Interview: The organisers of Oxjam Beeston on this year’s music festival
Find out more about one of Nottingham’s best charity festivals
Firstly for those who don’t know, what is Oxjam Beeston Music Festival?
The incredible Oxjam Beeston Music Festival is back on Saturday 5 October. The charity event brings the community together and showcases talented musicians from the East Midlands and beyond!
The 12 hours of live music kicks off at midday in Beeston town centre, where over 125 solo artists and bands will be performing across Beeston’s pubs, bars, coffee shops and other community venues.
When did the festival first take place?
Oxjam Beeston started in 2011 and has gone ahead every year (with a brief hiatus during Covid where we hosted a ‘virtual’ festival from Artists’ back gardens). It has become a local institution.
How did it come together - what’s its origin story?
Oxjam festivals used to be organised by Oxfam across the whole country back in 2011. Despite being a small town, Oxjam Beeston 1 emerged as the most successful one in the country, having over 1000 acts perform and raising over £200,000 for Oxfam to date.
Beeston’s community took things into our own hands and have seen our entirely volunteer-led annual event continue to grow every year! Last year we were really proud to have raised over £26,000 at the festival.
Which Oxfam campaigns is this year’s festival supporting?
The day’s celebrations help raise money for poverty-fighting organisation Oxfam (75%) alongside two local charities Middle Street Resource Centre and Hope Nottingham (25%).
Oxfam’s current campaigns we are proud to support include:
- ’Stop Arming Israel’ and ‘Ceasefire Now’
- Emergency Aid for Gaza and Lebanon
- Yemen Crisis Appeal
- Safe, Clean Water for All
- East Africa Hunger Crisis
- Bangladesh Floods Appeal
- Tackling Climate Change
Which venues does it take place in?
For the price of the £10 ticket, festival-goers can move from venue to venue to hear their favourite artists and bands, including The Star Inn, Bendigo, Berliner, Commercial Inn, Crown Inn, Hop Pole, Malt Shovel, White Lion, Greenhood, Bistro66, Essen, Totally Tapped, Yellowwood Café, Middle Street Resource Centre, and new this year, the Hideaway Café.
How do you select artists? Do they apply?
Artists apply via our call for artists every Spring/Summer! Unfortunately it is too late to signup to play for 2024, but we will be welcoming new artists for 2025. We can help to provide sound equipment, for anyone who is interested.
Which artists will be performing?
Expect rock, folk, jazz, punk, indie, blues, singer-songwriters, choirs… catering for just about every music taste! Acts include Goose McCoy, The Lapsed, Jeanie Barton, Branflakes, The Outriders, Ramshackle Men, Paul Carbuncle, The Pictons, Harpa, The Phil Langran Band, Anteloup, Milky Joe, and many, many more. And don’t forget the legendary Silent Disco at the Victory Club to end the night! See our website for the full programme of 127 artists.
If people want to come along, how can they purchase tickets?
Via our website, at the Oxfam shop in Beeston, or on the day at any venue! Tickets are £10 and 100% goes to our charities.
And if people want to volunteer, how can they sign up?
We desperately seek volunteers for Saturday, to assist with things like wristband sales and artist support at our venues. Again, you can sign up for this via our website! You can help to donate your time and make an amazing impact to help tackle poverty.
Finally, where can people find you on social media?
Oxjam Beeston Takeover on Facebook, or OxjamBeestonMusicFestival on Instagram!
By Gemma Cockrell.