Graham Coxon is playing an Oxfam shop in east London tonight (24 September), kicking off the launch gigs for this year’s grassroots music festival Oxfam.
As Q is getting involved in this year’s festival, producing a special, free digital magazine we thought we’d speak to one of the curtain raisers. Hot Chip, Lucy Rose and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs are also playing this week and we’ll be catching up with the too in the coming days.
In fact we need your help to cover this year’s Oxjam for our special issue, we want your reviews and your photos from the events taking place across the UK throughout October. So if you’re going tonight please send in your coverage to Oxjam@qthemusic.com and we’ll use the best. Now without further ado, here’s Graham…
Hello, how’s 2012 treating you so far?
“It’s been good and busy, lots of shows, but all good. Nice stuff, Blur stuff, it’s been lovely.”
Are you looking forward to helping to kick off this year’s Oxjam?
“I’m really looking forward to it. I’m at the shop now and it sounds brilliant. It’s a great charity so it’s an honour to be asked. It’s great to be of use.”
What will you be doing during your set to make sure the punters don’t wonder off and start browsing round the shop?
“They’ve hidden a lot of it, they might be able to peruse some DVD and things like that but hopefully we’ll be so loud and we’re well oiled so keep their attention.”
What’s the best thing you’ve ever found in a charity shop?
“I’m probably wearing it. The Crombie I’m wearing now is from a charity shop. I’ve been going to all kinds of charity shop since I was teenager. I’ve got so much stuff. Even some of my favourite glasses were from a charity shop and I had new lenses put in.”
Can you give the Oxjam volunteers and bands some tips for staging their own gigs throughout October?
“They seem to do pretty well without me!”
If you were staging a gig this October, who would be your dream line-up and why?
“The Kinks… I’d stage an evening of beat music, but as they were in 1964. They’d be wondering round this shop now saying, Look at all this far out gear! and looking at the DVDs with interest.”
Members of the public will be reviewing the Oxjam shows for a special issue of Q – as you’ve been on the end of a few reviews yourself have you got any advice for them?
“Just be nice, but don’t get personal. Be honest but not nasty.”
Finally, what’s next for you?
“Nothing really. Got some little bits and bods but my work for this year is done. I’m going to put my feet, write a little bit and think about next year. I’m not doing much at all.”
For more in this year’s festival and to find an event near you head to Oxfam.org.uk/oxjam.
