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This weekend, the music industry makes its annual pilgrimage to Manchester for , the UK's answer to Texas' South by South West or MIDEM in Cannes. It's a three-day event with taking place during the day and a plethora of happening in venues through the city in the evenings. The conference has been running since 1992, and has built up a reputation for discovering some of the biggest talents around today: over the years they've given a platform to Radiohead and Oasis (1992), Coldplay (1997), The Darkness (2002) and the Arctic Monkeys (2005).

We'll be attending this year, with showcase nights of our own at on Tib Street (in the main room) on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th October. The bands on our bill were chosen by Huw Stephens and the team at , with seven of the ten acts based in the Greater Manchester area. Entry is free to In The City wristband holders (more info on the event website). Here's the line-up:

Monday 19th October -19:30 doors:

8.00pm -
8.50pm -
9.40pm - The Cheek
10.30pm -
11.20pm - Your Twenties

Tuesday 20th October -19:30 doors:

8.00pm -
8.50pm - Shmoo
9.40pm -
10.30pm -
11.20pm - The Jessie Rose Trip

I'd suggest you keep one eye on this 'ere blog for more updates from In The City, and one eye on our , where I'll be giving you updates about the debates taking place at the . Subjects this year include "Putting Music in Computer Games", "The Internet Is Not The Future" (with DrownedinSound.com's editor, Sean Adams - bound to be enlightening!) and "Something from Nothing: Making it Happen without a Budget".

Meanwhile, Ö÷²¥´óÐã Manchester will be legging it around the city, doing their best to cover as many gigs as possible in order to bring you hot-off-the-press reviews and photos . You can also follow .