THE Anti Nazi League's Love Music Hate Racism festival may no longer be taking place in Burnley but the top name bands and DJs are still backing the event.

Having already confirmed star names like The Doves and Ms Dynamite -- who have both been short-listed for this year's Mercury Music Prize -- before the free event was refused a licence by Burnley Council, meant the organisers had an alternative site already planned.

Now relocated to Platt Fields in the Fallowfields area of Manchester, the former Verve bassist Simon Jones expressed his disappointment at the change of venue but promised his new band would be part of the festival, wherever it takes place.

Simon said as far as his band -- The Shining -- were concerned, although Burnley would have been the ideal location, the event was more important than the venue.

Pledging his support he said: "We got involved as soon as we were approached for all the obvious reasons. It's scary what's happened in Burnley, with the BNP getting on the council, and so when these sort of events are organised they need to be supported."

He added: "We're only here for a short time and you have to stand up for what you believe. If as a band we can help raise awareness of what's going on, then we will."

And alongside the big names the bill also boasts one of Burnley's own rising stars in World Scratch DJ champion Lee Woodvine. Better known as DJ Woody, the turntable maestro, who won his crown in San Francisco last November, got involved to help give the event some local support.

He said: "We saw the poster in the Red Triangle Cafe, with all the big bands on and wanted to know how come there weren't any local acts taking part. We thought it was a really good thing for Burnley and decided we wanted to be part of it so we contacted the ANL ourselves."

Joining a host of other DJs on the decks, Lee revealed as well as a short scratch demo, his set will also include sharing the stage with some of the town's newest rappers.

Disappointed the show will no longer take place in his hometown Lee added: "It would have been more poignant for it to have been in Burnley and for the town to have had a free show of this quality."