ISSUE 21.5: OXJAM SPECIAL EDITION & PROGRAMME FREE
19.10.2013 The Jar Family playing Oxjam Music Festival 2012. Photo by permission © Christopher Frost
Welcome to Issue 21.5, our special Oxjam issue. Regular readers might be surprised that we’ve all become music journos: worry not, it’s temporary and Wiggins gets his loudhailer back next issue. New readers: hello! Welcome to Beeston, welcome to Oxjam, welcome to The Beestonian.
F
or the third consecutive year, the Oxjam Music Festival has returned to Beeston for a full day of fun, frolics and fireworks on Saturday 19 October. The Beestonian is therefore delighted to be giving you this special issue to mark the event. We’ve also included a handy map, a comprehensive timetable of whats on where, as well as profiles on a smattering of the acts; as well as much more handy info to make your day in Beeston as festi-tastic as possible. Bringing Oxjam to Beeston was a leap of faith, but it was one willingly took by Carly, the first co-ordinator and still very much part of the team. She’s gone on to have great success with the Beeston Square Monday Market, while the tiny team of festival organisers have swelled to a slightly less tiny group.
Oxjam has grown from a single day event into a part of Beeston: this year alone it’s ran the Chilwell Road street party music night; bought fab acts to play al-fresco at Beestival and Beeston Carnival; ran a bake-off; hosted a sell-out Ceilidh at Bartons, as well as giving away enough Oxjam badges to keep a dozen Cornish tin miners in work for a year. It’s a formidable challenge: bringing over 60 acts over ten venues to Beeston and making sure that everyone gets on the right stage at the right time, instruments work correctly, and that the brown M&Ms are removed when bands request such a thing. If you see some rather wan-looking characters wearing pink lanyards and panic, do say hello. The Beeston Takeover is looking to raise over £5,000 this year, every penny going direct to Oxfam for its stirling and vital work in the UK and abroad. We think this is a great way of helping: bringing together Beeston for a day of sheer exuberant fun. Have a great day, and a greater evening. Oxjam Beeston. It’s like Glastonbury without the cow poo and tie-dye.
Lord Beestonia
Brewing good
I
’ve never been to a brewery before, not even to badly organise an excessive drinking event. So when I get the call to come and visit Magpie Brewery, I get all excited. Then I remember I’m teetotal until after Oxjam is over. Bah. Ah well, Tamar isn’t eschewing the ale, so she keenly responds to my request to join me, armed with a camera and a thirst. Beer is the oil that lubricates the complex mechanism of a festival. When preparing for this year’s Oxjam, I realised that while you can get beer in the vast majority of our venues, you can’t get our beer. I decided to amend this immediately, and a few emails later I have the lovely Katrina from Magpie (so called for it’s proximity to the corvid-coloured football stadium next door) asking me to come over and help make the brew.
stouts and creamy porters to floral, golden ales and citrus blondes. Oxjam Beeston FestivAle is the latter, a gorgeous 4.3% session ale to quaff while enjoying the variety of incredible music we’re laying on for you. Katrina and her colleagues Gavin and Terry show us the brewing process: the mix of malts they’re using to give our beer its unique taste; the sticky fresh British hops that will give the beer its bitterness and the huge vats they’re brewed in. They even let me clamber precariously above one of the tanks and add the hops to the mash inside, so I can then say with a degree of truth that ‘I made that’ when I see people sip on it. I stir them into the strongsmelling malt (think of being drowned in a tub of wet Shreddies) and clamber down, my invaluable work done. After we’ve snapped a few photos, we make to leave, but not before they offer us a few bottles of beer to take home with us. I decline,
It’s a small set up, but one that punches above its weight. There beer has been on sale at Bartons’ events, and has always been heartily swigged by the cask. They’ve been going since 2006, initially as a hobby between three friends looking for something to do post-retirement. They swiftly became a hit, and are now a full-time operation, brewing a range of interesting ales, from smoky
but Tamar is not so shy and happily sticks her bounty into her bag before we leave. We best add something about drinking responsibly, y’know, pace yourself, don’t get too hammered, avoid any drinks that are hued anywhere between green and blue, and remember, every pint you buy, Magpie will donate 10p to Oxjam. Helping a great cause by drinking beer? Definitely worth raising a glass to. LB
Random acts… This is not a definitive guide to every act playing Oxjam: you’d struggle to lift this if we had done that. Instead we each threw a few darts at the line-up – a list of the line up, not the actual line up, that would be wrong – and then went off to listen to their music, and write about what we like about it. Even Nora found stuff she likes, and the last audio she bought was an abattoir sound-effects LP. If you’re in a local band and we didn’t give you a mention: apologies, drop us a line at our email address and we’ll give you a listen.
