Multicultural Music Collective Celebrates 10 Years of Uniting Oxford

In November 2025, Confluence Collective Oxford is celebrating a decade of representing the diverse cultures in the city through music, dance, and poetry. The group, founded by retired musician Malcolm Atkins, has been meeting monthly to give voice to contributors from a wide range of backgrounds, including Punjabi, African, Korean, Middle Eastern, and Lani.

Atkins, who started the collective through his work with the homeless charity Crisis Skylight Oxford, describes it as "a multicultural open mic at its best." He has become increasingly committed to promoting music within local communities, noting that the music Oxford is typically associated with, such as Radiohead, tends to be "white, indie, rock," representing a "very limited elitist kind of place."

Co-founder Della Izadi, a British-Iranian singer and dancer, says the collective aims to create a community where music is "accessible for everyone." She explains that when they play a song, "it just feels like everyone is included in that moment," whether they are there to sing, play drums, dance, or simply listen.

The anniversary celebration at St Luke's Church will feature special performances, including a set from folk legend Peggy Seeger, who lives in Iffley. The collective's core member Nuzhat Abbas, who was born in Faisalabad, Pakistan, says the group has given her "strength" to share her musical traditions, as "integration with local people and communities is so important" for those living in the country.