Hundreds of music fans helped fight world poverty as they flocked to venues across Chiswick to raise money for the Oxjam music festival.
The musical bonanza on Saturday was kicked off to a good start at the Hogarth Health Club with Iron Maiden frontman, Bruce Dickenson, opening the show for the third year running.
From jazz and rock to pop, classical and ska, there was something for everyone at the 10 venues across Chiswick.
One of the star bands was The Counterfeit Stones, a tribute to the Rolling Stones which Mick Jagger himself said were ‘the most famous Stones band in England’.
Another popular stage was at Metropolis Studios in the High Road where the best up and coming under-18 bands and performers wowed the crowds with their raw talent.
Chiswick Oxjam’s head organiser, Julian Chattin, said: “The festival grows and grows, and people from Chiswick and the surrounding areas really seem to have embraced what we are about and especially the quality and diversity of the music on offer. We had tomorrow’s headliners, rising starlets and the cream of local talent. We even had rock choirs, gospel choirs, school choirs, steel drum bands, ukele orchestras and for the first time, classical and opera.
“This gig was all about showcasing that the best local music can have a global impact too – Oxjam Chiswick’s aim was to raise £20,000 in 2013 to help Oxfam work with others to overcome poverty and suffering.”
The event was part of a month-long musical celebration across the UK, with 9,000 bands and musicians playing in over 800 venues with more than 200,000 music lovers helping Oxjam to raise at least £260,000 to help Oxfam fight poverty.
Having begun life in 2006, Oxjam has now seen over 1 million people attend a gig, helping raise over £2 million towards vital humanitarian work. Every year, every penny counts. Please visit Oxfam’s donation page to find out more about how you can help in the fight against poverty.
