WITH drummers, guitarists, singers and saxophonists you would be forgiven for thinking this was a festival line-up.

But these musicians from eight acts will be lining the route of 5,500 runners in the Oxford Half Marathon on Sunday October 13.

Music from hip hop to rock’n’roll will play during the 13.1 mile run, which is supported by the Oxford Mail.

And runners will be able to vote for their favourite through an email sent 24 hours after the event. The winner will get £500.

Among the artists will be jazz singer Bronwyn Leonard, 18, from Stanford in the Vale. She will perform at the Isis Farmhouse near Iffley Lock with Didcot guitarist Frank Widdowson-Ilett, 17.

She said: “I am really excited for it, I cannot wait. I have been looking forward to it for ages.

“We have a few upbeat songs, but it is mostly slow and relaxing – the runners will probably be really out of breath and tired so hopefully it will make them relax.”

Banbury singer Aurora J Young will perform at the Head of the River pub in St Aldate’s.

The 29-year-old said: “I am excited – it is quite a new thing for me to be performing on the roadside.”

Val Tate, from last year’s winners, Oxford-based Japanese drumming group Tamashii Taiko, said: “We are very excited and really pleased to be invited back to play.

“We had a fabulous time last year. They were applauding us and we were applauding them. We are really excited.”

  • Bands and venues are:
  • Little Brother Eli – old school hip hop and rock’n’roll. Venue: The MINI Plant
  • Tamashii Taiko – Japanese drumming group. Venue: The Oxford Academy
  • Safe Sax – four-piece saxophone band. Venue: The Magdalen Arms, Iffley Road
  • Death of Hi Fi – hip hop. Venue: The Cape of Good Hope
  • Aurora J Young – soul. Venue: The Head of the River
  • Bronwyn & Frank – Jazz singer and guitarist. Venue: The Isis Farmhouse, near Iffley Lock
  • The Dublings – reggae/ska. Venue: The George Pub, Littlemore RoadJosie and the Outlaw – rockabilly. Venue: Grenoble Road, near the finish at Kassam Stadium

The event – to raise cash for charities like hospice Helen & Douglas House – has sold out for the first time in its three-year history this year.

It starts from near the Kassam Stadium and goes to the Cowley Mini plant, past the Iffley Road running track and over Magdalen Bridge into the city centre.

It continues through Christ Church Meadow and along part of the Thames Path before the runners finish at Kassam Stadium.

Half marathon organiser Dave Box said: “We really want to get the whole of Oxford out on October 13 to support the runners, bands and charities to make it a carnival atmosphere and have a great time.”

Volunteers are still being sought for the day, he said: “The success of last year’s event was down to the great support that the volunteers gave that made it such a day to remember.”

Duties include supervising road closure points, directing and assisting runners on the course and staffing drink stations. Helpers will get a complimentary Oxford Half Marathon T-shirt and goodie bag.

For information visit oxfordhalfmarathon.com