A Month of Music Mayhem - It's Oxjam 2007!

Oxfam Ireland Press Release
1 October 2007

Oxjam has officially kicked off and for the whole month of October it's all about making music, raising money and ending poverty with Oxfam Ireland.

Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol and Tim Wheeler from Ash are encouraging everyone to get involved:

'It's fantastic for music to raise awareness for charity - especially for a charity like Oxfam, support "Oxjam" - it's great!' Gary Lightbody, Snow Patrol

Tim Wheeler of Ash says 'I love the idea of Oxjam, it's cool it's about getting loads of bands together and it's all for a good cause - a really important cause'.

If you love music and you haven't got involved yet - don't fret - there's still time to support the jam-packed month of music. Oxfam are asking musicians, promoters, event organisers schools and colleges throughout Ireland to put on all kinds of music events during the 31 days of October.

Oxjam is all about you, your band, friends or colleagues getting together and choosing the night, the music and the venue - whatever music you're into - from folk to funk, rock to rave - get involved.

There's no limit to how big or small the events are - have a house party and ask your friends for a donation at the door, or get everyone in your office to bring in their most embarrassing CD's - then place bets guessing which mortifying tunes belong to who - you'll have the last laugh knowing your boss listens to Daniel O' Donnell!

So far, up and coming Irish bands The Flaws, Juliet Turner, Burning Codes and Meteor Award Winners Luan Parle and Royseven will be taking part in Oxjam 2007 as well as local bands up and down the country.

Remember, organising your very own Oxjam event also gives you the amazing chance to 'Get Seen, Get Heard' with MTV. If you're looking for your big break in music, Oxfam and MTV have teamed up to find the bands, singer-songwriters, rappers and superstar DJs of the future. When you get your gig together for Oxjam and film your performance it's your chance to get featured on MTV's Get Seen, Get Heard.

So what's the line up for Oxjam 2007?

Glad you asked! There are over 25 shows confirmed so far and more are being confirmed all the time. Once off intimate gigs will also take place in Oxfam shops throughout October. To find up-to-date listings of all Oxjam gigs taking place check out oxfamireland.org/oxjam and myspace.com/oxjamireland. And if you have what it takes to organise an Oxjam event, contact oxjam [at] oxfamireland.org and the Oxjam team will give you all the advice you need to get your music event up and running.

If you like what you hear at some of the Oxjam gigs you're in luck. Oxjam Dublin is putting together a compilation CD featuring some of the many acts taking part in Oxjam 2007. The CD features Meteors Best Female award winner Luan Parle, Kildare band Reemo - winners of the 'Best International act' at the New York International Music Festival and many more up and coming acts. You can get your hands on a copy of this special CD at any of the Oxjam Dublin gigs taking place in Crawdaddy, The Sugar Club, Radio City and The Hub. Tickets for some of the Oxjam gigs are available on tickets.ie and wegottickets.com

Oxfam Ireland is an independent member of Oxfam International- a group of thirteen non-governmental agencies dedicated to fighting poverty and related injustice around the world.

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