asis star Liam Gallagher is voicing announcements on Manchester’s tram network this week.
The Mancunian singer will be giving out transport information while the city hosts the Beyond The Music festival and a “change-making” conference running from Wednesday to Saturday, highlighting new music and grass roots venues, and developing talent and infrastructure support for the city region which will make an impact on the music and content industry.
A spokesman for the musician said: “Liam’s doing his bit to get behind the festival and encourage people to get into the city and support new up-and-coming talent.
“When the request was first made by Bee Network champion Andy Burnham, Liam loved the idea of surprising tram users by doing the announcements, and he was given the chance to choose his favourite line. You’ll have to get on to a tram into the city to find out which it is!”
More than 100 artists will be performing at 17 grassroots venues across the city – including an entire day of free concerts in partnership with Lush, titled Music For Everyone – culminating in a secret gig sponsored by The Face.
The Beyond The Music organisers are urging the people of Greater Manchester to make most of local transport, branded the Bee Network, to travel into the city to enjoy and support the festival.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said: “We are supporting it all the way and are confident that it will become a fixture in the city’s calendar.
“True to Manchester’s traditions, Beyond The Music is a co-operative endeavour which aims to give all players in the music industry an equal voice and equal say on the change it needs.
“By doing that, our aim is to strengthen one of Manchester’s, and Britain’s, most important exports.
“There surely can’t be any better way of marking the launch of the Bee Network and the first Beyond The Music than getting one of Manchester’s most famous voices announcing the stops on his favourite Metrolink line.
It means a lot to us that Liam has agreed to do this and show his support for his home city
“It means a lot to us that Liam has agreed to do this and show his support for his home city.
“Supporting our music venues and giving people cheaper and better public transport to and from our gigs is what we’re all about.
“I am sure that Liam’s dulcet tones will wake up a few early-morning commuters, brighten up many a journey, and produce a lot of smiles along the way.”
The Bee Network was launched last month, the first locally controlled bus service in nearly 40 years.
Bus franchising in the region is the start of plans for an integrated, “London-style” transport network, combining bus, tram, active travel and eventually rail.
– Tickets for the music festival, running from October 11 to 14, can be bought from beyondthemusic.co.uk