LOUD AND PROUD

JOHN TELLS OF DELIGHT TO BE PART OF 'CITY'S RICH TAPESTRY' AS HE ANNOUNCES MUSIC FESTIVAL

- By JENNA CAMPBELL

John with Noel Gallagher

WRITER and musician John Robb is one of the UK's most influential voices in music and now he's decided to launch a live event in Manchester to celebrate the alternative music scene.

John, frontman and bassist of punk bands The Membranes and Goldblade, also writes and runs Louder Than War, a music and culture website and magazine.

This March, he'll be using this platform to hold a one-day music festival at one of the city's most-loved venues.

Fittingly, Louder than War Live will take place on March 14 across Manchester Academy's numerous performance spaces. Over three decades, the venue has served as a launchpad for fresh talent while also spotlighting some of the biggest names in British music culture.

From post-punk to electronica and guitar bands to intimate sets and unmissable in-conversations, the first-of-its-kind event will see the likes of Sea Power, Pale Blue Eyes, House of All, Evil Blizzard and Benefits take to the stage.

More than 10 acts have already been announced and the full lineup will be revealed soon.