31 May 2006
Punk at Manchester Central Library, Friday 9 June 2006 
An event at Manchester Central Library in June celebrates the day when the landscape and language of Manchester Rock and Roll changed forever

Thirty years ago, The Sex Pistols, fronted by Johnny Rotten played at the Lesser Free Trade Hall on Peter Street to an audience of about 50. Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto (Buzzcocks), were the promoters. Members of the audience went on eventually to form Joy Division, Buzzcocks, The Fall, Simply Red, The Smiths, Slaughter and the Dogs, The Drones, Ludus and Factory Records.

The Henry Watson Music Library, in Manchester's Central Library has invited writers and commentators to talk about the Manchester music scene and read from their recently published books on Punk.

They include John Robb, Clinton Heylin, Mick Middles

Councillor Mark Hackett, executive member for culture and leisure at Manchester City Council said: "Manchester is known for its pioneering spirit, its creativity, its industrial heritage and, of course, its music. Central Library holds the booking diaries for the Free Trade Hall and they are valuable social documents. I am sure that this event will be enjoyable and transport people back to that pivotal moment in Manchester where popular music changed forever."

This free event will take place on Friday June 9 in the Committee Room at Central Library, starting at 7.30pm and ending about 11pm.

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StoryRooms - DVD now available 
The documentation of the international media art exhibition StoryRooms that took place at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, from Oct 05 to Jan 06, is now available from Cornerhouse publications.

To place your order please visit the Cornerhouse online store.

Featuring artworks by international media artists Susan Collins (UK); Paul DeMarinis (USA); Ken Goldberg (USA); Paul Sermon (UK); Alexei Shulgin/Electroboutique (Russia); Cornelia Sollfrank (Germany); Tan Teck Weng (Malaysia/Australia); Andrea Zapp (Germany/UK).

Surreal, fascinating and thought-provoking installation environments that invite to explore the ways we now communicate with each other and with technology. This DVD contains a 35 min film that captures the unique atmosphere of the event and its audience involvement while reflecting the installations through interviews with the creators. Directed by video artists Dave Griffiths and Nick Jordan.

Special features include: Interactive access to artists' chapters; a 30 min downloadable installation soundtrack by Vini Reilly; two new short films by the directors, created in response to the exhibition theme of networked storytelling; and an illustrated essay booklet.

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Factory Revival and Durutti Column competition winners 
Two Cerysmatic competitions for you crazy cats closed at 22:00 BST on Monday and here are the details of the winners (who have been notified by email).

The winners of the Factory Revival E.P. competition were Andrew Geraghty and Alan McLeod. Question one asked who has done a cover version of She's Lost Control and correct answers included Grace Jones, Agent Provocateur featuring Siobhan Fahey and Girls Against Boys. The answer to the other question, who sang backing vocals on 'Hallelujah' by Happy Mondays, was Kirsty MacColl (credited as "Vocal support from Kirsty MacColl").

The Factory Revival E.P. is out now and can be ordered online from Boomkat and Juno and other good retailers.

More info at:

scandinavianyc.com
myspace.com/neillandstrumm

Many thanks to Neil Landstrumm.

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Tne winners of The Durutti Column live competition were Alan Payne and Steve Pope who correctly answered that Ben Roberts produced the last album 'Keep Breathing'.

The Durutti Column's 2006 tour continues this weekend with dates at the Norwich Arts Centre on Friday 2 June and the Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells on Saturday 3 June.

Many thanks to Phil Jones @ CMP Live.

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Kevin Hewick's live summer line-up 
Kevin Hewick is one of the guest vocalists featuring in a concert at The Paradiso, Amsterdam on Sunday 4 June. This is a tribute show to Kevin's old friend the late Adrian Borland. Each of the guests will be singing 2 songs from the newly released album 'The Amsterdam Tapes' and 2 songs by Adrian's hugely under-rated 80s outfit The Sound. Other vocalists appearing include Mark Burgess of The Chameleons and Carlo Van Putten of The Convent / White Rose Transmission. Adrian's father Bob Borland will be present too.

