NU NEWS REVIEW - Sounds that make a difference: 'Oxjam' at the Picturedrome
Sounds that make a difference: ‘Oxjam’ at the Picturedrome
By Jimmy Bowman
OXFAM’s music festival ‘Oxjam’ took place at Northampton’s Picturedrome last month to raise money to fight poverty and save lives overseas. Northampton University’s Ronni Moss, a Business Entrepreneurship & Events Management student, set up the night in aid of Oxfam. ‘Oxjam’ itself has run since 2006 drawing in support from names such as Jarvis Cocker and Fatboy Slim, ‘Oxjam’ has raised more than £1.5 million. Money raised continues to help emergency response and development work within poverty stricken areas worldwide.
The artists approached to play were not the usual local suspects. The bill included Jaz Hayer and local boys Hat Dimension. However, the real gem was Worcester’s Redbook. This was their first performance outside their hometown, but this did not show on stage. Spectators appeared engrossed in their showcase of sounds in what was a strong, audience orientated spectacle following their summer 2011 EP.
I caught up with Redbook members Sam and Gareth for a few words:
What made you take part in the ‘Oxjam’ gig? Were you approached about playing it?
Gareth: The organizer Ronni approached me about doing a set for the event and I decided to go for it an invite the band over.
Is Oxfam a cause you support?
Sam: Absolutely, last summer I played an ‘Oxjam’ gig in Brecon with my old covers band. I love the atmosphere, everyone is there for a good cause, everyone is there for the music and everyone is there to help everyone else out.
Is poverty an issue close to the band's heart?
Gareth: Poverty is an issue that should be prevalent in everyone's mind when it comes to global issues. We have various charitable causes that are close to our hearts for various reasons and when we get a chance to make a contribution, like with a charity gig, we jump at the chance.
It was your first gig outside your hometown, how did you feel it went compared to playing in front of a home crowd?
Sam: It felt great, it's nice to play to a group of people that haven't seen you before and gauge their reactions to the songs. Although you probably knew a fair amount of people in the crowd didn't you Gareth?
Gareth: Yeah I knew quite a few people in the crowd. I managed to shift quite a lot of tickets but the majority hadn't seen us and some were hearing us for the first time. It's a good feeling onstage when there's a sense of needing to prove yourself, to earn the approval of a crowd. You work harder and perform better as a result!
Your 2011 summer demo has a lot of different sounds going on, where do you draw inspiration from?
Sam: From everywhere. There's some Radiohead in there, some Massive Attack, some newer stuff like James Blake and Everything Everything as well, which we both really like.
Gareth: Coming up with a riff or a hook is an organic process but the soundscape and the instrumentation tends to be shaped by what we're listening to at the time. At the moment we're liking our electronic instruments so that's really coming through but I think we may take a look at some acoustic songs in the near future which may have a totally different feel to anything we've produced so far!
So what's next for Redbook? Is there another EP or album on the way?
Sam: We have at least an album worth of material. It's a matter of properly recording it. I do all of the recording and mixing myself on my laptop, so they're all essentially bedroom demos you're listening to. It's awkward at the moment as well, as Gareth and me go to University in Northampton and Keele, so it's not exactly easy to get together and record. We'll probably do another EP or two of these bedroom demos before looking into properly re-recording all the songs for a future release.
Where can people next see you?
Gareth: We've got some gigs to finalise and announce in Northampton and London. Also we have a few homecoming gigs in Worcester this winter, which we're really looking forward to. If you join our Redbook family on facebook.com/redbookmusic we'll keep you posted on everything that is going on.
Catch Redbook’s next performance on Friday 11th November at the Velvet Nightclub Worcester. Doors open at 19:30.
For further information visit Redbook's Facebook page.
To listen to Redbook’s music head to soundcloud.com/Redbook
Read the extended interview at realbowman.com
Further information about Oxjam can be found here.
By Jimmy Bowman
OXFAM’s music festival ‘Oxjam’ took place at Northampton’s Picturedrome last month to raise money to fight poverty and save lives overseas. Northampton University’s Ronni Moss, a Business Entrepreneurship & Events Management student, set up the night in aid of Oxfam. ‘Oxjam’ itself has run since 2006 drawing in support from names such as Jarvis Cocker and Fatboy Slim, ‘Oxjam’ has raised more than £1.5 million. Money raised continues to help emergency response and development work within poverty stricken areas worldwide.
The artists approached to play were not the usual local suspects. The bill included Jaz Hayer and local boys Hat Dimension. However, the real gem was Worcester’s Redbook. This was their first performance outside their hometown, but this did not show on stage. Spectators appeared engrossed in their showcase of sounds in what was a strong, audience orientated spectacle following their summer 2011 EP.
I caught up with Redbook members Sam and Gareth for a few words:
What made you take part in the ‘Oxjam’ gig? Were you approached about playing it?
Gareth: The organizer Ronni approached me about doing a set for the event and I decided to go for it an invite the band over.
Is Oxfam a cause you support?
Sam: Absolutely, last summer I played an ‘Oxjam’ gig in Brecon with my old covers band. I love the atmosphere, everyone is there for a good cause, everyone is there for the music and everyone is there to help everyone else out.
Is poverty an issue close to the band's heart?
Gareth: Poverty is an issue that should be prevalent in everyone's mind when it comes to global issues. We have various charitable causes that are close to our hearts for various reasons and when we get a chance to make a contribution, like with a charity gig, we jump at the chance.
It was your first gig outside your hometown, how did you feel it went compared to playing in front of a home crowd?
Sam: It felt great, it's nice to play to a group of people that haven't seen you before and gauge their reactions to the songs. Although you probably knew a fair amount of people in the crowd didn't you Gareth?
Gareth: Yeah I knew quite a few people in the crowd. I managed to shift quite a lot of tickets but the majority hadn't seen us and some were hearing us for the first time. It's a good feeling onstage when there's a sense of needing to prove yourself, to earn the approval of a crowd. You work harder and perform better as a result!
Your 2011 summer demo has a lot of different sounds going on, where do you draw inspiration from?
Sam: From everywhere. There's some Radiohead in there, some Massive Attack, some newer stuff like James Blake and Everything Everything as well, which we both really like.
Gareth: Coming up with a riff or a hook is an organic process but the soundscape and the instrumentation tends to be shaped by what we're listening to at the time. At the moment we're liking our electronic instruments so that's really coming through but I think we may take a look at some acoustic songs in the near future which may have a totally different feel to anything we've produced so far!
So what's next for Redbook? Is there another EP or album on the way?
Sam: We have at least an album worth of material. It's a matter of properly recording it. I do all of the recording and mixing myself on my laptop, so they're all essentially bedroom demos you're listening to. It's awkward at the moment as well, as Gareth and me go to University in Northampton and Keele, so it's not exactly easy to get together and record. We'll probably do another EP or two of these bedroom demos before looking into properly re-recording all the songs for a future release.
Where can people next see you?
Gareth: We've got some gigs to finalise and announce in Northampton and London. Also we have a few homecoming gigs in Worcester this winter, which we're really looking forward to. If you join our Redbook family on facebook.com/redbookmusic we'll keep you posted on everything that is going on.
Catch Redbook’s next performance on Friday 11th November at the Velvet Nightclub Worcester. Doors open at 19:30.
For further information visit Redbook's Facebook page.
To listen to Redbook’s music head to soundcloud.com/Redbook
Read the extended interview at realbowman.com
Further information about Oxjam can be found here.
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