The county's top musicians are lining up to get involved in a month of music in aid of Oxford-based charity Oxfam.

The third national Oxjam festival started on Tuesday.

The first major event in the county will be a night of metal, punk and rock at The New Flyer, Banbury, on Saturday.

Oxford's first big event will be a big band concert at The Regal, in Cowley Road, next Wednesday.

Oxford organiser Stuart Fowkes will be playing with his band, Sunnyvale Noise Sub Element, at an Oxjam gig at The Wheatsheaf, off Oxford High Street, on Friday, April 25.

He said: "Because we're Oxford-based we've got a large amount of activity going on here - everything from local gig promoters who put on monthly nights turning that into an Oxjam night to quite a few classical events as well.

"We are still doing the breakdown from last year's festival, but we know that people in the country raised thousands of pounds."

It will be the first time Mr Fowkes has been involved in the festival as a musician.

He said: "For my part, I'm quite excited about it.

"I think the scale of the events being planned, and there are a few really good ones, will make it as much of a success as last year, if not more so.

"It's not too late to get involved.

"You could throw a house party and charge your friends for playing their most embarrassing songs, or simply go out in the street and busk, or run a music quiz in your local pub."

One of the biggest events in the city will be at the Carling Academy, in Cowley Road, on Friday, April 11, which will take the form of an eight-hour mini festival featuring local bands including Borderville, 100 Bullets Back, and Dog Show.

Borderville drummer James Irvine, 24, of Cowley Road, said: "We were involved in an Oxjam event at The Bullingdon Arms last year and we wanted to help out again.

"I think the Oxjam festival is really important, particularly in terms of raising awareness and I understand it is the biggest single event Oxfam does that will raise so much money."

Singer and guitarist Joseph Swarbrick added: "It's fitting that Oxjam should have such a strong presence in Oxford, not only because Oxfam was started here.

"We have one of the most exciting and diverse music scenes in the world, and this event will serve as both a celebration of our city's music and, for those who are interested, an introduction to some really great bands."

During the event, as well as ticket sales, there will be collections and stalls to help boost the charity's coffers. Mr Irvine hopes it will raise £2,000 to £3,000 for Oxfam.

Oxjam is the country's largest festival and last year saw 24 events in Oxford involving 288 musicians.