Kevin follows this up on Wednesday 7 June with a slot at Alan McGee's infamous Death Disco at the Notting Hill Arts Centre in London. Manchester band Movement and The Sessions also play.

Then, following two off-the-wall dates in his native Leicester (Druidic Britskiffle with Mr. Plow at The Attik on 21 June and his usual full 3-hour plus set of 30+ original songs and much audience interplay at The Twisted Toucan on 5 July 5), Kevin will be delighted to welcome Section 25 into the Leicestershire midst at The Attik on Friday 7 July. Kevin will be playing a set and the decks will be manned by members of the Falling Leaves Sound System.

Kevin says "If it's anything like the fantastic night we had at Poulton-le-Fylde on 19 May we shall be well pleased. Hopefully there will also be a couple more Section 25/Hewick shows in the near future."

Kevin Hewick Official
Death Disco

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29 May 2006
Section 25 live at Skinny Wolves CLub, Dublin, 27 July 
Section 25's gig on Thursday 27 July in Dublin is at the Skinny Wolves Club @ The Hub.

Thursday 27 July
Skinny Wolves Club @ The Hub
23/24 Eustace St
Temple Bar
Dublin 2
Ireland

www.skinnywolves.com

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New Order video event at The ICA, London 
According to the latest ICA press mailing, "Film Event – Michael Shamberg presents New Order", is scheduled for Autumn 2006 (subject to confirmation). This is billed as "A night of New Order on-screen. An audio-visual journey through the group's history, presented by Michael Shamberg. Seminal videos will be screened, as well as premieres of new videos for Everything's Gone Green and Turn and a rare chance to see Leos Carax's video for Crystal. Followed by DJ event in the ICA Theatre, with Peter Hook, Tony Wilson, Oliver Wilson."

www.ica.org.uk
www.kinoteca.net [Michael Shambery official site]

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Moderation and Extramation 
Devotees of the Cerysmatic Factory Message Board may have recently wondered whether they've been on the right board with all the spamming that's been going on. Regrettably this has reached such a level that it has become necessary to moderate all postings before they appear on the board. This will mean that postings won't appear immediately but with the added bonus that you won't have to wade thru all the crap. Thank you for your forebearance.
27 May 2006
Tony Wilson at the Big Chip Awards 
Tony Wilson hosted the eighth annual Big Chip Awards on Wednesday 24 May. The awards celebrate companies excelling in the use of IT and digital technology in the North West of England and are presented in association with Manchester Digital and the Manchester Digital Development Agency. Read the Manchester Evening News' report.

This year there was a new award for original, modern design - 'The Manchester Digital Original Modern Award' and this was judged by Peter Saville, Manchester City Council's Creative Director.

Big Chip Awards
Manchester Digital
Manchester Digital Development Agency

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Manchester v Cancer 2007 
Preparations are underway for the next Manchester v Cancer with 10 March 2007 being pencilled in at this stage. According to the organisers there were plenty of artists who wanted to come this year but couldn't plus expect a few surprise extras.

Work on the official Manchester v Cancer DVD from this year's show (featuring New Order and a galaxy of other Manchester stars) is about halfway complete and it's all looking "rather spectacular".

www.manchestervcancer.co.uk

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24 May 2006
The Factory Revival E.P. Competition 
Cerysmatic Factory is proud to launch yet another competition and this time you can win a 12" vinyl copy of the new Factory Revival E.P. by Neil Landstrumm.

This record is Scandinavia's first release through Kompakt from Cologne, Germany. The 'Factory Revival' E.P. is a re-working of two tracks by two of Factory's most famous and influential bands, Joy Division and the Happy Mondays.

Drawn from his experience of the rave sound and bleep culture that grew outwards from the Haçienda through the late eighties acid house explosion, this 12" looks to get back in touch with those emotions and resurrect them. The bleep remix of the Mondays' 'Hallelujah' has already been well received, taking the original and blending it with a take on the LFO-style subsonic bass and bleep sound.

