the stage on November 2nd to bring you a “jazz safari”, featuring songs named after animals.

Cambridge University Schola Cantorum Compline - 21/10

Following the controversial axing of St John’s Voices last year, Schola Cantorum has arisen from the ashes as an all-gender alternative open to members of any college. Every Monday, the group will perform compline — a serene and deeply contemplative service featuring a selection of beautiful choral pieces — at a different chapel or church. The first of these will take place in St Catharine’s College chapel, right in the heart of town, on October 21st at 9:15 pm. The service is open to anybody, with no need to book, so if you’re seeking an evening of relaxation, contemplation, and gorgeous-music-enjoyment-ation, then come along.

Noasis - 26/10

After selling out the venue in February, one of the UK’s most well-known Oasis tribute bands is returning to MASH on October 26th at 6:30 pm. With accolades from former Oasis guitarist, Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs and Liam Gallagher himself, Noasis are far from your average tribute band. No need to mourn the extortionate pricing and unprecedented popularity that might have kept real Oasis tickets out of your hands, you can catch this lot for just £17.60.

Hybrid Minds - 9/11

During my time in Cambridge, some of my best nights have been spent at Junction DnB events. Admittedly, I don’t remember any of them, but that is the way of the Junction DnB event. On November 9th at 11 pm, English DJ duo Hybrid Minds will be headlining the venue alongside Tempza, Emily Makis, Hi-Phi, Bugwell, Mowgli, and Izatt. The stacked set list is arranged to celebrate 10 years of Worried About Henry, the event organiser bringing the biggest names in DnB to venues across the country. Expect floor-shaking bass, high-octane breakbeats, and bag searches — you have been warned. Tickets are on their last release, so get them fast!

Little Simz - 26/11

Originally from Islington, Little Simz has become an unmistakable voice in the British rap scene, with five albums, eleven EPs, a Mercury prize, a BRIT award, and a Glastonbury pyramid stage performance under her belt at age 30. Now she is set to appear at the Cambridge Union on November 26th, 6 pm, to give an interview and Q&A open to union members. From her musical influences- spanning grime, jazz, and R&B- to her acting career — including playing Shelley in Top Boy — Simz will be discussing it all. If you haven’t forked out the dazzling £180 annual union membership fee, I suggest you get yourself on Hinge and find somebody to take you as a guest, because this is a chance you don’t want to miss.