The lowdown on NG9's annual music extravaganza raising money for Oxfam, starting with the Oxjam Beeston Takeover this Saturday...
Since 2011 Beeston has built up the festival from nothing to a very successful community event of which the town is very proud. Over the years several hundred artists have performed, all for free, including local successes, chart topping St Raymond, The Voice finalist Lia White, as well as others who have gone on to play at Glastonbury Festival.
Taking place on Saturday 14 October, 2017 promises to be the best Oxjam Beeston Takeover yet, with over 100 bands and artists signing up - more than ever before. The final touches are being made to a 12 hour programme of live music – everything from rock, pop, indie, and DJ sets, to choral, folk and jazz.
There will be twenty stages this year, including four new venues – The Berliner, Rudyards and Totally Tapped, as well as the recently refurbished Beeston Library. The iconic Bartons, a former bus depot, now known for hosting heritage and cultural events, will also be involved ahead of its redevelopment.
Other venues include Beeston Square, White Lion Bar and Kitchen, Rye Cafe Bar, The Crown and The Hop Pole, with the ever popular Star Inn Beeston.
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 £8, and can be exchanged for wristbands on the day, in Beeston Square or evening venues, or for £10 you can buy a wristband on the day.
Beeston has three other Oxjam Music Festival events this year. Also taking place on 14 October, an exciting new event, Oxjam Operatic Arias, at Beeston Parish Church. Then there is Classical Oxjam on 11 November also at Beeston Parish Church, followed by the Oxjam Ceilidh at the Beeston British Legion Club on 24 November.
Those Oxjam Beeston events in full...
“The Takeover”
12 hours of live music from more than 80 acts in bars, cafes and other venues throughout Beeston town centre.
Beeston will be alive with bands, vocalists, choirs, and singer-songwriters, bringing you an eclectic mix of music - from indie to Americana, folk to DJ, acoustic to rock, and more.
Operatic Oxjam, 7pm, Beeston Parish Church
We are thrilled to add this new event to the Oxjam Beeston “portfolio”. The programme will include pieces by Mozart, Bizet, Verdi and Mendelssohn, performed by the Il Bel Quattro vocal quartet with the Beeston Oxjam Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Derek Williams and lead by Richard Laing.
Classical Oxjam, 6.30pm, Beeston Parish Church
With a loose interpretation of the term “classical”, previous Classical Oxjam evenings have featured Led Zeppelin pieces arranged for strings and harp, a Beach Boys song, as well as music by Bach, Mozart and so on. Each year we aim to bring you something different - last year it was Indian classical on sarod and tabla. This year we hope to feature an innovative ensemble performing a mixture of jazz and world music, as well as piano, strings and mixed ensembles playing a varied programme of music to appeal to all.
Oxjam Ceilidh, 7.30pm, Royal British Legion
Once again Beeston will be jigging, reeling, shimmying and do-si-do-ing the night away to the foot stamping, toe tapping music of the Beeston Ceilidh Collective. This is a popular event for all ages, and with the humour and patience of Steve Benford to guide you through the dances, it doesn’t matter if you don’t know what to do; in fact it’s probably even more fun if you don’t!
Oxjam Beeston takes place on Saturday 14 October 2017.
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