It’s lunchtime after Wadham’s first bop of Trinity and to be honest we’re all feeling worse for wear, but that doesn’t dampen the enthusiasm Dot’s Funk Odyssey’s leading lights, Michael and Penny, have for their music.
So, who are DFO? ‘We were only founded four years ago just for Wadstock’ explains Michael before moving on to lay out the line-up of this remarkable outfit. This year the band is made up of a massive 15 members and has in the past comprised no fewer than 19. ‘We got banned last year,’ laughs Michael, ‘too much noise! We were probably Oxford’s only undercover funk band.’
So what do they actually play? “Well, we’re a covers band” explains Penny. “It’s all about the fun.” Michael wholeheartedly agrees. “Yeah; we’re all about playing music people can dance to. As you can imagine, most of our musicians are in other bands of their own so this is a chance to get together and let off some steam.”
Don’t let this make you think that DFO are naught but a lazy bunch of copycats; wander past the basement of Wadham’s JCR on a Monday evening and your ears will be hit with an astoundingly arranged set of covers ranging from Amy Winehouse to James Brown. There are some things however, that they will never do. “If it were up to one of our members, we’d play nothing but Justin Timberlake covers.” Tempted? “Never.”’ Michael firmly replies.
So what of this year’s festival? Anything special planned for their own set? “We’ve got a few surprises up our sleeves,” muses Penny evasively. Don’t miss it.
