Gathering Festival takes the Camden Crawl concept and applies it to Oxford’s Cowley Road: in one evening, over forty artists perform in various venues, each a stone’s throw from the last, including the O2 Academy, the East Oxford Community Centre, Cowley Road Methodist Church, and the Truck Store (which belongs to the festival of the same name). Last year the programme included Bastille, Dry the River and the Staves. This year, Gathering showcased London Grammar, Local Natives and Waxahatchee – as well as lesser- known acts including Mt. Wolf and Ruen Brothers.

Denai Moore began my evening, relaying tales of heartbreak and self-doubt in raw and soulful tones. In fact, if Bon Iver and Lauren Hill were ever to have a lovechild, they would probably sound something like Denai Moore. She opened with the haunting 'Wolves' and progressed to the equally poignant 'Gone' and 'Part 4' – all a perfect match for the atmospheric church setting, and all complemented by the sense of intimacy that the venue fostered.

After Denai’s set came the dash to the O2 to secure a space for London Grammar, who didn’t disappoint. The band followed 'Hey Now' with the painfully melancholic 'Wasting My Young Years' and a cover of Chris Isaak’s 'Wicked Game', before rising to the energy of 'Metal and Dust' and closing with 'Strong'. They cited technical difficulties in their decision to finish their set early, but lead singer Hannah Reid’s claims that she couldn’t hear herself only begged the question, what would she sound like if she could? Her extraordinary, Florence Welch-esque voice belies her outward stasis and composure, and charges the space around her with a kind of elemental power.

Moustachioed Californian four-piece, Local Natives, presented a dynamic set that ranged from the slow-burning, ominous touches of 'You and I' and the elegiac 'Colombia', to the more up-tempo 'Ceilings' and 'Three Mouths' – it was unfortunate that the acoustics at the O2 transformed their subtle vocal harmonies into a kind of blurred hum. My evening ended with Wolf Alice, who drew an enthusiastic crowd to the East Oxford Community Centre – perhaps because of their broad appeal: their unique fusion of folk and grunge was able to encompass both the door-slamming frustration of 'She', and the tender vocals of 'Bros'.

It was disappointing not to be able to see more of the bands across the festival’s seven venues – as with any festival – but Gathering left me feeling satisfied. At less than £30, a ticket offers value for money and, apart from anything else, a memorable Saturday evening. Few things may cultivate a sense of community quite like a muddy field and a shower-free three days, but there’s still something worth treasuring about a festival where you can shelter from the rain between acts in a Lebanese restaurant – and catch a taxi home to bed afterwards.