Liam Gallagher Voices Manchester Metrolink to Promote New Music Festival

Oasis frontman and Mancunian Liam Gallagher is taking over the passenger announcements on the Metrolink, Manchester's tram service this weekend.

The change in voiceover is to promote Manchester's newest music festival 'Beyond the Music'. The new festival has over 100 new and emerging artists who will perform across the city in over 17 different venues.

Labour Mayor Andy Burnham said of the new festival: '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'. He continued to say that Liam Gallagher wanted to 'do his bit' to encourage people to support up and coming talent. Burnham described music as one of the cities 'most important exports'.

The festival, which is also hosting a 'change-making' conference seeks to highlight new music and grass roots venues, developing talent and infrastructure support for the city which has produced such musical greats as Oasis, The Smiths, New Order, Joy Division and The Stone Roses to name but a few.

Wherever possible, organisers of Beyond the Music are encouraging gig goers to avail a public transport. The voiceover not only acts as promotion for gig goers, but also coincides with the launch of Manchester's new BEE network, the city's first locally controlled public transport system in 40 years including buses, trams and bike hire.

And Gallagher's dulcet tones are not the only incentive to get people using public transport.

Gallagher has included an easter egg in one of the voiceovers to entice passengers. At one of the tram stops in the city the rock star was given the chance to say his favourite line. "You'll have to get on to a tram into the city to find out which it is", the singer says.

Beyond the Music is a four day music festival from Wednesday the 10th of October- Saturday the 14th across multiple venues in Manchester.