IT’S not often that gig-goers can go out, listen to some great bands, have a drink or two, and know we are doing it all for a great cause. This Saturday, however, Oxford hosts an event which allows us to do precisely that. Called the Oxjam Oxford Takeover, it sees 40 acts taking to the stage in seven venues — most within a short hop of each other in the city centre.

Best of all, the hip urban festival, which is played largely by Oxfordshire-based artists, raises funds for Oxfam.

Since being founded in 2006, Oxjam has raised millions for the charity. Our own event, which began three years ago, has already chipped in with a respectable £10,000.

Organisers Victoria Smith and Katie Herring, from the O2 Academy, are determined to smash last year’s total, and have pulled out all the stops to present the biggest yet.

To accommodate more bands they have increased the number of venues and widened out the range of music — staging metal at The Wheatsheaf and acoustic and folk acts in New Road Baptist Church and St Michael at the North Gate.

Music also takes place at the Turl Street Kitchen, The Cellar, and The Purple Turtle. The O2 Academy itself takes a leading role, holding the official after-party, with Radio One’s Huw Stephens (the only non-Oxfordian taking part) digging into his record box to host the club’s Propaganda clubnight.

Katie, who plays The Cellar with her dance-pop band Duchess, said: “For me the takeover is a way of doing something I love and helping a good cause; it’s a double win. It’s a great chance to see good local music in settings that aren’t normal gig venues all at the same time.

“We were inundated with applications but it’s bigger than ever, with two new venues, which means we can get more people playing. And it’s all for just £10 a wristband— which works out at 25p per band!”

ARTISTS PLAYING Jordan O’Shea, Adam Barnes, Dubwiser, Alphabet Backwards, Deer Chicago, Mutagenocide, Toliesel, Swindlestock, Sweet William, The Black Hats, The Scholars, Dance à la Plage, Listing Ships, Duchess, Empty White Circles, Chris Ryder, Joshua Gilbert, Alex Lanyon, Jasmine Hill, Bright Works, Jenny Bracey, Ed Templer, Stroke of Luck, Red Crow, Ellie Rees, Desert Storm, Olly Thomas, Jess Hall, Cooling Pearls, Urora J Young, Freada, Caandides, Go On Do It Jump, Dublings, Jabroni Sandwich, Bricks & Mortar, Ragged Claws, Samuel Zasada and Pixel Fix.