October will be jam-packed with live gigs as part of the annual charity music festival Oxjam.

More than 60 live performances have been booked across 14 Macclesfield venues as part of a national event in aid of the poverty charity Oxfam.

And with more gigs organised for the town than any other in the country, Macclesfield organisers are hoping their event – the first to be held in the town – will be among the best. 

Keith Townley, one of the festival’s organisers, said: “Over the past few years Macclesfield has become a hotspot for live music in the north west, with new venues opening throughout the town and attracting artists from across the country.

“Oxjam Macclesfield will be a celebration of this burgeoning music scene and a fantastic way to raise money for such a brilliant charity.”

Acts from the local area that punters are likely to be familiar with include Hot Vestry, Institute of Broken Sound and The Ordinary, which all hail from Macclesfield.

Mr Townley added: “This all stems from the brilliant things that have happened to Macclesfield in the past 12 months.

“The local music scene is always enthusiastic about getting behind any good cause and all the bands playing were more than happy to sign up.”

The venues will vary in capacity, with the Swan With Two Necks, Ronnie’s Bar and The Mac all hosting at least one show.

More than 7,000 musicians are expected to take part up and down the country to add to the £2m already raised by Oxjam since it started in 2006.

Oxjam 2013 runs from today, October 2, until October 31, with gigs held from Wednesday to Sunday.  It kicks off tonight with an Open Mic night at the Swan With Two Necks, followed by Hot Vestry and support playing Fresh Bar on Thursday, October 3,  and Relay D’Verb and support playing Ronnie’s Bar on October 4.

The Silk Road play The Macc on Saturday, October 5, and an all afternoon band festival will run the following day at the Swan With Two Necks.

The Swan with Two Necks will host another Open Mic night on Wednesday, October 9,  and Empire play Fresh Bar on October 10.

For more information about the gigs – including band biographies, video and audio – visit oxjam-macclesfield.co.uk.