Press Release

UK's biggest Union sponsors the In the City 2008 Unsigned Music Festival, Manchester, 5-7 October

2 October 2008

Unite, the UK’s largest union, is supporting the UK's emerging musicians by sponsoring In The City 2008 Unsigned Music Festival: Music No Boundaries, kicking off this weekend in Manchester (Sunday 5th October).

The festival is being held over three nights (5th, 6th and 7th October) showcasing local, national and international unsigned bands and artists at one of the city’s largest and most unique venues – The Moon Under Water, 68-74 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2FN.

Unite will be joining festival goers at this year’s event offering information to members and promoting the value of trade union membership to young people.

Unite North West Regional Officer, Kevin Coyne said: "This is a great opportunity for Unite to raise its profile among young people and to recruit new members. Over the three nights Unite representatives will speak face-to-face with young people about trade unions and protecting their rights at work.

"Young people are the most vulnerable people at work, often victims of age discrimination, and not in a union. We want to help young people understand the role of the trade union as many young workers have little knowledge of what a union is or how it’s relevant to them. Recruiting young members and getting them involved in the union is the best way of getting their voices heard."

Headlining the event are three legendary Mancunian figures: Kavana - crowned Best Mail Artist in 1997 by Smash Hits; Peter Hook - the creator of Joy Division and New Order, who will be performing a Live DJ Set; and Manchester Soul Diva - Rowetta - of Happy Mondays fame, and more recently, a finalist on X Factor.

Unite member and organiser of the event, Mark Murray said: "It's fantastic news that Unite has agreed to sponsor this event in Manchester - allowing us to promote Unite and the importance of unions in every single JD Wetherspoon and Lloyds No.1 Bar across the North West.

"The festival is aimed at uniting young people from all over the UK in the hope of catching a glimpse of the next big thing."

Last year the three day showcase during the In The City Festival was hailed by the Manchester Evening News and Buzz Magazine as the 'Pick of the Fringe Events in 2007.' Come along and support the event!

The festival "Music No Boundaries" is an FMS Promotions production in partnership with Unite the Union and ManchesterRadioOnline.Com in support of Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centres.