HOLD ON TIGHT, SILLY SEASON IS COMING!

WHAT do you hate about summer festivals? The mud, the traffic queues, the camping. The list seems endless. What would you say to an event that still had all the exciting bands and the festival atmosphere but without all the annoying cumbersome irritancies?

In July Manchester's very own outdoor music event Move takes to Lancashire County Cricket Ground for the second year running, with a host of fantastic bands topping the bill. 

Without the camping, the mud and the headaches we feel we cannot truly call Move a festival. 

Move is an original concept that encompasses all the best bits of a festival; the atmosphere, the music, the eclectic line-up, the greatest hits sets, the lazy sunshine afternoon (fingers crossed) but it leaves the baggage behind! It is a four-day urban music event, which brings alternative music styles together to create a different music genre each day.

The event is sponsored by Virgin Trains, who as well as ensuring the audience get the Virgin treatment are offering a massively generous train offer to fans across the country. More details of this offer follow later in this release.

So the question on everyone's lips is who is playing? Who will be moving the crowds at Move? 

FRIDAY 11th JULY

Manic Street Preachers
Flaming Lips
Super Furry Animals
Mars Volta
Kinesis
PLUS special guests
Tickets priced £27.50 plus booking fee

SATURDAY 12th JULY

The Charlatans
Feeder
Dave Gahan
Inspiral Carpets
PLUS special guests
Tickets priced £27.50 plus booking fee

SUNDAY 13th JULY

REM
Badly Drawn Boy
Idlewild
John Squire
Athlete
Oranger

Tickets priced £28.50 plus booking fee

A bit about the bands

The Manic Street Preachers are riding on the crest of a wave following the huge success of their greatest hits album, Forever Delayed, and the critical acclaim their history of hits earned them. The band, well known for their politically fuelled lyrics, have long been respected as artists internationally, and have won numerous awards including best band at the 1999 Brit Awards. After headlining the Glastonbury festival in 1999, it is exciting for Manchester that they have chosen to make their first live appearance this year at Move.

With The Charlatans, Feeder and Dave Gahan confirmed for the Saturday, this looks set to be a day of chilled guitar music fuelled with a taste of indie-rock. 

The Charlatans released their last studio album Wonderland in 2001 and moved the band on one stage further than they had reached with the previous Us and Us Only. Whilst lead singer Tim Burgess now enjoys the sunnier climates of Los Angeles, The Charlatans are the heartbeat of the Manchester Music explosion. 

Headlining day two at this years Move festival should not only act as a homecoming gig for the band, but for their numerous dedicated fans across the northwest as well. Live it like You Love It was their brilliant live album - this is our chance to live it and love it with The Charlatans first outdoor gig ever in the north-west.

Welsh artists Feeder, who as a band, have been recovering from the death of their drummer, Jon Lee, over the last year, have grown massively in popularity. Their music has changed noticeably from a strong guitar rock sound to intense vocal-heavy melodies and led to them making their best album to date - Comfort in Sound. 

Depeche Mode frontman, Dave Gahan is also another artist who has broken the shackles of a supergroup, expanding his creative ability. The melancholic sound of Dave Gahan combined with the talent of Feeder makes Saturday at Move a day NOT to miss. 

REM, one of the worlds greatest bands, will provide a fitting climax to this years event, bringing as they do a line up to rival that anywhere in the country this summer; Badly Drawn Boy, Idlewild and John Squire. The band last toured the UK in 1999 with a two-night show at Earls Court and a memorable appearance at Glastonbury. Along with Move, REM are set to play the Scottish festival, T in the Park, and the Godfather of them all, Glastonbury. With a promising set of 'greatest hits' at Move, they are sure to bring the festival to an epic climax.

Mancunian acoustic act Badly Drawn Boy, aka Damon Gough, is best known recently for writing and performing the soundtrack to the film About a Boy. Yet his talents were long recognised before that. 