The AA side, 'She's Lost Control' by Joy Division has been covered direct from the original with a simple electronic rhythm and bass track combined with vocals by Tommy Stuart from The Magnificents. He extracts a facsimile of the Ian Curtis original and blends it with Edinburgh feeling and his own signature vocal style. A cross-over record with support from both the indie and dance camps and deserves to be broken and played in clubs worldwide.

Two lucky people can win a copy and all for answering two simple questions:

1. Who else has recorded a cover version of Joy Division's 'Shes' Lost Control'?
2. Who sang backing vocals on the original version of 'Hallelujah' by Happy Mondays?

Please submit your answers to both questions via the Contact form and the first two out of the hat on the closing date of 22:00 BST Monday 29 May will win a 12" each. Please put "Factory Revival Competition" in the subject field.

The Factory Revival E.P. is out now and can be ordered online from Boomkat and Juno and other good retailers.

More info at:

scandinavianyc.com
myspace.com/neillandstrumm

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The Durutti Column live in Norwich and Tunbridge Wells - win tickets 
The Durutti Column continue their 2006 tour with dates at the Norwich Arts Centre and the Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells and you can win tickets courtesy of Cerysmatic Factory in association with CMP Live.

To win tickets for Norwich Arts Centre on 2 June answer the following question: "Who produced the new album 'Keep Breathing'?"

And to win tickets for Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells on 3 June here is your question: "Who is the new female singer with The Durutti Column on the current tour?"

Submit your entries via the Contact form. Please only one entry per person so pick the date that's most convenient for you should you be so lucky as to win. Please put "Durutti Live Competition" in the subject field. All winners will be notified by email. Competition closes 22:00 BST Monday 27 May.

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22 May 2006
More Section 25 live dates added 
Section25.com announces two more live dates for the band:

Sunday 25 June
Le Batofar
On the Warf
Quai Francois Mauriac
75013
Paris
France

Thursday 27 July
The Hub
23/24 Eustace St
Temple Bar
Dublin 2
Ireland

The band also play dates in Blackpool, Brussels and Leicester before then, as previously announced.

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Dermo on Lauren Laverne's Xfm show 
Dermo, of Northside and Silent Partner fame, will be on the radio tomorrow morning at about 7:45 talking to Lauren Laverne on her Xfm Breakfast Show in the "Missing in Action" slot.

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Section 25 live @ Over The Edge, Poulton-le-Fylde, 19 May 
The mighty Section 25 came out of retirement with all guns blazing on Friday night in Poulton. The four piece line-up of Larry Cassidy (vocals, bass), Vin Cassidy (drums), Ian Butterworth (guitar) and Roger (guitar, keyboards) took to the stage shortly after 10.30pm before an eager and enthusiastic crowd. The band played a set of mainly early material with a couple of covers of The Ramones and Joy Division ('Shadowplay', the first encore).

Earlier, Kevin Hewick played an amazing set on solo acoustic guitar and regaled us of his time in the Swedish Territorial Army.

Full report and pics to follow.

A big shout out to the Poulton Massive including Andrew, Kirstin, James, Luke, Elliott, Mr & Mrs James, Alex, Robert, Kevin, Larry and Vin.

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I Swear I Was There - book launch @ Urbis, 8 June 6pm 
There is a talk / book launch / existential happening at Urbis in Manchester on 8 June at 6pm for 'I Swear I Was There: The Gig That Changed the World', the new book by David Nolan which is published on 1 June.

Nolan and CP Lee will be there talking about the Lesser Free Trade Hall. The event started as a thing for academics for Manchester University but has now got bigger and is now open to the general public too.

Tickets are available from Urbis.

An exhibition about the book will start on 5 June in the ground floor gallery at Urbis and is free.

David Nolan is also a guest on Tony Wilson's 'Talk of The Town' show on BBC Radio Manchester on Saturday 3 June at 11am.

www.urbis.org.uk

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21 May 2006
A Northern Soul - Paul Morley and Manchester in The Observer 
In advance of the release of his compilation cd 'North By North West' Korova on 12 June he's written a great article for The Observer on the birth of post-punk and the Manchester music scene.

