IT WILL be down with the guitars and on with the aprons for organisers of an Oxfordshire music festival this weekend.

Founders of the Truck festival, held in Steventon, near Abingdon each year, are opening a ‘Truck-stop’ cafe at their offices in East Oxford today.

But instead of greasy spoon fare, the community cafe, which runs for just three days, will only be serving wholesome organic food.

The cafe will be in the Old Book Binders, home of Truck’s event managers INevents, in Green Street.

The building, the former Green Street Bindery, is set to be demolished next year and organisers were keen to set up something for the community to make use of it while they still can.

From today until Sunday the cafe will also be home to a series of free events, including films, half-term art activities for children, a car-less boot sale, and an open mic night of comedy, poetry, and singalongs.

Robin Bennett, founder of the Truck and Wood festivals, said everyone was welcome.

He said: “I used to live on Green Street opposite the Old Bookbinders when it was still binding books and always wondered what it looked like inside – so when INevents got the chance to be there for a year it was a great opportunity. I would like to encourage local residents, students, artists and families to make the most use of it while the space is available.

“Sadly it’s not going to be there for long.”

From 11am over the three days the Truck-stop will be serving fresh tea, coffee, and homemade cakes, biscuits and soup.

Then from 2pm every day, the bar will be serving Cotswold lager and cider and Oxford-brewed Compass Ales.

Tom Nolan, from INevents, said the money raised from the event would be going towards Truck-backed charities.

Mr Nolan said: “The Old Book Binders has huge potential and we have been really excited by the positive reactions we have had from the local community since we opened our doors.

“We see The Old Book Binders very much as a space at the heart of the community where people can come to share their artist talents.

“So, if you are just meeting friends, arranging a meeting, going on a date, trying to finish that essay, or just looking for somewhere to come and warm up – please pop in and say hello.”

WHAT'S ON

TODAY

  • 11am-1pm – Kids activities.
  • 8-10pm – Cash free bingo, free entry.

TOMORROW

  • 11am-5pm – The car-less boot sale. Bring an item from your house, that you don’t want any more, put it on the table provided and take an item you do want.
  • 8-11pm – open mic, free entry.

Expect comedy, poetry, clapping and singing along. Free entry and those performing will be treated to a pint. If you’d like to appear, email dustysound system@gmail.com.

SUNDAY

  • 11am-2pm – Breakfast is served.
  • A selection of films will be shown including: The Next 7 Generations; Extracts from Conversations with The Earth; The Blair Witch Project, from 10pm