apart, then rebuilds them with her own thing, to the extent that on hearing the original it appears pale and wan. If you see her, and chances are you will more than once, do give her some encouragement, as well as a few coins in her Oxjam collection tin. And possibly a can or six of Red Bull. Interesting facts: She has the most-mispelt name on the Nottingham music scene. If you’re struggling, it’s easy to remember by recalling it’s –rather fittingly for her one-woman, multiinstrumental style – ‘Lonesome Band Jam’ . Or ‘Solemn Banjo Dame’. But not ‘Almond’s Job? Enema’ that’s not nice.
The Jar Family – Broadgate Park, 12 noon, & Bartons, 11pm
She used to live in the former house of soul legend Edwin Starr. LB
Formed in 2010, Hartlepool band The Jar Family are a collective of highly talented singersongwriters, featuring former Squeeze bass player Keith Wilkinson among their ranks. Playing a distinctive style of north-east blues and roots, for which they have coined the term ‘industrial folk’, their rapid rise has seen them support the likes of Alabama 3, The Charlatans, Babyshambles, and a little-known talent from Clifton called Jake Bugg.
Seven little sisters – bartons, midnight
“Probably a lot of people’s idea of perfection” (The Guardian) JC Emma Bladon Jones - Everywhere, ALL day!
is no stranger to hard work: while shes not dashing round the place playing gigs to a growing fanbase, she can be found on Beeston High Road serenading shoppers with her astonishing voice. But shes set herself an incredible challenge for Oxjam, playing EVERY venue throughout the day. That’s no mean feat: ten gigs in 12 hours. She’s also recovering from a virulent bout of bronchitus, so as I write this in the run-up to her Herculean challenge we’re willing her voice to heal and hold up for a marathon of singing. This will be no dash off a song and dash off to the next venue thing either: Emma is famed for the care she puts into everything, from the complex poetry of her lyrics, that earned her the crown at last year’s prestigous Hop Pole Songwriting Competiton (and a position in the final this year); through to the production of her fantastic EP Life is Self-Taught. She is a skilled user of the loop-pedal, creating a wall of sound that is equal parts Joy Division and Phil Spector, weaving melodies and beats to create a lush textured environment for her voice to dance over. She throws the odd cover version into the mix too, but rather than run them through a photocopier she takes them
Not many Nottingham bands can be described with the prefix ‘The Legendary…’, but Seven Little Sisters have truly earned that soubriquet. Formed in the late ‘80s, they blazed a folk-rock trail across Nottingham. Think the Pogues jamming with AC/DC. After they lost their van – and all their gear – they split up. Yet you can’t keep a great act down, and they decided to reform a few years ago. We’re dead chuffed we have them as our final act: ensure you have enough energy left to throw yourself round the Bartons’ dancefloor. LB Calm Man Club – Belle & Jerome, 3.30pm
With tracks such as Mend and On the Inside Calm Man Club sit on the folkier end of the spectrum. Listening to them I picture myself on a sunny Sunday afternoon in a big festival field, or in a cosy pub on a winters day, with my cider at the appropriate temperature for each, and going home calmed, uplifted and with a smile on my face. ProfJ John Hardy – Crown, 12.30pm
John Hardy admits he has a certain resemblance
to the bespectacled King Of Fop, Jarvis Cocker, but the resemblance isn’t just down to the thick frames on his glasses and lanky frame. His ability to weave self-effacing Northern humour (he hails from Hull), melancholy and dry wit into his songs can stun an audience into silence recalls the Pulp frontman at his best. Yet don’t expect a tribute act: Hardy’s songs are his own, touching on the banality of work, the innocence of childhood and much more. Myself, I reckon he looks more like Graham Coxon from Blur. LB