There's also a competition to win a special edition of the album.
Exposed - Arts&Culture from England's Northwest 
Brought together for the first time, Exposed is a one-off exhibition of the creative talent that has been insipred by England's Northwest.

For one night only, works by Turner Prize winners Chris Ofili & Keith Tyson, contemporary pieces by Kevin Cummins & Peter Saville, sculpture by Leo Fitzmaurice and paintings by The Singh Twins will be on show, along with the best new talent from the region.

6 June 2006
5pm - 8pm
Manchester Square
London W1
For further information, please telephone 0781 789 4023.

www.artnw-exposed.co.uk

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18 May 2006
FAC 461 Factory Records: The Complete Graphic Album 
The publication date for Matthew Robertson's (with a foreword by Anthony Wilson) book FAC 461 Factory Records: The Complete Graphic Album is confirmed as 19 June 2006. Very special events timed to coincide with the launch will be confirmed soon.

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ACR's FAC 511 set now on iTunes 
At long last, the live set played by A Certain Ratio at the Rob Gretton memorial event FAC 511 And You Forgotten at The Ritz in Manchester has been released for download on iTunes [* - only from the UK store]. The set included 'Do The Du', 'Shack Up', 'Won't Stop Loving You', 'Wonder Y', 'Turn Me On' and closed with 'Heart and Soul' (with guest bass player Peter Hook).

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16 May 2006
Young Offenders Institute - new tracks on MySpace 
From the Young Offenders Institute newsletter:

"The band have just finished the fourth and final date of their mini tour, in Stoke. All four dates went really well apart from getting stranded on the way back from Bristol and JP having to walk home from Bolton. Look out for more dates in July.

Next comes the single. We've put two tracks from it up on www.myspace.com/youngoffendersinstitute - 'Skin Up For The Acid Man' and 'Mancunian Psycho'. Let us know what you think in the new YOI Forum at which is just getting started.

www.youngoffendersinstitute.com
15 May 2006
Your Durutti Column diary for the week ahead 
The Durutti Column will be featured performing 3 live tracks, including one previously unheard on John Kennedy's Xfm show in London and Manchester tomorrow 16 May from 10pm. It will be broadcast in Scotland at a later date.

They play London Dingwalls on Wednesday 17 May in support of new LP 'Keep Breathing' out now on Artful and will then continue touring the UK and Europe.

The band are currently making a dvd for future release. The concert at the Rescue Rooms in Nottingham this Thursday 18 May will be recorded for inclusion in the dvd.

Then, rounding off a busy week quite nicely, Vini Reilly will perform solo guitar on Stuart Maconie's, the Freak Zone on 6 Music next Sunday 21 May.

And if all that wasn't enough, the Durutti Column Sub-Group Newsletter has been published and is on the streets. Honest! It includes plenty of cool stuff including Phil's Sonar Diary and a Q&A with Vini Reilly.

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14 May 2006
Silent Partners Word of Mouth Tour 2006 
Silent Partners have confirmed 4 dates on their Word Of Mouth Tour:

Saturday 10 June - The Vine, 13 The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 6PU (+ DJ Dermo + after party @ The Mixing Tin, advance tickets only: ring Jack on 0798 444 9361)

Saturday 17 June - Old No. 7 'Cherry Bomb Disco' Market Hill, Barnsley S70 2PX (for ticket info ring Leo on 07869 257 652)

Friday 30 June - The Attic, 29 Warner St, Accrington, BB5 1EA (advance tickets only: ring Paul on 0787 057 3678)

Friday 7 July - The Bierkeller, 77 Piccadilly, Manchester City Centre M1 2BU

More dates to be added soon. www.silent-partners.info
Cream and Haçienda 27/05/06 Nation 
The Haçienda Sound System features in a Bank Holiday Special 27 May 2006, 10pm - 6am @ Nation in Liverpool:

