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What if one day I could organise a huge music festival, like V, whilst at the same time raise lots of money for charity?

I have always enjoyed organising various events. Whilst studying at University I took more of an interest in arranging course nights out than my actual degree!

So when I stumbled across a poster for Oxjam back in May of this year, I jumped at the chance of being able to combine my flare for organising a booze up with one of my biggest passions - live music.

Oxjam is the name of a national event created by the charity Oxfam which encourages volunteers from across the UK to put on their own music festivals during the month of October.

However, not even my knack for rounding up a group of Sociology students could have prepared me for the challenges that were to come.

Through friends, family, colleagues and the internet, I began networking with local bands, solo artists and DJ’s to see if anyone would be interested in helping me organise my own event.

To my delight, the response was overwhelming and before I knew it I had six music acts lined up.

The next step was the venue.

Working as a volunteer and without a budget it was going to take all my skills of persuasion to convince various music venues to hold a charity event on a weekend in October.

Hope came in the form of Revolution Bar in Wolverhampton. After explaining my vision for a mini music festival, before long I was shaking hands with the manager and ‘hey presto’ – I had a venue.

The next step was to talk to the contacts I had already made, and do my research about hiring sound equipment. After doing my homework and talking to numerous different electronic companies, I settled on hiring a suitable PA system.

So - bands, venue, equipment sorted. Now needed to advertise.

After calling on my brother for help (he has always been the more computer literate one) I designed a poster to be put up in various venues in the West Midlands and also over the internet. I sent press releases to various local papers and I think I have texted, called and e-mailed everybody I know to generate support.

And now here I am - writing a blog for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Black Country Website and talking about my event which is just over a week away!

I am feeling a mixture of emotions – I'm worried, excited, apprehensive, eager and at the moment slightly sick with nerves, but the primary feeling I have at the moment is pride.

There are so many things that could go wrong, but the fun and the enjoyment I have had from organising this event outweighs all that worry.

I am so looking forward to the evening. Some of the best local unsigned bands and solo artists, from indie to funk to rock acts, will be performing from 7.30pm until late, at Revolution Bar, Princess Street, Wolverhampton. And it's just £5 a ticket.

I truly believe that music is the one thing that brings people together - from V Festival to Oxjam Revolution.

Oxjam is a great way to raise cash for charity.... pay a fiver for a ticket, watch some of the best bands in the Midlands, and drink until you can't stand! Now that’s fundraising!

Grace Lee will be speaking live on ´óÏó´«Ã½ WM Introducing on Thursday 11th October – the night before her event at Revolution. Listen 8 – 10pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ WM.

The full line-up for Oxjam at the Revolution includes:

Oxjam RevolutionÌý -Ìý Friday 12th OctoberÌýÌý - 7.30pm til lateÌýÌý - Tickets £5 available on the door.ÌýFor more information visit http://ww.oxfam.org.uk or go to http:www.myspace.com/grace_h_lee.