The Manchester music scene's finest are all due to take part in a special charity gig in the city to raise money to help rebuild post-war Kosovo. Elbow, Badly Drawn Boy, Richard Hawley, Andy Rourke, I Am Kloot, Lou Rhodes, Doves and Graham Coxon are among the artists due to take part in the charity concert in Platt Fields Park in South Manchester.
Manchester Aid To Kosovo, who are staging the gig, are trying to raise £30,000 to build a 'peace park' in the Kosovan town of Podujeva. Pam Dawes from the charity, who brought child refugees to the city during the war itself, explains: "The idea for Manchester Peace Park came from those evacuated children. As they recovered here in the city they found that the parks and gardens of Manchester brought them peace, hope and a place for reflection and healing. They asked MAK to create Manchester Peace Park in their home town where so many of their family and friends were murdered - to make something beautiful, lasting and inspiring - in that place."
Confirming their involvement in the event, Elbow frontman Guy Garvey told reporters: "This is the festival people will lie about. If you weren't there, you'll pretend you were."