Virgin Trains Move Festival 2004

When we were told Move was an 'urban' fest, we thought we'd see top bands playing on top of skyscrapers and that the booze would be intravenously filtered through our bodies. We got the top bands bit right.

As the country's biggest city situated festival, Move is worryingly free from mud, despite The North's best attempts to dissolve the plastic sheeting that carpets Old Trafford Cricket Ground. Having still got the stains from Glasto on our shoes, it's not for us to complain and so with its strongest line-up yet, Virtual Festivals descends upon Manchester for the ultimate alternative to T in the Park.

For those with hay-fever or a fear of open spaces, the only thing better than Move would be to stay at home. For the fifty thousand people that attend, what lies in wait is a mix of all-time musical heroes like The Cure, Pixies, Morrissey and Stereophonics (joking), and some of the best up and coming acts in the world, like Keane and Elbow.

The organisation is slick, the toilets don't overflow and fat people are blessed with seats with a grandstand view (none of this sitting on a cow-turd nonsense). It's V without the camping and with a smaller, more personal atmosphere, it's one of those rare occasions where Old Trafford isn't full of southerners!!

Thanks to Virgin Trains for getting us there unscathed, too.

Thursday, 8th July - Madness, Ocean Colour Scene, Jimmy Cliff, The Stranglers, Ozomalti.

Friday, 9th July -  The Cure, Elbow, Keane.

Saturday, 10th July - The Stereophonics, Pixies, Goldfrapp, Tim Booth.

Sunday, 11th July - Morrissey, New York Dolls, Beta Band, The Ordinary Boys.