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Five perform live for climate action

news release

Five up and coming Manchester bands will be performing at a live gig night in support of Friends of the Earth’s climate campaign, the Big Ask. Local acts Moco, Geekgirl, The VCs, Your Bitter Ex-Lovers and Sir Yes Sir will be taking to the stage at Manchester’s Bierkeller on June 15th.

Headline act Moco has already released several singles to widespread critical acclaim. The Wigan-based band’s first single ‘where she goes’ beat The Strokes and Oasis to ‘Single of the Week’ in the NME, while the second ‘miss mantaray’ broke into the top 100. The latest single ‘baby when you die’ was XFM’s record of the week and Zane Lowe’s ‘fresh meat’ winner.

The gig night, which is being organised by Manchester Friends of the Earth [1], is one of a series of concerts being held across the country to highlight the Big Ask [2] – a campaign that calls on the UK Government to take urgent action to combat climate change.

Gig night organiser Rachel Kenyon says:

“Climate change has topped the political agenda for much of the year, yet carbon dioxide emissions in the UK continue to rise. Our aim, in organising this gig night, is to engage local people in Manchester and demonstrate why climate change is an issue that is worth fighting for.”

The Big Ask calls on the UK Government to bring in new legislation to tackle climate change by setting legally binding targets to cut carbon dioxide emissions by three per cent per year. This would ensure that the UK meets its national target of a 60 per cent reduction by 2050. Although the Government has already committed to reducing carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2010, emissions have risen steadily since 1997. Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics found that greenhouse emissions were one per cent higher in 2004 than 2003.

Tickets for the Big Ask gig night are on sale from Piccadilly Records on Oldham St, Manchester, for £5.50 including booking fee. Tickets will also be available on the door but only advance tickets guarantee entry. More information can be found at www.myspace.com/manchesterfoe.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

[1] Manchester Friends of the Earth is a prominent campaigns group, raising awareness and lobbying for policy changes at a local, regional, national and international level. The group consists entirely of volunteers, and its campaigns are funded by membership fees and individual donations. Up-to-date information is available on its website: https://www.manchesterfoe.org.uk. Manchester Friends of the Earth is part of a national network of local groups, affiliated to the national organisation (further information can be found at http://www.foe.co.uk).

[2] More information about the Big Ask can be found at http://www.thebigask.com.

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