The Charlatans will be playing Salford University on 19th & 20th Dececember and also a special show before that at Shepherds Bush Empire on Wednesday 8th December with the former Faces/Stones legend, Ronnie Wood. The show will be very different from any other Charlatans show as Ronnie will guest on some Charlatans songs and the band will return the favour by playing tracks from Ronnie's back catalogue.
The show is part of a series of all-star charity concerts called 'Hero2Hero' hosted by Dazed & Confused magazine in association with o2 Music. All proceeds from ticket sales will be going to music therapy foundation Nordoff Robbins. Tickets are on sale now priced £22 + booking fee, for outlets and further

He hasn't plans to play Manchester yet or to reunite his legendary group, the Stone Roses, but atleast Ian Brown will be back on tour in the new year. The five-date Ian Brown adventure commences in teh North West at the Blackpool Empress Ballroom on March 24 - scene of a legendary gig by the star's old band The Stone Roses back in 1989. With the latest Solarized album already out, it's a return to form from the man who shaped the face of Manchester music to perfection. He also released the single 'Keep What Ya Got' back in September, which featured the other Manchester son, Noel Gallager.

Within just three hours of shows going on sale, fans snaffled up in excess of 250,000 tickets, selling out four shows in record time and confirming Oasis as Britain's favourite Rock n Roll Band. The band have already completely sold out 2 nights at the City of Manchester Stadium, one night at Milton Keynes National Bowl and Hampden Park, Glasgow. These are Manchester’s fastest ever selling shows for Oasis, and are set to be even more amazing than their legendary Maine Road Stadium shows of 1996. Each show promises to have a host of Special Guests and follows recent news that the band will have a new studio album and singles scheduled for release next year. If you want to catch them at their adopted new home, the City of Manchester Stadium, be quick or be disappointed.

Jim Noir is the next talent to emerge from the hallowed My Dad Recordings Label and his music has to be the ideal Christmas purchase, with the release of the Debut 5 Track E.P. - Released 13th December 2004 Eanie Meany. It's a fusion of 60's, acoustic, folk, contemporary. The title track 'Eanie Meany' sounds like it is straight off a movie sound track and has the best lyrics ever to be heard on a song! 'Tower of Love' has a more relaxed beat and also feels very familiar, like something of one of those compillations of 'Music to Watch Girls By' Track 3, 'Tell Me What to do' echos the foundations of the Beatles with the harmonies of the Beach Boys and vocals of, well, Jim Noir! If there's a pressie you have forgotten this Christmas, (if you've even started!), then you have to get Eanie Meany.

While the issuing of this 'deluxe edition' may be questionable given that many fans will have most of the extras, you can't fault he music. The album You are the Quarry is here coupled with a bonus disc which contains all the single 'B sides' so far - and they're excellent. "The Never Played Symphonies" is better than anything on the album itself and "Don't Make Fun of Daddy's Voice" is fastly beoming a firm fan favourite. Its also good to have "Mexico" and the superb "Teenage Dad on his Estate" on CD format rather than just on the DVD single of "First of the Gang to Die". Also included on the bonus disc here is a CD rom section of videos, live performances & photos.