VERY different musical artists are coming together for a good cause at Oxford’s Old Fire Station.
Pop-rock act Aliens – which features artists who have played with Paul Weller and Style Council, Shriekback, Nadine Shah and The Bible – join singer-songwriter Hayley Ross, and new soul-jazz artist Indira May for the show tomorrow (Friday), in aid of homelessness charity Crisis.
The gig is the brainchild of Aliens founder and frontman Tim May.
He tells us inspiration for the show came about through his daily encounters with the city’s homeless.
He vividly remembers how on his daily early morning walk to Oxford Railway Station, he’d encounter the same people struggling to survive on the streets.
He wrote a song about it called Desolation Angel, which swiftly became a BBC record of the week. It also prompted him to make efforts to support charities working to alleviate homelessness, through his band.
Hayley Ross
Crisis was the obvious choice and The Old Fire station the place to do it, as the venue’s Development Officer, Justine Malone explains: “The Old Fire Station is home to two charities: Crisis and Arts at the Old Fire Station. Crisis helps people experiencing homelessness with housing advice and practical support, and the Arts side puts on great shows and exhibitions.
“What makes the OFS unique is that the two charities work closely together, so people who are homeless actually help to run the arts centre. In doing so, they can shake off the label of being homeless and become audience, volunteers, artists, staff and trustees.”
Indira May
Aliens was created as a music/film collective by Tim and fellow Oxford musician Iain Harvie, best known as the rock guitarist for million sellers, Del Amitri. They were soon joined by Helen Turner from Paul Weller and Style Council on keys, Martyn Barker from Shriekback on drums, The Bible’s Leroy Lendor on bass, and guitarist Calum MacColl, son of folk legends Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger, and half brother of Kirsty MacColl, who has worked with artists as varied as Nadine Shah, Rufus Wainwright and Eddi Reader.
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Support comes from Hayley Ross, with songs from her acclaimed debut album The Weight of Hope. And fast rising star Indira May (Tim’s daughter)whose mix of soul, jazz and hip-hop is gaining her audiences on radio stations as diverse as Jazz FM and Radio 1.
Tickets are on sale now from the Old Fire Station box office and online at oldfirestation.org.uk.
Tim says: “All proceeds the gig will be split 50/50 and go towards both charities, and the unique way they work together to make Oxford a better place.”
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