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Oxjam

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Oxfam, Dalston

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Bargain in the basement

 

Any requests? Luke Pritchard of The Kooks takes an opportunity to look his audience in the eye

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Claiming to be Britain's biggest music festival, Oxjam 2007 promises 3000 nationwide events featuring 40,000 musicians throughout this month, with proceeds to the charity Oxfam.

Last night, Oxjam began in the less than salubrious surroundings of an Oxfam emporium in Dalston. It may have smelled of old books, Dick Francis paperbacks may have lined the walls, but the shop's basement had been refitted into a venue capable of holding 200 competition winners. And, tragically, only one toilet.

This being a charity show, the atmosphere was relaxed. Remy Nicole, this week's version of Lily Allen and Kate Nash, was immensely likeable and she managed to plug her new single while saying "it's not about me, it's about the children".

Jarvis Cocker, former singer of novelty band Pulp, chanced his long arms with a DJ set. In reality, this meant him playing some old records (including, oh wonder of wonders, B Bumble And The Stingers's Nut Rocker) and discussing them. There is only so much to be said about selections from the Skippy The Bush Kangaroo soundtrack. Think guilty pleasures but without the "pleasures" aspect.

Wisely, The Kooks dispensed with their bassist and drummer, allowing singer Luke Pritchard and guitarist Hugh Harris the freedom to acoustically rattle through Seaside and, to their own giggly embarrassment, Jackie Big Tits, with admirable verve: Pritchard's mother, watching from the sides, must have been delighted.

There was even a fascinating new song, which may or may not have been titled Swaying. Alongside the nearly new Oil it suggested they're not standing still.

Quickly though, they descended into ramshackle slapdash (just because the cause is good, doesn't excuse sloppy performances) and, after taking requests, they stumbled through Bob Dylan's Tangled Up In Blue and a ghastly segue of The Velvet Underground's Sweet Jane and The Rolling Stones's Beat Of Burden, before rescuing themselves and the evening with a bawdy She Moves In Her Own Way.

For Oxfam and Oxjam, a platform to build on; but for The Kooks the opportunity to look their audience in the eye and walk away laughing. A triumph of sorts.

• Information: 0870 905 9060, www.oxfam.org.uk/oxjam.

Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.

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