Oxjam 2009

Oxjam, the biggest music festival in the UK, is a festival with a difference: thousands of events put on by music lovers – from large-scale festivals to local sponsored busks – during March taking over stages, back rooms and street corners to make music and raise money for Oxfam with gigs, DJ sets, busks and much more.

All raising money to fight poverty around the world. Since the launch of Oxjam in 2006, more than 36,000 musicians have played to an audience of over 750,000 people at almost 3,000 Oxjam events nationwide. The festival has raised more than £1 million for the charity since it was created in 2006: enough to buy 31,000 emergency shelters, safe water for 1.3 million people, or buy 40,000 goats.

The highlight of the month-long festival will be the Oxjam Takeover on Sunday 25 October, when more than 2,000 musicians will fill over 150 venues in more than 20 cities in a single day to raise funds for Oxfam.

Stars including Editors, VV Brown, Basement Jaxx, Fatboy Slim, Just Jack, Nitin Sawhney and legendary drummer Tony Allen will launch the month-long Oxjam music festival on 28 September with a series of exclusive, intimate performances in a specially-converted Oxfam shop in London. The shows, which be limited to just 150 audience members per night, run from Monday 28 September to Thursday 1 October, and tickets will go on general sale from 4 September. Many more acts are still to be confirmed for this unique series of gigs in the unlikeliest of venues – a charity shop. To buy tickets priced at £25, click here.

The Oxfam shop, the location of which remains secret until September, will become an Oxjam shop for the week, selling the best second-hand music in London during the day. During the evening, it will be converted into a gig venue, playing host to these intimate performances.

The current line-up, with more acts to be announced, is:
Monday 28 Sept: VV Brown, Just Jack (acoustic), Master Shortie.
Tuesday 29 Sept: Tony Allen plus special guests, Nitin Sawhney, Shlomo.
Wednesday 30 Sept: Fatboy Slim, Basement Jaxx (DJ set), Stereo MCs (DJ set)
Thursday 1 Oct: Editors (acoustic with Tom, Ed & Russ), Good Shoes

On Friday 16th October Cool To Be Kind presents at Matter, at The O2,Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, MYLO, Kissy Sell Out, Dan Black, MPHO, Addictive TV, and special guests. Plus live sketch projections from New York City's Shantell Martin. Early bird tickets £15 all profits to Oxfam. Festival goers will get an exclusive preview of the new 'Oxfam Pop Up Shop' which will be launched at this event before it's taken to other high profile fashion and music events around the country. The Oxfam Shop will even have its own Bar, DJ booth and Dancefloor- so you can literally BOP while you SHOP! for more information see www.c2bk.com.

Hundreds of other events will be taking place throughout the whole of October, including:
Golden Silvers performing a series of Oxjam in-store shows in Newcastle on 3 October, Liverpool on 5 October and Coventry on 9 October.
London: Scratch Perverts perform at the Oxjam Brixton Takeover.
Blackburn Rovers FC getting their first team squad in tune with Oxjam this year.
Scotland: Busking at the peak of Ben Nevis.
Edinburgh: Speed taping - speed dating based on iPod playlists.
Manchester: Mr Scruff collaborates with Oxjam Manchester at his 'Keep It Unreal' club night.

Chester: More than 50 bands and musical artists will be playing 10 venues across the City of Chester throughout the day of Sunday October 25th – joining forces for a melodic charity celebration that is Oxjam Chester 2009.

Birmingham: Saturday 24th October; when OxjamBrum in six city centre venues for a day and night of live music. The Flapper, Prince of Wales, The Victoria, Island Bar, Sunflower Lounge, and The Basement will showcase new music at its finest from 2pm-11pm, with 40 bands and 15 DJs set to play the event. Headliners Dinosaur Pile-Up, and acts include Deborah Hodgson.

Brighton:
Wednesday 7th October: Skint Records Night featuring Kidda and Midfield General. More acts to be announced @ The Jam.
Monday 19th October: Having a Ball featuring 4 or 5 Magicians, Dry Riser, Le Band Extraordinaire and Left Hand Red @ The Hanbury.
Tuesday 20th October: Battle of the Bands Final @ Hectors House.
Wednesday 21st October: An Introduction to Lindy Hop hosted by Sussex Swing @ Latest Music Bar.
Friday 23rd October: Blues Night featuring The Elevators @ The Loft.
Saturday 24th October: Oxjam-Boree - Family fun day with free children's entertainment, refreshment's and stalls @ Saltdean Community Centre.
Saturday 24th October: Funked up featuring The Grand Majestic & The Impellers. More to be announced @ Latest Music Bar.
Sunday 25th October: The Sunday Session featuring The Popes of Chillitown, Heels Catch Fire & The Mojo Fins. More to be announced @ Coalition.
Thursday 29th October: Doolally Music featuring The Perils, Rob The Rich & Goodnight Eddie @ Coalition.
For further information on Oxjam events in Brighton - click here.

The month-long music festival reaches its climax with the Oxjam Takeover across 22 cities. In Glasgow alone more than 100 bands will perform. Takeover events are taking place in the following cities:

23 October: Edinburgh
24 October: Birmingham, Brecon
24-25 October: Glasgow
25 October: Aberdeen, Bath, Blackburn, Brighton, Bristol, Chester, Chichester, Derby, Exeter, Leeds, Leicester, London (Kilburn & Brixton) Manchester, Norwich, Nottingham, Southampton, Swansea.

To find out what Oxjam events are going on in your area this October, visit www.oxfam.org.uk/oxjam or call 0870 905 9060.

This year the festival will be helping poor people cope with the devastating effects of climate change. As well as raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for Oxfam's work, gig goers will be painting their faces blue as part of a massive visual statement to the UK government to take action on climate change before it's too late. Around 50,000 festival-goers are estimated to have signed up to Oxfam's blue faces campaign already this year, from Glastonbury to Reading and Leeds.

More information will be here when available.

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