THIRTY bands, top DJs, free entry - and proper toilets - are billed as the attractions for the Water's Edge Festival at Manchester's Castlefield Arena next weekend.

Pendle girl band Earl, who play a heady mix of blues, jazz and pop, will play on the Saturday and have been described by the organisers as "hotly tipped".

They are in good company, as former New Order man Peter Hook tops the Friday bill with his act Monaco, and Oldham indie stars Puressence round off Saturday.

Other acts set to play include:

Friday - The Egg, Trigger Happy, Bad Man Waggon and Parrish.

Saturday - Dodgy, Jeep, Lee Griffiths, The Crocketts and My Life Story.

Sunday - 39 Phoenix, A.R.K., Snow Patrol, Cube, The Lanterns, Space Monkeys, Gold

Blade, Younger Younger 28's, Cay, Doves and Dawn of the Replicants.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.