Features / Oxjam gets ready to take over the town
LERWICK will be awash with local music for a global cause when the annual Oxjam Shetland Takeover returns for its third year this weekend.
In the past four years, beginning with an Oxjam gig in the Lerwick Legion in 2011, Shetlanders have raised over £12,000 for Oxfam – enough move to provide safe drinking water to six schools, or 238 safe, clean toilets for refugee camps in disaster areas, helping to prevent the spread of disease.
From 2pm on Saturday until 2am the following morning Lerwick will come alive with various gigs featuring all sorts of genres, dotted all around the town, raising money for Oxfam as part of its annual UK-wide music festival.
The 12 hour musical extravaganza will take place in the Lerwick Boating Club, Posers, Baroc and the Lerwick Legion. Oxjam is organised entirely by volunteers, and all musicians are donating their time and skills for free.
Ashlea Tulloch, who is organising this year’s takeover along with Lyall Halcrow and Jamie Hatch, said: “The idea behind the takeover is that there will be something for everyone – folk, metal, blues, rock, acoustic and jazz included.
“There are acts across all genres, age ranges and experience levels, showing off all the musical talents Shetland has to offer.
“The Oxjam Music Festival is all about communities coming together through local music, to help change lives and eradicate injustice.
“One hundred per cent of the profits raised this weekend will go to Oxfam to help continue their work around the world, providing emergency aid in disaster areas and supporting communities struggling in poverty.”
Gigs at each venue are staggered through the day and night, so folk can attend as much as they like – hopping from one venue to another with an all-access wristband.
Wristbands are priced £10 for over 18s and £6 for under 18s, and are available from Shetland Box Office. The takeover is a family-friendly day, so children under five can attend for free accompanied by a responsible adult. The legion and boating club are open to all ages, while Posers and Baroc are for over 18s only.
This year, Baroc will host an Oxjam afterparty, with several DJs playing from 11pm until 2am. It will be £2 entry for those with a takeover wristband and £5 for those without.
- To find out more information about Oxjam and the Takeover this Saturday, including set times for each venue, please visit www.facebook.com/OxjamShetlandTakeover.
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