Up-and-coming Norwich band Cord, who recently broke into the top 40 with their debut single, will be performing a homecoming gig to help fight poverty. The band is lending their support to Oxjam Norwich, part of the UK's biggest ever music festival being launched by the charity Oxfam for the first time this year.

Up-and-coming Norwich band Cord, who recently broke into the top 40 with their debut single, will be performing a homecoming gig to help fight poverty.

The four-piece, who have just signed to Island Records, will be playing the Waterfront with special guests The Pistolas, who won the EDP's 2004 Next Big Thing competition.

The bands are lending their support to Oxjam Norwich, part of the UK's biggest ever music festival being launched by the charity Oxfam for the first time this year.

Oxjam aims to stage over 2,500 music events around the country to raise money for the world's best known charity with acts such as the Kaiser Chiefs, Lily Allen, Jamiroquai and GoldFrapp poised to lend support at venues across Britain.

Cord will headline at The Waterfront on Monday October 9 with The Pistolas and support from Lot 55 and Lick the Dice.

Recently signed to Island Records the band are releasing their first album entitled Other People's Lives are not as Perfect as they Seem and hoping to top the number 34 success of their debut single Winter with their second release.

Local bands and solo artists will be showcased during a series of Oxjam events taking place across different venues in Norwich. The festival will kick off with an acoustic night at Norwich Arts Centre on Sunday October 8 featuring popular artists James Frost, Sarah Sixsmith, Rory McVicar and Jess Morgan.

Natalie Bailey, Oxjam Norwich event organiser, said: “This event is an excellent opportunity to showcase Norwich's burgeoning music scene, whilst raising money to help fight poverty at the same time. I want to encourage everyone to lend their support by spreading the word and coming to see some of the music on show”.

Further events are planned throughout the month. For more information see www.myspace.com/oxjamnorwich or contact Natalie Bailey at oxjamnorwich@yahoo.co.uk.

Other Oxjam Norwich events include:

t Spot, The Incidentals, The Aprons, and The Brownies playing at Brickmakers B2 on October 10;

t a Wrong Music tour with S***mat, Ebola and DJ Floorcleaner at the Mustard Lounge on October 24.