Sunday at Move reflects the ethics behind Move where every artiste has the respect for the fellow groups on the bill. The quality on stage on Sunday is enhanced by Scottish five-piece Idlewild, who are sure to add a bit of bounce to the day with their electric guitar-rock sound. 

In addition, there will be a taste of Manchester as well - along with Badly Drawn Boy, Ex-Stone Roses and Seahorses guitarist John Squire will play the type of music, which typifies the Manchester sound. 

Almost a decade after Squires first band The Stone Roses released their album Second Coming; he will be performing back on stage in Manchester on a bill with worldwide musical 

Whether those watching come from the north-west or further afar, the final day at Move is set to go down in musical history as a day to remember.

For those travelling to Manchester, Virgin Trains have great news! They are offering customers who purchase a ticket for the Virgin Trains Move Urban Music Event, travel to the event at £5 return from anywhere on the Virgin Trains network to Manchester Piccadilly between ninth and 14 July 2003. It could not be easier! (Note to editors: Customers booking return travel must stay over night.)

As you can see from the line-up, this year we really have managed to get the best bands to play over the four-day event. Last year featured headline acts David Bowie, Green Day, Paul Weller and New Order along with numerous other top artists including Suede, No Doubt, Ian Brown and Doves. Yet Move 2003 is set to be just as exciting if not more as last year.

Some anecdotes:-

…"We're really looking forward to playing Manchester again. We have great memories of playing there, the show we did at Arena back in '97 ranks as one of our best gigs. I'm sure Move will be amazing."…Nicky Wire of Manic Street Preachers.

…"I went to last years Move and thought it was great. Bowie ruled in the rain. Looking forward to the amazing hospitality in the pavilion again and staggering around for a second time."…Tim Burgess of The Charlatans.

…"The City of Manchester is vitally important to Virgin Trains. The re-generation, spurred on by the Commonwealth Games has made Manchester a very exciting place to be. At Virgin Trains, we hope that our continued investment in Move will further enhance the vibrant reputation of the city."…Craig Inglis, Marketing Director of Virgin Trains.

…"REM are truly one of the biggest bands in the world and their confirmation to appear at Move is flattery indeed and demonstrates how well received the event was in its inaugural year in 2002. We knew the public really enjoyed Move last year and it is nice to know the artistes are recommending it to each other. I am looking forward to another great weekend with some of the best bands around on one stage. The Manics and The Charlatans are two of the greatest live bands to have come out of the UK in the last decade and to see them in Manchester will be fantastic."…Rob Ballantine, director of SJM Concerts and promoter of the Move festival.

Tickets for the three-day festival on 11th-13th July at Lancashire County Cricket Ground go on sale on SATURDAY 22 MARCH 2003. To purchase tickets please contact the following ticket outlets:

Wayahead Box Office - 0870 120 2221 (24hr cc hotline)
Piccadilly Box Office - 0161 832 1111
Ticketmaster - 0870 151 4444 (open 24 hours)
Gigsandtours - www.gigsandtours.com 
In person at Easy Internet Café, St Annes Square, Manchester and Radio City Box Office, St John's Centre, Liverpool, Virgin Megastores Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Sheffield and Royal Court Box Office Liverpool

Tickets priced £28.50 (Sunday) and £27.50 (Friday and Saturday)
Gates open at 3pm

Bonsai....

THE Spring Garden Festival has  confirmed the return of other popular features including the World of Bonsai national competition and exhibition, speciality food marquee & cookery demonstrations, and a spectacular contemporary floral art design show - the only national event of its kind in the UK. On-site parking is FREE and festival attractions include excellent catering facilities, rest and relaxation areas, live music and Bank Holiday entertainment throughout the three-day event.

Festival information and money saving advance tickets are available from the Southport Spring Garden Festival on 01704 233331 www.southport-spring-gf.co.uk 

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Southport Reporter is a registered Trade Mark.   Copyright © Patrick Trollope 2003.