3 Eyed Fox – Crown, 2pm
This should be a much more civilised affair
than the other bands I’ve reviewed. There’s something about a violin accompanying an acoustic guitar that just makes me want to smile. Foot-tapping, wood whittling, poetic loveliness. I can’t go though, because I’ll be too anxious that, when that violin starts playing, everyone will see my heart melting. Sounds like: Jon Lester, Nina Nastasia, the vocalist has a little Elvis Costello about him. Introvert scale: 5 /10 – If I wasn’t terrified of public displays of emotion I’d be in the front row of this one with a lighter and an extra eye drawn on my forehead. CF Fusor – Greyhound, 2.50pm
Not to be confused with New Zealand atomic rock band of the same name (but with an e), Fusor are a four lad indie rock outfit from Nottingham. A warning: they are YOUNG. Younger than you – probably younger than the youngest person you know. But judge them purely on that at your peril. They’ve played a few live gigs in the city already. I’ve not been able to track down anything of theirs online to listen to, but any band saying they’ll be doing two new tracks on the night, and who cite The Smiths, Joy Division, Blur and Pink Floyd in their musical inspirations has to be worth a serious gander. You’ll like if you like: indie music, to switch off Jake Bugg... Super power? Mind control/absolute persuasion. Tell us a secret... Our band name used to be Nautical.
TF
Irish Chemists – Greyhound, 5.20pm
The name ‘The Irish Chemists’ came about because of an Irish Chemistry teacher at school who was a quality lad. Each instrument has a name: Blue Flower Telecaster - Austin Flowers Blue Flower Stratacaster - Ramona Flowers White Mexican Stratacaster - Rodrigas Custom Fender Jazz Bass – Chris After 3 years of being a band they are yet to play a paid gig. (Gig bookers: sort this out! – Ed.) LB Ed Hope – Relish, 8.30pm
Blimey. Take a second pair of pants to this one. Not only is there a calm, gentle quality reminiscent of Damian Rice to Ed Hope, when he gets going there rears a Springsteen-like gruffness out of nowhere, like some vulnerable, tousled muso lumberjack folkstar. Think: Elliot Smith’s happier brother. But a bit gorgeouser. You’ll like if you like: The National, Damian Rice, Roddy Woomble Super power? I already have invisibility but it only works when I’m ordering at a bar
… of bandness Tell us a secret... We found the note in between E and F; always knew it was there somewhere. TF
The Spunk – Bar (up), 10pm
Proper good old fashioned British DIY punk. The influences obviously begin with Sex Pistols, Clash, Damned in terms of their politicised lyrics and rough edge style, but listen carefully and there’s much more. I can hear a bit of ska in there, a bit of Cheap Trick. I’m sure there’s a hair metal in the plumage too. What does that mean for the introvert? Well, avoid the pit that’s for sure. It will be great, from a distance. Sounds like: Sex Pistols, Cheap Trick Introvert Scale: 1/10 – maybe just support them by buying their music and leave the live gigs for stronger, balder people. CF
Water’s Edge – Hop Pole, 2pm
Walking down the street with this punky, slightly funky, alternative tentacular music ebbing and flowing through my earphones is perfect, but surrounded by people in the middle of the pit… ‘Without Air’ will be a great live one to listen for with its rapid shifts of tempo and brilliant melodious singing, but you won’t catch me dead or alive in the centre of it all. I’ll be the one by the fire exit, swigging water and trying not to make eye contact with anyone. Sounds like: fIREHOSE, My Vitriol, Sonic Youth Introvert scale: 4/10 – I may need to redress my breathing techniques. CF
