So after five months of planning it came down to one night… and what a night! Oxjam Revolution took place on Friday 12 October in Wolverhampton and successfully brought music and fundraising together.
The night before the gig saw my radio debut. As I waited for BBC WM Introducing to call me, I felt my heart pounding at an unhealthy rate, and I was seriously beginning to regret texting near enough every single person in my phone book asking them to listen in.
Even though I was a nervous wreck, the interview went well, I got my point across and sold the event as best I could. All I could do now was wait and hope that people would want to come along and show their support for Oxjam.
Going to bed that night I felt like a kid waiting for Christmas - I was too excited to sleep. As the day finally dawned I spent most of it running round, ticking things off my to-do list and checking, then double-checking that I had everything I needed.
Armed with banners, flyers and numerous collection tins that I would thrust upon my friends who had unknowingly volunteered themselves to collect donations, we set off.
Revolution
We arrived at Revolution at 6.00pm where the bands were ready and waiting to do their sound check when disaster struck! No sooner had I stepped foot in the door when Paul, who I had hired to help set up the sound equipment, informed me that there was no way of plugging the equipment in and that without a power source from somewhere, we would have no PA system.
Panic ran through me, I began to imagine the worst: what would I do if I didn’t have a sound system? All the people who had bought tickets would have to be given their money back and all the bands who had prepared sets would not be able to perform the songs they had rehearsed. My heart sank as my months of hard work had, in a matter of seconds, become undone.
So, in a last ditch attempt to save the event I ran to the nearest shop to buy as many extension leads I could get my hands on. I even had one of the soloists drive to a DIY store and by the longest cable he could find (thanks again Stefan!). Thankfully and gratefully, the last minute rush paid off and the sound system was soon up and running.
Thankfully, after everything, we were still on schedule.
Oxjam underway
I was so delighted to see that by 9.00pm, the place was very nearly full. So when Chris Matthews went on stage to open the event, he was playing to a hearty crowd of at least 150 people.
From that point onwards, the event went from strength to strength. More and more people were pouring through the doors until at one point the staff at Revolution informed me that we were at near enough full capacity. Chris Matthews, Beaton Track, Long Day Gone, Decision for the Masses, Mezzotonic and The Fake Tracies all played amazing sets.
Supporters were singing and dancing along, and the best thing about it, was that all of these people were here because of their love for live music and because they wanted to support the same cause – Oxjam.
The event was a major success with more than 200 people passing through the doors of Revolution and donating in their droves to raise an astonishing £1404.04 for Oxjam – an amount that totally surpassed and exceeded my aim of raising £500.
Rewarding experience
Oxjam Revolution has probably been one of the most exciting, stressful but rewarding experiences of my life. It has given me the knowledge, scope and experience to put my organisational skills to use and do something worthwhile.
I have made new friends and contacts – in particular I look forward to hearing The Fake Tracies in their live session on BBC WM Introducing. It has also built my confidence and it has got me one step closer to my dream of being able to do this for a living.
I only hope that someone out there is willing to give me the chance and the opportunity to do something like this again. There is a possibility of even doing another Oxjam gig in Revolution in Walsall.
And who knows, maybe one day I will be organising the line up for V or advertising the acts for Glastonbury… until then, Oxjam has been a blast!
I’ve only been here two days and my head is full to bursting!! I’m a new intern in the Oxjam team and these first few days have been great fun + I’ve already learnt a tonne. Since going to university and getting involved in charity fundraising I’ve wanted to work in this area. Therefore when I saw the opportunity for an internship with Oxfam on their website I jumped at the chance. I’m from Oxford and so Oxfam’s always been one of the main charities that I support, and what I love about Oxjam is that it’s a charity event which spans the whole country and involves so many different communities. Anyone and everyone can put on a music event and raise money for Oxfam and the Oxjam team’s job is to help and support you guys put on these events.
