Baby it's cold outside...

Valentine's Day is only a bouquet of roses' throw away, but things are feeling pretty grim.

So escape the ravages of Storm Imogen with our tips for a winter-warming night out in, and around, Oxford

Indie-rock

Conor O’Brien’s outfit make a departure from the multi-faceted splendours of acclaimed, and Mercury-nominated, previous efforts Becoming A Jackal and [Awayland], by going back to the roots of songwriting for a heartfelt set of songs based on love in all its guises.

Pop

The former bedroom singer-songwriter continues her assault on the nation’s hearts with songs from new album Light Up The Dark. Expect lilting original material and tender reproductions of some familiar classics.

Rock

The edgy Milton Keynes rockers – named Best New Band at the 2012 Prog Awards – go from strength to strength with vocalist Dan Tompkins once again at the helm. Their third LP Polaris hit the upper flight of the rock charts on its release last year, and has seen the five-piece selling out venues on both sides of the Atlantic.

Chamber music

  • Chilingirian Quartet
  • Amey Theatre, Abingdon School
  • Wednesday

This internationally-renowned ensemble makes a welcome return to Abingdon School for this special concert, which includes Beethoven Quartet Op.18 No.2 in G Major, Bartok Quartet No.2 Op.17 and Dvorak Quartet in G Major, Op.106. With founder Levon Chilingirian (violin), Ronald Birks (violin), Susie Meszaros (viola) and Stephen Orton (cello).

Family show

Straight from a sell-out West End season, best-selling author Jacqueline Wilson’s story of plucky Hetty Feather will come to life at Oxford Playhouse.

Set in Victorian London, accompany Hetty on her many adventures in this Olivier-nominated extravaganza, complete with circus skills and aerial artistry, original songs and live music.

Watch, and cheer, as Hetty overcomes all in the search to find her real mother and a true family of her own.

Comedy

Described as Britain’s greatest living anti-comedian, Ed will be pondering the big questions and exploring his own inner psyche in his new show The Random Flapping of a Butterfly’s Wings when he tackles the pithy task of nailing down the nature of existence.

Best known in comedy circles for really not following the rules of stand-up comedy, in his own inimitable style he will show you how to change the world and seek out the answer to the age old question, can you have your cake and eat it?

Hip-hop and funk-rock

  • Fun Lovin' Criminals
  • O2 Academy Oxford
  • Thursday
  • Ticketweb.co.uk
  • Witney Gazette:

New York's finest return for more rip-roaring rock and Latin-soul flavoured funk - served up with rademark swagger.