I am Jupiter – Bar (up), 11pm
Ten seconds into ‘Westley Never Really Dies’ and I genuinely believe this is a band I’d listen to. But then I’m promptly reminded that I like being shouted at. The band’s intro reads “At some point the constituent parts of I AM JUPITER were born. At some point they will die” I personally hope they don’t die. Or at least not before signing to a major record label & delivering a string of catchy albums that remind me of my anger filled youth. ND
Kingcrawlers – Bartons, 7.15pm
Upon remarking “I actually like this band!” my boyfriend matter of factly responded with “Of course you do, they’re shouting.” They’re not shouting. They just sound amazing all around. According to SoundCloud, Kingcrawlers are inspired by The Black Keys, Oasis and The Who, although I can’t really detect any hint of Oasis, a band I loathe almost as much as life itself. ND
Great British Weather – Bartons, 10pm
Rather as the name suggests, there’s a lot to these guys. Imagine Bloc Party and The Fall getting together to record ‘Making plans for Nigel’ and you’re near the half of it. Add to that deep basslines, some old skool Hip Hop names and high-brow, nerdish good looks and you’ll see there are a mean load of bases covered here. They’re still as yet unsigned so enjoy them up close while you still can. You’ll like if you like: XTC, Animal Collective, The IT Crowd. Superpower? Super Stretch Tell us a secret...? Our name is a lie. Our songs are not about weather. TF Ben Hibbert – Relish, 7pm
An immensely talented local lad on his way to making good. Oozing class, his command of the acoustic guitar is majestic when creating chilled and bluesy melodies which are the perfect backdrop for his oh-so-soulful voice. Ben is no stranger to performing live in Beeston, having played gigs here a lot in recent months. He has rightly been identified as one of Nottingham’s leading up-and-coming acoustic musicians. JC
Snow Priests – hop pole, 5.10pm
Genius – Bar (down), 7pm
With Ben Snowdon and Ed Priestnall in the ‘pulpit’, The Snow Priests bring together soaring harmonies, and the latest looping technology to provide a live performance where you just won’t be able to stop tapping your feet. They’re making the short journey across the border from Derby to bring us songs ranging from classic rock to the best of indie, folk and pop. Don’t be surprised to hear The Kings Of Leon spliced between Beyoncé and Fleetwood Mac, followed by Michael Jackson.
Possibly the youngest artist playing Oxjam, at a
Wiggin out?
Their bio describes their music as ‘Psycho-skiffle through to lo-fi Country/Folk’. With banjos and harmonicas and clear roots in American folk, however you describe it this is foot tapping, chorus joining ining music of a time gone by over the Atlantic, but from just down the road; or ‘UpNoirthicana’ as the band term it. The connection to Lawrence comes from the Dixies Arms in Bagthorpe where the band often plays, and the part of the world they come from. In a recent interview they suggest their gigs are as good as the crowds they play too; so do go and see them, get involved and make their visit to Oxjam one you and they will remember fondly. ProfJ
Photo by Lewis Stainer
DH Lawrence & The Vaudeville Skiffle Show – Crown, 4.20pm
B
eing as my colleagues have mainly jumped in my grave and chosen to write about music, I’m gonna write about tweed, flowers and all nice stuff- actually I’m not. I’m going to tell you about why Oxjam Beeston is the tops.
First of all let’s clear something up – most local charitable events end up like pisspoor version of Live Aid, albeit all of said events benefit from the lack of Phil Collins. No Irish people will harm you during this event, asking you for your fecking money, I also assume there will be no copious amounts of backstage nose candy or Status Quo.
