Anyone who’s ever asked one of It’s All Happening ‘so how did the gigs start?’ will know that we are indebted to Oxjam, Oxfam’s annual festival fundraiser, and the shove that it gave us. Every year people passionate about music, their local area, and making a difference to the world organise gigs to raise money for Oxfam, and since the first first festival in 2006, Oxjam has raised more than £1.75 million – which is enough to buy 15,000 emergency shelters; 70,000 goats or 1050 classrooms.
And so it is that we’re dead excited about Oxjam Camden, whichlooks to be a London highlight this year, with their line up of folk, electronic and indie artists gracing some of the most legendary venues in the north London music hub.
Folk’sjam is a free gig taking place at the Hawley Arms on Sunday 23 October, and will feature a number of highly skilled song-crafters, as well as some top notch folk. Acts include the loop-pedal meister Chime Hours, dulcet melodies and twisted imagery from lady bards Hannah Curwood and the Good Girls and some Latino gypsy music that makes Beirut sound urban from Los Pelos Rizos, amongst others.
Next up is Lock’sjam at the…yes, Lock Tavern on Wednesday 10 October. Stick your fingers in the socket for this electronica night, with offerings including the haunting sounds of Sons Between Guns, music with ADHD from Enfant and a trip into the avant garde with Automatic Writing.
Next, head to the stables at Proud Camden on Monday 15 October for an evening of breakthrough indie pop acts, with Arp Attack headlining and further acts to be announced shortly.
The run of gigs literally ends on a bang with a round of rousing indie at the Bull & Gate on Thursday 18 October from Cinemawave, DEARJOSEPH,Turnpike Glow and the Duracell fuelled Gaoler’s Daughter.
Here’s an opportunity for one oxjammy so-and-so to win a guestlist +1 for the Oxjam Camden series, plus a free drink for them and a pal at each gig. To enter, click ‘like’ on their Facebook page and cross your fingers that you’ll be the lucky one to be drawn at random from our Facefriends. There will also be runner-up guestlist passes.
Even if you don’t win (and by the laws of mathamatics, most of you won’t), we look forward to seeing you there. Because we know that as a discerning music lover, hip young thing and general good person, there’s nowhere else you’ll be.
OXJAM CAMDEN 2012
Folk’sjam
Sunday 23 October | 4pm | Hawley Arms
Los Pelos Rizos | Hannah Curwood & the Good Girls | Captain Backfire | Chime Hours | Fallingham Fair
Lock’sjam
Wednesday 10 October | 8.30pm | Lock Tavern
Enfant | Sons Between Guns | Automatic Writing | Act TBA
Unorthodoxjam
Monday 15 October | 7.30pm | Proud Camden
Arp Attack | Acts TBA
Rocksjam
Thursday 18 October | 7.45pm | Bull & Gate
Gaoler’s Daughter | Turnpike Glow | DEARJOSEPH | Cinemawave
