This Saturday sees the return of the Oxjam Beeston Takeover. Now in it’s third year this year’s festival is bigger and better than ever with over 60 acts performing across around ten venues.
The line up is incredible with a host of great acts from Nottingham – and beyond – taking part in a bid to raise over £5,000 for Oxfam – topping last year’s total over just over £4,500.
The action kicks off at 12 noon with THE JAR FAMILY in Broadgate Park and runs right through until the early hours with SEVEN LITTLE SISTERS last band up, taking to the Barton’s stage at midnight – with absolutely stacks of performers on in between.
Below we bring you a venue by venue guide to the goings on throughout the day.
Bartons plc (wristband only)
The former transport depot is now an established entertainment venue that has hosted comedy nights, music festivals, art events and even a cinema, having temporarily closed its doors during the summer due to the ongoing tram works the venue is now back open and will a huge part of the night time events for the festival.
Young beestonian JOE BARBER kicks things off at 6pm at Bartons delivering his brand of Southern inspired folk blues. Joe will be followed by highly rated Derby singer/songwriter HARRIET and Nuneaton three-piece rock act THE KINGCRAWLERS.
The fabulous REBECCA KING will be delivering beautiful rhythm and soul blues from 8.10pm, make sure you’re down at Bartons to find out why people have been raving about this young talent.
OneGirlOneBoy
Then come the incredible duo ONEGIRLONEBOY, formed from the ashes of the excellent Patchwork Grace, OneGirlOneBoy have made great waves since launching as a duo towards the end of 2012, winning the inaugural Notts Factor. Sets at the likes of Splendour and an excellent EP launch – supported by Indiana no less, have followed as they continue to make their mark.
The hotly tipped acts keep coming at Bartons as OneGirlOneBoy are followed by GREAT BRITISH WEATHER, these indie-punk rockers, who smashed it on the NottinghamLIVE Radio Show last night – are being tipped by most members of the Nottingham music media – and deservedly so. Expect to see great things from these guys over the next few years and make sure you’re down at Bartons to catch their set at 10pm on Saturday.
EMMA BLADON JONES will stop off at Bartons at 10.40pm, bringing to a close her quest to play every Oxjam venue on the day – more on that here – before THE JAR FAMILY perform their second set of the day at 11.
Finally, bringing things to a close, not only at Bartons but for the festival itself, will be the excellent SEVEN LITTLE SISTERS bringing blends folk-rock, celtic, traditional, bluegrass and cajun music.
Relish (wristband only)
High Road cafe Relish will also be hosting live music from 7pm on the night, starting with acoustic singer-songwriter BEN HIBBERT. Duo EMMA MARAIO & REBECCA MUIR follow before ED HOPE at 8.30pm.
Emma Bladon Jones stops off here at 9.15 before BROOKFIELD wrap up proceedings at 10.
So why not get down there and enjoy a snack and some great music.
The Bar (wristband only)
The Bar will be taken over by Oxjam on Saturday with live music both upstairs and downstairs.
The upstairs music kicks off at 6pm when Emma Bladon Jones makes an appearance on her tour of Beeston, before Mansfield act URBAN RIFF kick things up a notch at 7pm. PUBLIC SECRET take to the stage at 8pm followed by DEAD SOULS at 9pm. Old fashioned punk outfit THE SPUNK are on stage at 10pm before Nottingham rock four piece I AM JUPITER round things up at 11pm.
Meanwhile there is plenty going on downstairs, starting with 15 year old DJ GENIUS at 7pm. SAM FLETCHER follows up at 8pm and then the excellent multi talented duo I AM LONO will wow you at 9. DJ DONNA BENTLEY brings things to a close downstairs at 10pm.
White Lion Bar & Kitchen (wristbands only)
The White Lion will be the earliest opening wristband only venue when it kicks off at 4pm with a fantastic Spoken Word and Poetry event from the excellent DIY POETS – you really need to check these guys out if you haven’t heard them before. Their putting on a two hour set featuring poems, short stories and more.
The music at the White Lion starts up at 6pm with acoustic/folk from MARC BLOCK followed by the brilliant LEAH SINEAD at 7pm.
Emma stops off at the White Lion briefly at 7.20pm before THE PHIL LANGRAN BAND take over at 7.40.
HONOUR CANN takes to the stage at 8.45pm followed by ANNA HEERY at 9.25 and finally GOOSE MCCOY close things out from 22.15.
The Hop Pole
The Hop Pole is, rightly, perceived as one of the best live music venues in Beeston and has been a cornerstone of past Oxjam events, and this year looks to be no different with a stellar line up starting from 2pm and running through until midnight.
Opening proceedings will be WATERS EDGE who will be sure to get things off to a high tempo start before BARRY SHAW takes over proceedings at 3pm. OLDISH SPICE are at 3.30pm followed by DIFFERENCE BEING at 4.20 and indie band SNOW PRIESTS at 5.10pm.