tender fifteen years old. Don’t assume that this is a sign of inexperience: the kid has been DJing for so long we can only assume that his mum got him a pair of decks instead of a rattle when he was born. His influences are older than himself: fans of Orbital’s harder stuff should get their ears and feet down to his set and indulge both. LB The Death Notes – Greyhound, 3.40pm
In a nutshell they’re alternative rock dark gothic indie post-punk rock. What more could you want? I’m envisioning a large crowd of people all sort of bouncing up and down on the spot, heads lowered, no touching. Perfect. I can close my eyes and pretend I’m in my living room. ‘Panacea’ is a real gem. It’s like I looked into the abyss, the abyss looked back and then it started singing. Sounds like: Joy Division, Bauhaus, Disintegration era Cure. Introvert scale: 9/10 – what more could you want? Except maybe a chair. CF Paper Plane Crash – Bar (up), 11pm
They say they want you to stop fist banging and get your feet on the dancefloor, which seems like the reasonable thing to do after having heard their music. The band describe their music as “Disco Crust” and even though I haven’t the slightest idea what this means, I’m on board with it. Even more on board after a drink or 12. ND
Mark Block – white lion, 6pm
Nottingham singer who has been forging a reputation on the folk scene for any years, Mark is a fine and versatile singer, whether unaccompanied or playing guitar. Expect an eclectic mix of original songs, traditional folk and contemporary covers. Mark endears himself
to audiences with a disarming frankness and quirky on-stage presence. Mike Harding refers to him as “one of the most exciting singers I’ve heard in a long, long time” JC Molly & Jack - Hop Pole, 10.15pm
This Indie folk duo from Lincoln have only been around for a year, but they’re already cementing themselves a sturdy following. Their lo-fi, alternative music is accompanied by swoony vocal harmonies and lilts that reel you in on first sniff. They cite “Fleetwood Mac, Bombay Bicycle Club and old Paris” as influences. I can see why. But to my mind, they’re a bit of a jazzy Moldy Peaches for the iPhone generation – they both have unique voices; working better together. I can totally hear their song ‘44ft High’ in Diablo Cody’s next film. Highly accomplished, sweet and thoroughly cute – perfect for pub-based, wet, autumnal listening. Find yourself a cosy corner, order a warming drink and you’ll be happily hooked. My Top Pick of Oxjam. You’ll like if you like: Him & Her, Swell Season, Fiest, Richard & Mimi Farina. TF Goose McCoy – White Lion, 10.15pm
According to their website “But it is many people that there is no confidence in the skin unwanted hair is in the mood. Let’s alters to match point but rather in hair loss professional.” My guess is that these aren’t lyrics and something has gone a bit awry somewhere in tinternet land. However with a photo that draws on a 2 Tone feel, promises of ‘rock-solid rhythms from the fifties, sixties and seventies’ and a request to ‘bring your dancing shoes’ I’d go along just to make sure. ProfJ
So Oxjam Music Festival, what is it? Well I see it like this, it takes advantage of Beeston’s compact and already bohemian nature, we are after all the soulful end of Notts. So think loads of really diverse live music, good real ale pubs and eateries all putting in for a good cause and giving you an excuse to get smashed in front of the wife and kids on Saturday rather than go shopping or do DIY (when drunk, I like to hang small children upside down by their feet, usually till they cry). And did I mention, absolutely no danger of Phil Collins…. Fear not! We have a kind of equivalent with Emma Bladon Jones – she is playing so many different venues that day my mind boggles, we will maybe all get the chance to see her twice, or being given medical attention (no Lear jets here, Phil). Many of this year’s acts are seriously young talent, some of them I even had a