XFM Manchester have announced a series of gigs in April featuring many big names returning to very small venues. The shows, which were announced today (Mon 20th March) are to help launch the new Manchester station which begain broadcasting last week (on 97.7fm)

Friday 7th April 2006
Embrace + White Rose Movement @ Manchester Academy 3

Wednesday 12th April 2006
The Go! Team + Killa Kella @ Manchester Roadhouse

Thursday 13th April 2006
The Zutons + The Upper Room @ Manchester Night & Day

Tuesday 18th April 20006
Goldfrapp + The Shortwave Set + Vibgyor @ Manchester Ritz

Sunday 23rd April 2006
The Charlatans + Alfa 9 + Russ Winstanley @ Manchester Night & Day

Monday 24th April 2006
Feeder @ Manchester Academy 2

Tuesday 25th April 2006
Starsailor (acoustic) + The Weight @ Manchester Jabez Clegg

Sunday 30th April 2006
Elbow + Stephen Fretwell (acoustic) @ Manchester Night & Day

Tickets for the 'Access All April' shows cannot be purchased, instead XFM are running a series of competitions to give the tickets away.

Check out the XFM Manchester website for more details

Class aA - Beyond Entertainment, the album released during 2005 by Akoustik Anarkhy has won the Mancunian Compilation Of The Year in an online poll on the BBC Manchester website.The album features many rising stars (and thewonderwall favourites) such as Autokat, Loose Canon, Harrisons and The Longcut who you'll be hearing plenty of in 2006, and of course the already famous Nine Black Alps

"Beyond Entertainment proves one thing and that is that six years of late nights, kitchen gigs, unstoppable energy, stage invasions and indefatigable belief in a dream have all been worth it. Long may the Anarkhy continue." BBC Manchester

Check out the Akoustik Anarkhy MySpace page for a taster

Meanwhile, our congratulations also go out to Jim Noir who scoops Album and Single of the year, and narrowly misses out on New Band/Artist Of The Year in the BBC Manchester poll

The full list:
Compilation Of The Year: Akoustik Anarkhy - Beyond Entertainment
Mancunian Album of the Year: Jim Noir – Tower of Love
Single of the Year: Jim Noir – My Patch EP
Mancunian Band/Artist Of The Year: Elbow
New Band/Artist of the Year: The Permissive Society
Mancunian Gig of the Year: Gorillaz at the Opera House & Oasis At City Of Manchester Stadium
Mancunian Music Event Of The Year: Gorillaz in the House - Gorillaz residency

Elbow have confirmed the following live shows for February 2006 including a headlining NME Awards Show at the London Astoria:

15.02.2006 - Nottingham Rock City
16.02.2006 - Cambridge Corn Exchange
18.02.2006 - Liverpool Academy
19.02.2006 - Norwich UEA
20.02.2006 - Southampton Guildhall
21.02.2006 - London Astoria

(Source: official Elbow mailing list)