The GILES RIVERS COMPANY are on stage at 6.20pm – when the venue becomes wristband only – followed by We Are Avengers front woman EMILY RACHEL MARTIN performing a solo set at 7.15.
You can catch ROXY MAY at 8pm before Emma pops in and out at 8.30pm.
The sensational LISA DE’VILLE will wow you with her beautiful tunes at 8.45pm before JOE BARBER makes his second appearance of the day (his first is at Bartons at 6pm) at 9.35.
Lincolnshire alt-pop duo MOLLY & JACK take to the stage at 10.15pm before the brilliant indie-pop PAPER PLANE CRASH bring the curtain down on the Hop Pole at 11.
The Bean
A wonderful little cafe situated near Sainsbury’s The Bean will be the perfect place to chill out for a bit on Saturday – while not having to miss out on the great music.
DAVE MITCHELL starts us off at 2pm there followed by ANDY JACK at 2.40. Emma will of course be stopping off there – we’ll list her full schedule in time order below – at 3.20pm before RUSSELL GREGORY takes to the stage. You can catch the ace ROSH RAI at 4.40pm before ABIGAIL HARDING finishes things off at 5.20pm just in time for you to get all ready for the night ahead.
Josh Kemp
Belle & Jerome
The Beeston High Road restaurant might not seem like the perfect place for live music, however it promises to be just that on Saturday afternoon with a great line up of artists performing there.
It all gets started there at 2pm with BRETT JOHN and then the lady of the day Emma Bladon Jones stops off for a short session at 2.30 followed by ANNA HEERY at 2.45pm.
Folk act CALM MAN CLUB are on at 3.30pm followed by THE HALAM SESSIONS at 4.15.
Closing up will be Belle & Jerome regular JOSH KEMP with his excellent loop pedal back guitar led tracks at 5pm.
The Greyhound
Beeston’s premier rock venue The Greyhound will be getting involved during the day with a series of great sets worth checking out.
SUPER73 start things off at 1pm before Emma stops in for a set at 1.40pm. You can catch THE ZUFFLERS at 2pm, followed by indie rock outfit FUSOR at 2.50.
THE DEATH NOTES will be blasting out the rock at 3.40pm followed by NO DISCO, who despite only forming early this year are already making a lot of noise on the local scene. Catch them at 4.30pm before IRISH CHEMISTS round things up at 5.20pm.
The Crown
The CAMRA award winning pub will be joining the fun during the afternoon with a line up of great local artists performing for your aural pleasure.
Starting things off is the modestly named ALFRED THE GREAT at half twelve. We’d never heard of JOHN HARDY before he stood in as a late replacement on the NottinghamLIVE Radio Show back in August, however we were wowed by his performance and seems we weren’t the only ones (John’s since told us he has landed several gigs off the back off his appearance on the show – no wonder everyone wants to appear on it), you can find out why by catching him at The Crown at 3.20pm.
Folk based three piece 3 EYED FOX are on at 2pm followed, fifty minutes later by CRAZY HEART and then JIM DUNN at 3.40pm.
The excellent DH LAWRENCE & THE VAUDEVILLE SKIFFLE SHOW are not to be missed at 4.20pm, while Emma makes her stop off at this venue at 5pm.
Last up at The Greyhound will be LEGGOMAN at 5.20pm.
Broadgate Park
The day’s events kick off at Broadgate Park at noon – with THE JAR FAMILY opening proceedings, ELEVEN HOURS before their second set of the day at Bartons.
EMMA BLADON JONES kicks off her mammoth challenge to cover every venue here at 12.30pm and there will be a wildcard act at half past one.
As you can see plenty going on and some tough decisions to make though there is one act you are certain to see at least once during the day:
Emma Bladon Jones
As we have already covered Emma will be performing at EVERY Oxjam venue throughout the day, and taking her own stage along with her. If you’re keen to follow how Emma does this is her schedule in time order:
12.30pm – Broadgate Park; 13.40 – The Greyhound; 14.30 – Belle & Jerome; 15.20 – The Bean; 17.00 – The Crown; 18.00 – The Bar; 19.20 – White Lion; 20.30 – The Hop Pole; 21.15 – Relish; 22.40 – Bartons
So as you can see Emma has a busy day ahead of her so make sure to catch one of her sets and give her your support.
Check out our interview with Emma about her challenge
Wristband Exchanges
Tickets for Oxjam are just £5 in advance, but need to be purchased by midnight Friday, The Oxfam store, Hop Pole and Guitar Spot are all selling them or head to the festival website.
One the day tickets can be exchanged for wristbands at three points – Broadgate Park, The Crown and Guitar Spot – these wristbands will give you access to all the night time events.
Events during the day are free to all – so a great chance to bring along the family.
All in all this is a fantastic event and a great cause which will also be a great chance to celebrate Beeston, so make sure you get down there this weekend, and we’ll see you there.
Oxjam Beeston Festival runs from 12pm this Saturday at venues across Beeston. Tickets £5 in advance or £7 on the day. Visit the Oxjam Beeston Takeover website for more