hand in (no, not like that) – furthering their musical education. Would Joe “Slide” Barber know one end of a bottleneck from another, or why exactly you need that southbound train when your woman done you wrong, if it wasn’t for me feeding him beer and pig’s feet? He would probably be sniffing glue wondering if he was Jake Bugg. Andrew Tucker of Great British Weather will probably always remember my envy of his Telecaster and admiration of his shoes, and perhaps have nightmares about my kitchen... . Would Emma Bladon Jones be the way she is if she hadn’t witnessed me and her dad trying to get in one t-shirt together in the pub? Also let’s look at the diversity of the acts: a punk band called The Spunk, Nottingham legends Seven Little Sisters (I’m sure I knew several people who claim to have been in their line up over the years). You can also see the much anticipated, and our Editor’s favourite ,The Jar Family – just don’t mention monkeys and er, hanging. Add to that the bonus that many local eateries are offering discount for wristband wearing Oxjammers. Hell, you can even get some discount off me - I’m even a wristband exchange point. (Jimmy also has a few surprises at The Guitar Spot on the day... poke your head in and find out what – Ed) So be there…. Oh, did I mention there’s no Phil Collins? JW
No! Disco – Greyhound, 4.30pm
To call No! Disco indie is, I think doing them a disservice. There are elements of pop punk, rougher DIY punk, a hint of shoegazing, I could go on. I feel great listening to this music. I even begin to dance a little, when nobody’s around and all the curtains are drawn, obviously. Absolute must see. When they (hopefully) play ‘…And Now We Know’ the good feeling will be bouncing off the walls, but I won’t. I’ll be quietly appreciating the whole thing from a booth at the back. The musical equivalent of a hug at the end of a therapy session. Sounds like: Buffalo Tom, Plumtree, Jimmy Eat World (but more rough around the edges) Introvert scale: 10/10 – Darn it, I can’t fight the music. I’ll see you at the front! CF OneGirlOneBoy – Bartons, 9.05pm
OneGirlOneBoy are a Nottingham band on the rise. This is serious pop with edge. A great sounding combination of voice and guitar, that brings to mind Goldfrapp and Republica. OneGirlOneBoy are liked by LeftLion; their debut EP and accompanying launch party drawing great praise. We like the LeftLion so by default… but honestly, this music will speak for itself. Today Oxjam, tomorrow… ? ProfJ crazy heart – crown, 2,50pm
It’s a little known fact that the last great Johnny Cash song –The Man Comes Aroundwas composed by the Man in Black himself after a bizarre dream in a Nottingham hotel bedroom. His legacy lives on in an even more local fashion, however, with the teaming up of Beestonians Andy and Ian to form Crazy Heart, a duo who at their boisterous best show they are more than a tribute band with a performance that will get the most reluctant toe-tapper cutting some rug. LB Rosh rai – bean, 4.40pm
Rosh is not only very smart and talented with a guitar he’s also funny, an excellent listener, brilliant company and gorgeous. OK. Busted. I know him already. This could be awkward especially as, up until just now, I hadn’t actually heard any of his stuff. I was so relieved and chuffed that he is as far from shit as you could possibly get. I’m thankful for his modern-day Gordon Gano-esque voice - slightly petulant but soft and more indie-mellow. Clever-clever lyrics and original accoustic rhythms make for a truly interesting and solaced listening. My current favourite is ‘Slide’. So let’s all hope he does that one. I can’t tell you how pleased I am he so bloody good. Phew. You’ll like if you like: Hefner, Violent Femmes, Frank and Walters, Flight of the Conchords Superpower?: I’d like to fully understand spacetime (or the universe). Naturally, such an understanding would probably afford me many other powers. Tell us a secret…? Deep down, I quite like Pot Noodles. TF