Cream and Haçienda

Main Room - Ferry Corsten, Marco V, Mark Norman, Cor Fijneman, Gareth Wyn
Courtyard - Haçienda + Cream Classics, Peter Hook (New Order DJ Set), Graeme Park, Jon Da Silva, Dave Haslam, Tom Wainwright
Annexe - Hosted by Type, Seb Fontaine, Richard Dinsdale, Lee Ellis, Anthony Probyn

15.00 GBP / 12.50 GBP (NUS) + booking fee. More on the door (Last entry 1am) 10pm – 6am (6am Bar licence)

Liverpool Nation
Wolstenholme Square
Liverpool
L1 4JJ

Tel: 020 8969 4477

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12 May 2006
The Best of Blurt Volume 2: The Body They Built To Fit The Car 
Out now (or 5 June according to Amazon.co.uk) is The Best of Blurt Volume 2: The Body That Built To Fit The Car [NEWTCD2]. Here's the full tracklisting:

Smoke Time
Nights Before
Aboule Ton Fric
The Body That They Built To Fit The Car
Too Bombed Too Soon
Shoot And Shout
Forget About Whom The Last Bell Tolls
The A2 Through Thong
What's Happening To You, Milton?
Phone Monika
Bright Red White And Blue
Machina Machina
Amour De Ma Vie
On The Stage
Eat Up Your House
Kazimir's Tractor
11 May 2006
Torn Apart book signing in Manchester tomorrow 
Mick Middles and Lindsay Reade will be signing copies of their new book 'Torn Apart: The Life of Ian Curtis' tomorrow from 12:30pm at Waterstones, Deansgate, Manchester.

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10 May 2006
The Wendys on MySpace 
The Wendys have put four tracks from their second album Sixfoot Wingspan on MySpace. The tracks are 'Welcome', 'In A Long Time', 'One Oar Short' and 'It's The Job That Turns Me On'. More stuff is promised soon.

Don't forget to check out Art Plastic, the new band featuring Ian White and Jonathan Renton from The Wendys, also on MySpace.

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FAC 471 competition - the second winner! 
Oops! Forgot that there should be 2 winners in the FAC 471 competition. As previously announced, Tom Shaw wins first prize of a pair of tickets and backstage passes. The runner-up, who wins a pair of tickets, is Helen Hayes. Congratulations! Will be in touch soon.

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Peter Saville at Belgrade Design Week 
Peter Saville was a guest at the Belgrade Week of Design which ran from 17-21 April. He also did a short interview with RTS 1, the official state TV station. He was announced as one of the leading graphic designer of post-punk era, creator of Factory Records' visual identity and Creative Director to the City of Manchester.

Thanks to Aleks in Belgrade, Serbia for info.

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9 May 2006
From Italian Love Party to Music For Media 
Andrew Harris was the keyboard player in Italian Love Party, the Factory Too band featured on the Factory Sample Too. He now lives in Cornwall and writes music for TV (check out www.musicformedia.co.uk or myspace.com/musicformedia). Andrew did the latest version of the title music for legendary BBC Television show A Question of Sport as well as the, erm, "highly influential" Boxing Babes for Men and Motors amongst other gems (there's a full list on the website).

Andrew says that he's going to try to get some of his own stuff up on MySpace soon. That's if he "ever finishes the ironing and the sun stays in"!
And the winners are... 
Cerysmatic Factory recently ran a double whammy of competitions to win tickets for FAC 471 Hallelujah: A Celebration of Madchester and The Durutti Column live on the first 3 dates of their UK tour. The lucky winners drawn out of the Reni hat are:

FAC 471 Hallelujah @ Manchester Academy 1, Saturday 13 May: Tom Shaw (Answer: 1988)

Durutti Manchester Academy 3 Saturday 13 May: Paul Blanshard (Answer: Litmus)
Durutti Birmingham Glee Club Sunday 14 May: Chris Butler (Answer: Cardiff)
Durutti London Dingwalls Wednesday 17 May: Kevin McGuinness (Answer: The Venue)

Thanks to everyone who entered. All winners will be contacted by email with further information. Whilst the preferences of multiple entrants on the Durutti Column tickets were noted, it wasn't possible to ensure that everyone got their first choice of venue so apologies for that.

