ONE day, five venues and more than 30 acts including the Fifty Four Plates, Arcave, Matt Linnen, Longy and Owen Williams will make up Oxjam Southend 2017, coming to the town next week.

With all money raised going to the charity Oxfam, this gig, which was born from a nationwide project, aims to "utilise Southend’s music scene whilst raising money to help fight global poverty".

The project is purely voluntarily-run by 12 people assisting in different areas with all venues, bands and businesses donating their own services or time for free.

One volunteer organister, Matthew Apps-Mcdowell , said: "Although Oxjam is new to Southend, it is now in its 11th year of uniting musicians and music lovers at many other towns across the country and helped many thriving bands to grow and share their talent with a new audience.

"It has vastly grown and has provided the platform for over 55,000 local musicians to play at 5,100 events, all whilst accumulating over £2.8 million for Oxjam GB.

"84 pence of every pound we are able to raise goes directly to helping people in need and the remaining 16 pence goes towards generating more revenue to ensure that Oxfam GB is self-sustaining.

"I have been working with Hayley Hill, Matt Linnen and Billy Wright to arrange the programme for Oxjam Southend 2017."

Oxjam Southend will be accessed by the purchase of one wristband.

The venues will include Twenty One, at the bottom of the Pier Lift on Southend seafront, The Dickens in Southend High Street and Annie’s Bar and Bistro in Market Place, Southend.

In-store events will also take place in the Southend Oxfam shop, Southchurch Road and South Records, Queen's Road, offering audiences intimate gigs and exclusive acoustic sets from local artists.

To fund the event, the Oxjam Southend team held a couple of fundraising events.

Matthew explained: "One was named the Funkraiser which saw local DJ’s playing soul, funk and disco tunes, Henry Burgers supplying BBQ food, donuts from local store LOS Donuts and various record vendors selling a wide selection of vintage vinyl. The event raised £432. We also held an acoustic evening at Piggy Went to Market in Leigh, which saw six local acoustic acts play within the intimate setting of the cafe and raised £307.

"We also have a raffle which will be on sale through out the festival. The prizes have been donated by generous local independent businesses to help add to the total we give to Oxfam GB.

"We would also like to say a huge thanks to our sponsors Solopress, The June Store and The Laserprint works for supporting us on our journey."

Wristbands can be purchased online at wegottickets.com from The June Store, Oxfam Shop Southend; South Records and Twenty One for £7 and £8.

The event starts at 2pm until late, on Saturday October 21.

Visit oxjamsouthend.co.uk for more details and the full programme.

Other acts include: Jordan Deadman; Charlie Wallis; Bavard; Roisin O’Hagan; Joe Garner; Jay Bellamy; Emily Frith; Adam Duffil; Chris Robson, Nathan Abbott, the Tumbledryer babies; Whom By Fire; Holloway Road; Chloe Marriott; Lydia Kitto; Beach For Tiger; Hether; Suspects; Carrot Peeler b2b Fruitman Chooch; The Lowdown; Curly Mcfade; Pete Brenchley b2b Oliver Abbott; G whizz; Jamie Kelly; the Lowdown and Jamie b2b Snew.