the line up Broadgate Park
The Bean
The Bar – Upstairs
12.00 The Jar Family
14:00 Dave Mitchell
18:00 Emma Bladon Jones
12.50 Emma Bladon Jones
14:40 Andy Jack
19:00 Urban Riff
13.30 Wildcard act!
15:20 Emma Bladon Jones
20:00 Public Secret
16:00 Russell Gregory
21:00 Dead Souls
The Crown
16:40 Rosh Rai
22:00 The Spunk
12.30 Alfred the Great
17:20 Abigail Harding
23:00 I am Jupiter
14:00 3 Eyed Fox
The Hop Pole
The Bar – Downstairs
14:50 Crazy Heart
14:00 Waters Edge
19:00 Genius
15:40 Jim Dunn
15:00 Barry Shaw
20:00 Sam Fletcher
16:20 DH Lawrence & The Vaudeville Skiffle Show
15:30 Oldish Spice
21:00 I AM LONO
16:20 Difference Being
22:00 DJ Donna Bentley
13:20 John Hardy
17:00 Emma Bladon Jones 17:20 Leggomen The Greyhound 13.00 Super73 13:40 Emma Bladon Jones 14:00 The Zufflers 14:50 Fusor 15:40 The Death Notes 16:30 No! Disco 17:20 Irish Chemists
17:10 Snow Priests 18:20 The Giles Rivers
Relish
19:00 Ben Hibbert
Company
19:15 Emily Martin
19:45 Emma Maraio
20:00 Roxy May
20:30 Emma Bladon Jones
20:30 Ed Hope
20:45 Lisa De’Ville
21:15 Emma Bladon Jones
21:35 Joe Barber
22:00 Brookfield
& Rebecca Muir
22:15 Molly and Jack 23:00 Paper Plane Crash
Bartons 18:00 Joe Barber
White Lion Bar & Kitchen
18:35 Harriet
Belle & Jerome
16.00 Poetry & spoken word by DIY Poets
19:15 The Kingcrawlers
14:00 Brett Jon
18:00 Marc Block
14:30 Emma Bladon Jones
21:05 OneGirlOneBoy
18:50 Leah Sinead
14:45 Anna Heery
22:00 Great British Weather
19:20 Emma Bladon Jones
15:30 Calm Man Club
22.40 Emma Bladon Jones
19:40 The Phil Langran Band
16:15 The Halam Sessions
23:00 The Jar Family
20:45 Honour Cann
17:00 Josh Kemp
00:00 Seven Little Sisters
21:25 Anna Heery 22:15 Goose McCoy
20:10 Rebecca King
venues BEESTON
Sainsbury’s To A52
THE GREYHOUND
THE BEAN
= WRISTBAND POINT = VENUE
BROADGATE PARK
= PEDESTRIANS ONLY
The Square OXFAM BOOKS
BELLE & JEROME
Bus Station
THE HOP POLE
To Chilwell
BARTONS
GUITAR SPOT
THE BAR
RELISH
P Chilwell Rd Parking
O
ne of the greatest things about Festivals is the freedom to roam. To roam, go places you’d not normally go, stumble across stuff you’d have never have otherwise find. We hope you do that with Oxjam: have a good trawl round the venues that have let us takeover their premises for the day.
What’s to find? Stuff kicks off at Broadgate Park, to the East of town. Full of takeaways, food shops and a particularly wonderful world supermarkest. But this is no time for browsing soy sauce and sushi kits; you want to be heading to The Greyhound, Beeston’s loudest pub. Now an established ROCK venue - it’s become a Mecca for those who like their guitars electric and their drum skins pounded. Ear plugs are optional. Belle & Jerome is your place for a chill out, fine wine, good value posh grub and excellent service. It’s a bit of an institution in Beeston for those looking for a refined time… expect some excellent acoustic treats when you visit. Also on an acoustic tip is The Bean. As a venue, this place is the very definition of ‘intimate’, but the sprawling terrace is a friend of the longlegged, weather permitting. This is heaven for caffeine freaks: if 14 hours of music seems
THE CROWN
one way
a challenge, ensure you have a couple of their espressos inside and you’ll be dancing to your shoe leather rubs to nothing. The Crown Inn needs little introduction to Beestonians. Saved from years of neglect, it swiftly won CAMRAs Nottinghamshire Pub of the Year, twice. Last year this was packed with music fans. If you’re hungry, grab some fish and chips from their chip van. This is a festival, after all. Another phoenix from the flames is The White Lion Bar & Kitchen, reopened after a major refurb earlier this year. And what a change: it’s now one of the swankiest venues imaginable, perfect for us to host our DIY poets event (see back page for more details). We also recommend their range of Portuguese wines and inventive cocktails. Chilwell Road has a great selection of cafes to try, and we’ve hijacked one for the day. Relish proved to be a real hit last year, so we’ve selected a great bunch of musicians for them this year. We ran a fund-raising Bake Off earlier this year, and Relish’s entry in the professional category won first prize. A few doors down, you’ll find The Bar. A longterm popular venue on Chilwell Road, we’ve
WHITE LION
To Train Station
managed to bag both the upstairs and downstairs bars for an eclectic night. We have cutting edge DJs and purveyors of fine electronica downstairs, while upstairs we’ve got some ear-splittingly great loud bands. Last year this place was rammed: prepare to get nice and sweaty later on. The Hop Pole is synonymous with live music in Beeston, with weekly gigs, open mike nights, its own compilation CD and a prestigious songwriting competition. They know music here, so we’ve ensured we’ve not skimped on quality with the acts we’ve put on here: get down early to guarantee a seat. If you’ve been to a Bartons event before you know what to expect. If not, prepare for a very pleasant surprise. It’s HUGE. The former Barton’s bus depot, it’s a sprawling site, a sleeping giant waking up to realise its massive potential. We’ve got only one of their rooms, but it’s a corker of a space, with a bar ran by Magpie brewery serving up our exclusive Oxjam Festivale. This is where we’ll be partying till late with a stellar line-up. Pace yourself well, make sure you eat, and get round every venue. It’s impossible to see every one of the 60+ acts in one day, but there’s no harm in trying. Enjoy! LB
oxjam is... So, why do we run the Oxjam Festival? It’s a great deal of fun, and a chance to see some fantastic acts strut their stuff. But there is a serious side: we’re trying to raise a huge chunk of money for Oxfam. We asked Oxfam supporter Ellie T to tell us a bit about where the money goes.
