Oxjam festival: Various Locations

Monday 26th October 2009

This is a Crackerjack review of Oxjam Music Festival 2009. Do you agree? Rate and review this event.

Crackerjack rating: 7 / 10.

It was a challenge - one day and half a dozen venues across the city, each with a generous helping of quality music - but a challenge to be risen to.

Aptly, the day started at Start The Bus, with the wonderfully witty 'The Welcome Committee'. Anyone who has seen this indie band before will have noticed something different about the set up, in the form of an additional drummer. And it worked. One of the highlights was a timely song, penned just last week, called Halloween.

Later that afternoon, that same venue saw the best act of the day - Olo Worms, the name as unique as the act itself. Their awa-inspiring experimental tunes which defy all labels had the whole venue enthralled.

With so much going on on such a small stage, it's never a dull moment. Olo Worms are what happens when you add gaffer tape, deep voiced robots with hilarious lyrics and Doves-esque vocals to an epic Brakes track. Utterly compelling.

The furthest venue, The Golden Lion, played host to one of the most hilariously titled acts - Harmonica Lewinsky. With his case of shiny harmonicas (though thankfully no stained dress), he took us through a solid reptoire of songs, including a Spanish version of Abba's SOS.

The night drew to a close in the smallest, and perhaps most understated venue, Halo, where solo artist Libs and the Butterfly soothed the evening in with her Norah Jones-style vocals and simple acoustic ballads.

It would appear that this autumn has been a creative time for a lot of Bristol's musicians as Lizzie had also written a song just last week, which debuted a Oxjam.

A great showcase of the city's talent and all for a good cause - what better way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon/evening?

Laura Williams

This is a Crackerjack review of Oxjam Music Festival 2009. Do you agree? Rate and review this event.