CROxjam music event in Croydon raising cash for charity

LIVE music is set to take over Croydon next week in the form of the borough's very own festival – CROxjam.

More than 100 performers and bands will be putting on shows in venues all over the borough for three days from next Thursday, with a range of different genres to suit every taste and style.

Musical performances for the fundraiser will range from indie rock in the Scream Lounge on Thursday, to southern-blues at The Green Dragon on the Friday and metal at The Ship on Saturday.

CROxjam is one of more than 40 similar events taking place across the country in October, with the aim of raising money for Oxfam.

The Half and Half Bar in South Croydon is one of the many venues in the borough that are taking part with an 11-hour marathon of singer-songwriters and traditional guitar music.

Ian Taitte, owner of the bar, said: "It is going to be really exciting day.

"We wanted to get involved because it's a great thing for the community and will bring people together.

"It's also great for the bar to have something different on, music is a part of everybody so why not celebrate it while also raising some money for charity?"

Esther Sutton, manager of the Green Dragon, added: "It's a fantastic event for an amazing cause.

"There's a good feeling about music in Croydon at the moment so it's a great time to have a collaboration of so much local talent.

"It's great to see so many of my friends and colleagues come together to do something like this. Picking the band I'm looking forward to the most would be impossible."

Organiser John Bownas said: "Croydon has plenty of great little music venues but once we started looking at the list of local acts who we had to consider we quickly realised we just weren't going to have space for them all.

"Our initial brainstorm came up with almost 250, and to fit them all in we'd have had to put the festival on for a whole week to give everyone a chance to play.

"People involved in this event have a real grass roots belief in the town, and this is a chance for everyone to shout about what makes Croydon a really good night out."

Next Thursday and Friday, venues will mostly have a small voluntary door charge.

On the Saturday there will be wristbands on sale at each venue.

These cost £5 and give access to everything else happening that day across the town.

All information correct at time of going to press but check the website for any changes closer to the date.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18

Scream Lounge (All-Ages Night):

MK III, First In Last Out, After Hours, The Perfect Accident, TML, Prosthetic Soul, Soil To The Sun, Artificial Addiction, Pre-Rebellion, Western Bears

Proving that the future of live music is in safe hands, these are some of the best new bands around, full of fresh ideas and buzzing with energy.

Green Dragon:

The Tonic, TBC, The Bliss Manifesto (£2 voluntary contribution)

The Tonic are back! A fantastic slab of mod-styled Brit-pop. Whitestar turn back the clock to the early 90s but still sound fresh and exciting.

Bar Sport – The New Underground:

Offbeat South (acoustic), Libre Fuego, Clif & Marie, Alison Plant (£2 voluntary contribution)

Chill out in Croydon’s best-kept secret hideaway. Leather sofas and an intimate vibe with some great local talent to keep you entertained.

Spread Eagle:

Elvis is in the building (Free entry)

The King is back!

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19

Scream Lounge:

Czagio, Thea Ford plus more tbc

Local favourites return for their first show in several years. More acts to be announced.

The Ship:

The Witchdoktors, St Evel, Sin Kings (£2 voluntary contribution)

From swampy rock to psychobilly action.

Green Dragon:

Buffalo Bill Smith, Swamp City Shakers, Dylan Harley, Joshua Edwards

(£2 voluntary contribution)

Harmonica fans always flock to Buffalo Bill shows, and with some heavy-duty support from Swamp City Shakers the Dragon will be busy tonight.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20

£5 Wristband – access all venues

Scream Lounge (12pm to 12am):

JSA, Profane & The Sacred, Bad Sign, Play In Car, Electric Trees, Trevor’s Head, Reckless Ambition, Kabogaeries, Tidor, Goat, Cane Hill Drive-Thru, Crashing White Horses, David Grout Band, The Unready, Three Word Poem, The Resonance Association, The Merry Gang, DogGone

The cream of Croydon’s indie and alternative bands will be featuring upstairs and downstairs throughout the day.

The Ship (12pm to 10pm):

Terakai, Doomed From Day One, L Sol Tace, In Ruins, Black Polaris, Beneath The Tide, Silhouette Of A Ghost, Primitive, Shields, Surface The Dissent, Comeoutfiring, Katalyst, Vindicated

If you love your metal then The Ship will be a magnet today. Headliners Terakai will have their work cut out to top an amazing bill featuring some of the most promising acts in the genre.

Green Dragon (12pm to 11.30pm):

Dr Smutglove, Hipster Ray, Junk Time Party, Midnight Barbers, Shotgun House, Magic Brother, Junkyard Choir, Fit & the Conniptions, Vienna Knights, JJB & The Weirds

Matthew’s Yard (12pm to 11pm):

Homebrood, The Marauders, JD & The Longfellows, Polaris Condition, MJ Hibbett, cassettes, Lady Man Lady, Tom Janssen, Jenny Lockyer, Tim Eveleigh, Superman Revenge Squad, Vicky Walters, Jules Phoenix & Remi F plus more tbc

A mini-festival of Croydon’s best acoustic bands and solo performers in a unique and relaxed setting.

The Edge (1pm to 6pm):

Final acts to be announced

(7pm to 11pm):

The Earnshaws, Uploaded, Doodlebug

A VIP night for the discerning connoisseur of function bands. £5 entry or £3 for anyone who already has a wristband. Complimentary wine and canapés.

Black Sheep Bar (6pm to 10pm):

Kero Kero Bonito, Eccentronic, Offbeat south

Before the Sheep moves into its regular Saturday night club-mode prepare to be impressed, astounded and amazed by three very different but exemplary acts, including one hot from this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

Half and Half (12pm to 11pm):

Jamie Whisker, Outer-audiO-Joe, Brian Smith, Sam TM, Stephen McGourty, Sam Kronis, Urb Scrunting, Suzy Saker, Mark Woods, Chloe Christmas, Greyce

Proving that singer-songwriters are far from a dying breed, a day-long celebration of a voice and a guitar.

The Oval (3pm to 9pm):

The Replicants, Kimera, The Chain, Mental State

Rocking The Oval are a quartet of the area’s finest rock acts – settle down for a lot of what you love. Bad Apple

Aftershow party with special guest DJs