E
veryone knows the Oxfam shops on High Road – a place to buy your Christmas cards, pick up brilliant second-hand books or find a vintage dress. But what does Oxfam actually do, and where does the money raised at events like Oxjam Music Festival Beeston go? Oxfam works in three main areas and is currently responding to around 25 humanitarian emergencies, fighting poverty in more than 90 countries and campaigning for change to challenge inequality.
One of the people Oxfam has helped is 13 year old Erken (photo), who last year went to school for the first time - thanks to a water pump. Until Oxfam installed the pump close to her home, Erkeni had to walk for a gruelling two hours to fetch water. But she now has the time and energy for the classroom. This simple and low cost solution has allowed Erkeni and her community overcome two major inequalities that keeps people in poverty – access to clean water and access to education. For every £1 that goes to Oxfam, 84p goes directly to emergency, development and campaigning work; 9p goes to support costs and 7p is invested to generate future revenue. So while you are listening to some excellent live music and enjoying an Oxjam FestivAle, feel pleased about how you are helping to improve the life of Erkeni and 13.5 million other people each year. ET
The Beestonian is… Editor / lead writer / founder – Lord Beestonia Co-founder / resident don – Prof J Assistant editor / print design – Tamar Illustrator – Lottie Top-notch scribes this issue: John ‘Poolie’ Cooper, Christian Fox, Nora Dimitrova, Prof J, Ellie T, Jimmy Wiggins, Tamar. Printed by Pixels & Graphics, Beeston. Huge thanks to all of our contributors, sponsors, stockists, regular readers and anyone who has picked this up for the first time and vows to again. Scan QR code & subscribe to Lord Beestonia’s blog:
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DIY Poets
are a Nottingham based poetry collective that has been in existence for over ten years. Our aims are give poets the confidence to perform their work in public and to submit their poems to magazines. We also want more people to read poetry and want the general public to see poetry as relevant and enjoyable. (I see lots of people reading books on trains but sadly have yet to see someone reading poetry on a train). If poetry was a sport it would be croquet. We want it to be at least as popular as rugby. Football level popularity may be too much too ask but who knows? We welcome submissions to our magazine. Poems need to be
25 lines or less. We have monthly meetings on the first Wednesday of each month, 8pm upstairs at Broadway Cinema. We also have DIY Poets events. Our main event is the quarterly night at the Maze on Mansfield Road. The next event is on Thursday 14 November 8 til late £3 entry. As well as local bards we have headline set from local bands and singers. If you want to find out more about DIY Poets email us at diypoets@yahoo.co.uk or online at diypoets.com where you can find poetry related events or just send us your poems. Find us on Facebook by searching ‘DIY Poets’. (DIY Poets’ set will be at The White Lion, 46pm)
Contact us: thebeestonian@gmail.com Facebook.com/thebeestonian Twitter.com/@TheBeestonian issuu.com/thebeestonian (all our editions online)
The Beestonian, c/o 106 Chilwell Road, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1ES