Oxjam Sheffield Takeover Festival Preview

On Sat 24th October, the city will once again be decorated with shades of pink and purple as Oxjam returns to ‘Takeover’ Sheffield, with an inner city music festival in aid of Oxfam. Part of a project that takes place across over 50 UK towns and cities, from Scotland to the Isle of Wight, Oxjam Sheffield is one branch of the country’s largest music festival, held annually throughout the month of October.

With music stages ranging from intimate art spaces (Site Gallery) to iconic venues that define the local music scene (The Leadmill), Oxjam Sheffield is an ambitious project, driven by a team of volunteers dedicated to the fight against worldwide poverty and injustice. As such, everything raised from the festival, as well as from the supporting warm up events (details below) is donated to Oxfam. Indeed, using a network of local music lovers to facilitate global change is the very concept that underpins Oxjam, an initiative fronted by Oxfam since 2006, which so far has raised over £2.5 million for the charity.

In Sheffield, Oxjam 2015 is set to be bigger than ever, and after relocating the heart of the festival to the Cultural Industries Quarter, local venues have been keen to offer their time, space and contacts to help tackle extreme poverty. The end result is a 12-hour long, 8-venue music festival, entirely driven by the local community.

Oxjam Sheffield boasts the involvement of both The Leadmill and Queens Social Club, renowned Sheffield venues that play home to some of the most successful and beloved musicians across the world. Three of the city’s most loved smaller live spots will also host a full evening of music (The Rocking Chair, The Washington, The Royal Standard), and these are supplemented by more unique and unorthodox spaces, such as Site Galley and real ale pub Rutland Arms. Oxjam Sheffield also has the support of Sheffield Hallam University, with their union bar (Hallam HUBS) completing the list of this year’s venues.

One wristband gives access to all of the above and opportunity to see live the depth of talent from across these seven hills. Acts are still being announced daily, with the full line-up expected to include almost 50 musicians/bands. So far, highlights include Hands Off Gretal, XXX GiRLS, Sieben, I Set The Sea On Fire, Bison, Steel City Rhythm, Regulus and The Velcro Teddy Bears.

More info available at: https://www.facebook.com/OxjamSheffieldFestival

Warm up event: Oxjam Sheffield Live Lounge @ Tamper Coffee (10/10)

Warm up event: Sheffield Made Market @ Horizons Church (17/10)