Children in Need, Comic Relief, The Poppy Appeal, all worthy causes, that unite the country to raise millions of pounds for charity. But there is one name I have neglected to mention in this nationwide display of unity/fundraising, and that’s the Oxjam Music Festival, held throughout October.

Oxjam is an event with a difference, because it all depends on you, the British public to make it happen. No dropping coins in to collection boxes, or turning up at somebody elses party. Oxjam is all about your events, in your towns and cities across the UK. Basically the Oxfam people encourage performers, helpers, and organisers to run Oxjam events to ‘fight poverty with music’. The best thing is EVERYONE can get involved, as the events can be of any shape or size, as long as they involve music in some way. Each event will add up to one big nationwide party!

The money raised from these events goes to tackle vital problems in poverty stricken areas throughout the world, so your event/money could help find people a means of earning a living, or access to health care, clean drinking water, and education. All the things we take for granted!

Below are examples of two Oxjam events we’ve had sent to music.co.uk. There are of course many more, details of which can be found at www.oxjam.org , along with all the information you’ll need to get involved in future Oxjam music festivals.

OXJAM AT MATTER, LONDON

Promoters Cool To Be Kind, present an eclectic line-up of musical talent at Matter in London this Friday, October 16th. 80’s legends ABC head the line-up at this, one of Oxjams flagship events, and they will be joined by Kissy Sell Out, Dan Black, MYLO, MPHO, and Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip.

Along with enough music to keep clubbers happy well into the early hours, the event will also host an auction, offering money-cant-buy prizes like meet and greets with Duran Duran and The Pet Shop Boys, along with the chance to see a soundcheck and go backstage at a Faithless Gig. Add to this a tombola packed full of goodie bags, and The Oxjam Pop Up Shop, complete with it’s own bar, dancefloor, and celebrity makeover expert, and the end result is a pretty exciting night out!

Cool To Be Kind have a mantra which they apply to all their events, ‘Look Good, Sound Good, Feel Good’. With all the entertainment on offer at this Oxjam night, I think that particular mantra will continue to ring true! All the latest ticket info and details at www.c2bk.com

OXJAM NORWICH TAKEOVER

Put October 25th in your diaries and look out for the Oxjam Takeover. One of the focal points of the Oxjam Festival, this will see up to 2,000 musicians invading around 150 venues in 20 cities across the UK, all on the same day, and all to raise funds for the charity.

Head to Norwich on Oxjam Takeover day and you’ll quite simply be spoilt for choice. Here’s the line-up, venue by venue, for this exciting day of live music!

Norwich Arts Centre
8pm-11pm
Django Django – 2 Hot 2 Sweat – The Woe Betides

Mustard Lounge
8pm-2am
Fever Fever – The Delaney – The Vegas Fame Index

The Puppet Theatre
6pm-11pm
The Loyal Few – Alloy Ark – The Interpreters – Atlum Schema

Dragon Hall
2pm-11pm
Alex Sheppard – Tommy Twist And The Why Thinkers – The Pony Collaboration – Chad Mason – Caomhe – Axel Loughrey – Oakwood Juniors – Adelaide’s Cape – YumYunVoi – Milly Hirst

Dragon Hall: The Gallery
2pm-11pm
Mavericks of Love – My Visor – The Unremarkables – All Mighty Whispers – Phantom Players – Apollo 101 – The Fuzz – Four Days In May – The Library Suits

The Birdcage
4pm-10pm
Girl in a Thunderbolt – King Laconic – Jenny Didn’t Like To Be Photographed – James and the Magic Shoe – Teleri Tea

The Marquee
5pm-10pm
Lonely The Brave – Centaurs – Claw Of Panther – Paris Like This – The Dirty Tricks.

So there you have it, the Oxjam Norwich Takeover, presented by Oxjam East. A host of great musicians, uniting in Norwich to help fight poverty with their music! Miss it at your peril! Festival wristbands cost just £9 and will grant access to all the Festival venues during the event. More ticket information, and web links for all the bands appearing is available from www.oxjameast2009.co.uk