It may be a little town just outside Nottingham but each year festival goers and bands return to Beeston from near and far to join the phenomenon which is the Oxjam Beeston Takeover. For 12 hours the town literally comes alive with great music and community spirit, whilst raising money for Oxfam GB.
This year’s Takeover, on Saturday 19th October, will be a special day for The Branflakes (pictured), “purveyors of high energy parp and bounce”, who got together in the 1980s whilst studying at Nottingham University. Still going strong despite living in such far flung places as Truro, Cork, London, Bristol, Luton and Beeston, their lively blend of Dixieland and stomping jazz has evolved into a party phenomenon which they themselves can’t quite explain! The band is looking forward to coming back to its spiritual home and entertaining Beeston Oxjammers. You can be sure they will not disappoint!
New talent
But Oxjam is also proud to promote new talent, and over the years has helped local musicians along the road to success, including Saint Raymond, Lia White, Miss 600 and Kagoule. Young artists to look out for this year include Jack Chapman, Beau Presley, and The Outposts.
These are just a few names from this year’s stellar line up of over 120 bands and artists performing across 16 stages. You’ll be spoilt for choice; there’s everything – rock, pop, jazz, soul, blues, Americana, rockabilly, indie, post punk, reggae, singer-song writers, djs, barbershop, and community choirs. Not to mention the hugely popular Silent Disco. And new for this year there’s feel good fun to be had at a Kitchen Dancing session where you can get a bit of exercise without noticing it as you groove round the dance floor to disco classics.
“always lots of fabulous, sometimes surprise talent to be found just by wandering venue to venue throughout the day followed by a select choice of entertainers for a great evening.” Bee Warren
A truly community event
This entirely volunteer led community event never ceases to amaze! Regularly the top fundraiser of the 20 or so Oxjam Music Festivals taking place across the UK each year, Beeston has raised more than £110,000 over its 8 year history, the first Oxjam to reach six figures!
What’s great about Oxjam is that so many organisations and individuals do their bit to make it all happen. A small team of committed volunteers pool their time and talents for months of planning to bring it all together, and are joined on Takeover Day by about a hundred more volunteers, including generous and skilled sound engineers, who enable this ever expanding event to take place
Of course Oxjam cannot take place without the support and enthusiasm of its musicians who all perform for free, as well as the wonderful venues which Beeston is home to. New for this year look out for Bendigo, The British Legion Social Club, and Circle Eatery, as well as well-established stages at Beeston Methodist Church, The Malt Shovel, The Crown Inn, The Hop Pole, The Victory Club, The Bean, The Pottle, Greenhood, The Berliner, Totally Tapped, and this year’s Headline sponsor The Star Inn, where you will find two stages for the first time.
Oxjam Beeston are also indebted to a number of other partners including stage sponsors CP Walker, John Flynn Opticians, and Foster Industrial; also Breeze and PNDesign for marketing and publicity support; University of Nottingham’s Mixed Reality Lab for web development; and Voluntary Action Broxtowe for volunteer support and equipment loan.
Don’t miss out!
And of course the public do their bit by buying tickets, coming along to enjoy the music and atmosphere, and digging into their pockets for loose change to put in the collection buckets.
Talking of which, entrance to all venues is free before 6pm, after which wristbands are required which give exclusive entry to every venue. Tickets are available in advance for just £10, and can be exchanged for wristbands on the day – in Beeston Square in the afternoon, or kiosks near venues in the evening. Or for £12 you can buy a wristband on the day. At either price it’s a bargain!
Advance tickets are available from Oxfam Books & Music (High Rd Beeston) or online from www.oxjambeeston.org. The last six years have been sell outs so buy a ticket early to save money and avoid missing out!