Tickets are still available for all events. Check out the individual pages above for more details.

Thanks to Wilson House and Phil Jones / CMP Live for making the competitions possible.

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3 May 2006
Win tickets to see The Durutti Column live 
It's competition time again and this time three pairs of tickets to forthcoming gigs by The Durutti Column are on offer to three lucky people thanks to Phil Jones / CMP Live. The band kick off their 2006 schedule with 3 gigs in 5 days.

Manchester Academy 3 - Saturday 13 May 2006
Glee Club, Birmingham - Sunday 14 May 2006
Dingwalls (aka Lock 17), London - Wednesday 17 May 2006

There is one pair of tickets available for each gig and there are three different questions to answer. Feel free to enter each separate competition but each winner can only win one pair of tickets so please indicate your gigs in order of preference in your entries.

Question M for Manchester) Who supported The Durutti Column at their Manchester Academy 3 show on 13 December 2003?

Question B for Birmingham) At the Glee Club in which city were The Durutti Column scheduled to play in 2004 but never did?

Question L for London) Which London venue played host to a gig on 6 April 1982 which was later released as a live album (recently reissued on CD by Kooky Records)?

Please send in your entries via the Cerysmatic Contact page putting "Durutti Competition" as the subject. Please include your name, a valid email address and the answer to the question(s). Remember, you're welcome to submit answers to each question but there is a maximum of 1 pair of tickets per winner so please state your preferred gig.

Closing date 22:00 BST Monday 8 May.

Good luck!

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Beautiful Losers and Ugly Winners 
Don't forget that the Beautiful Losers exhibition is currently on in Lille, France through 2 July at Le Tri Postal [more info at www.exposkate.com].

Also on view is Ugly Winners at agnes b. galerie du jour [www.galeriedujour.com] in Paris this month. The idea for Ugly Winners was to have a satellite show at a gallery to support the main exhibition in Lille. The work in Ugly Winners is available and includes many of the Beautiful Losers artists as well as other artists including: Ryan McGinley, Thomas Campbell, Neckface, Ryan McGinness, Harmony Korine, Barry McGee, Raymond Pettibon, KAWS, Ed Templeton, Mike Mills, Jo Jackson, KR, Todd James, Cynthia Connolly, Chris Johanson, Terry Richardson, Evan Hecox, Henry Chalfant, Cheryl Dunn, Ari Marcopoulos, Glen E. Friedman, Andy Jenkins, Steve Powers, Geoff McFetridge, Craig R. Stecyk III, Shepard Fairey, Rostarr, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Futura, Tobin Yelland, and Brian Degraw.

With thanks to the Iconoclast Mailing List.
www.iconoclastusa.com
FAC 471 Hallelujah Competition 
On Saturday 13 May, Wilson House presents FAC 471 Hallelujah: A Celebration of Madchester featuring 808 State DJ set, A Guy Called Gerald, Jon Da Silva, Bez, Clint Boon, Anthony Wilson plus very special guests.

Cerysmatic Factory in association with Wilson House is running a competition for free tickets / backstage passes and the question is: "What year did A Guy Called Gerald first release 'Voodoo Ray' as a single?"

First prize: a pair of tickets and a pair of backstage passes
Second prize: a pair of tickets

Send your entries via the Cerysmatic Contact form with the email subject "Hallelujah Competition" and don't forget to include your name, a valid email address and the answer to the question.

The winning names will be pulled out of hat and then notified by email soon after the closing date which is Monday 8 May @ 22:00 BST.

FAC 471 Hallelujah: A Celebration of Madchester
Saturday 13 May 2006
10pm till 3.30am
Madchester Academy 1
Oxford Road
Madchester
Tickets 17.50 GBP

www.ticketline.co.uk
Student Union Box Office - 0161 275 2930
Piccadilly Box Office St Ann's Square - 0161 832 1111
Eastern Bloc - 0161 228 6432

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