GIGS and festivals are off and recording studios closed, but this is still proving a fruitful time for artists. With time on their hands and no shortage of inspiration, bands have been busy with live-streamed sets, new releases and videos.

The latest band to release a lockdown video is Oxford party band The Shapes.

Frontman Anthony Kelly says: “Our last gig was back at the end of Feb at the O2 Academy Oxford just before the Covid crisis hit. We were pumping out our new album Live in the Moment and were ready to go back to the studio while planning our summer festivals for 2020 which included Cowley Road Carnival, Cornbury and Truck – then the virus pulled the plug.

Read more: Could YOU create a piece of lockdown-inspired art fit for the Ashmolean?

“After a few weeks of walking around glum faced with all the horrible news and suffering all the symptoms of the virus, I did not really pick up the guitar.

“One by one the festivals were dropping like flies and we came to a realisation that there would be no gigs, no recordings and even no rehearsals for a long long time.

Read more: Radiohead Ed talks Earth, fave pubs and hopes for big Oxford show

“One of Oxford’s busiest bands, we were now deep frozen in time and I started to wonder how The Shapes were going to keep in contact with our loyal friends and fans. We were inspired by the whacky film our good friends The Deadbeat Apostles had released to promote their double A-side single, and decided to do something like that for our song Crashes.

Oxford Mail:

“I called Gary, our bass player – who is a professional AV Technician – to see if he’d be willing to produce a lockdown video and he was really fired up. There was no editorial control other than playing our instruments and miming to the song. Gary skilfully mashed together a really slick video which is all the rage on social media.

Read more: Ride star Loz bangs drums all night for the NHS

“Crashes is from our debut album, Live In The Moment, which we released at the end of 2019. The song is about the disintegration of a couple’s relationship that is painful and full of bitterness.

Watch: The Deadbeat Apostles show us how to make the ultimate lockdown rock video

“I’ve been reading about lots of couples going through really hard times during the lockdown, and some who had broken up with their partners just before the restrictions were imposed but were forced to stay together, so the song really seem to fit. I’m sure we can all relate to the sentiment and how hard it is being locked up for three months with others, so the video hits the spot with some added humour – notably my ‘dad dancing’. We hope everyone enjoys it and it will make them smile for a few minutes.

We don’t know when we will be gigging again, so until then stay safe and all being well we will see you on the other side.”

  • see shapesoxford.bandcamp.com