Joe's Jamming At Oxfam

The NI man who wrote the title track of Madonna's greatest hits collection launches an impressive gig line up today.

Joe Echo is playing Oxfam's Dublin Road shop in Belfast today (Wednesday) to launch the event, Oxjam 2009.

Songwriter and performer Joe Echo said: "Oxjam's a great idea and I'm delighted to take part in any way I can," said Ciaran Gribbin (Joe Echo), who co-wrote the title track for Celebration.

Oxjam itself kicks off on Thursday 1st of October with a gig in Whelans in Dublin featuring Neosupervital and Bi-Polar Empire and Lauren Guillery.

As well as Joe Echo, other artists set to headline Oxjam gigs in October include Paul Brady, Damien Rice, Glen Hansard, Kila, Villagers, Mundy, Wallis Bird, Heathers, Luan Parle, David Kitt, The Cades, Neosupervital, Bi-Polar Empire, Lauren Guillery with other surprise international acts being kept secret to make Oxjam the hottest ticket in town.

Oxjam is also a festival with a difference as thousands of music events are put on by ordinary people – from schools to clubs, front rooms to pubs – making it the biggest line-up of any music festival in Ireland.

Last year over 300 acts took part in Oxjam across Ireland and Oxfam is calling on the Irish public to get involved again by organising music-themed events for October.

This year Oxjam revellers will be asked to join Oxfam Ireland's climate change campaign calling on governments to sign-up to a fair and safe deal at the climate negotiations in Copenhagen this December.

All money raised will go help Oxfam's work fighting poverty in eastern and southern Africa, including helping poor people to cope with the devastating effects of climate change.

(BMcC/KMcA)