To start my day, I headed over to The Crown Inn for Roadkill Blues. They treated us to an experienced and rocking set, delivering an amazing blues performance that set the perfect bar for the rest of the festival.
Staying at the same venue, Bran Flakes absolutely stole the show. Playing under bright blue skies and basking in sunshine at The Crown Inn, their set was pure joy.
The highlights had to be their covers of I Wan'na Be Like You from The Jungle Book and a massive rendition of Queen's Fat Bottomed Girls
Moving over to The Chequers Inn, the young but scarily experienced Negative Space took the stage. They played a set as if they were headlining Monsters of Rock, complete with full crowd interaction and an electric stage presence.
Seriously, watch this space for these amazing artists—they are going places fast.
Suburban Toys followed on directly from them at The Chequers Inn, and they immediately teased me and my partner into guessing what sort of music they actually played. Looking at them, their image felt like a distinct mixture of punk, Northern Soul, and The Jam. But what actually came out of the speakers was a fast-paced blend of classic heavy psych-rock, modern indie-rock, and punk. Highly captivating and incredibly enjoyable.
Next up was Pitch Invasion at The Berliner, and the atmosphere was just that: a total invasion. The floor was completely packed and not a single person sat in their seat (if you could even manage to find one!) Even the three guys stood outside the door were lucky to get that close to the action. It was amazing support for an absolutely ace band.
To round things out, Gallery 47 played an amazing acoustic solo set at Essen General Store. The vibe inside was magical; he was surrounded by what looked like the largest, comfiest, most intimate dinner party ever. Honestly, it felt like a dinner party that anyone in Beeston would have given their right arm to attend.
Ultimately, the day was a breathtaking showcase of local talent, community spirit, and flawless organisation that left the entire town buzzing. Oxjam Beeston has officially outgrown itself in the best way possible, and next year they are going to need a bigger boat...
The 16th edition of Oxjam took place across Beeston on 3 October 2026
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