Paul Barry reports

I'VE just about had enough of reviews of the year - the year in sport, the year in pop, the year in news.

Now we're into 1999, I think it's about time to look at what music fans in the North West can expect in terms of live action this year.

One early attraction for alternative music followers will be The New Musical Express Carling Awards Tour, which sees UNKLE, IDLEWILD, DELAKOTA and the LLAMA FARMERS come to Liverpool L2 on Monday, January 11 and Manchester University Students Union the following night.

The three support acts have all been listed by record store HMV in their top 20 list of acts expected to make it big this year.

Idlewild are Glasgow punks who have received good press in the music papers over the last couple of years, Delakota are the beat-influenced crossover act which has emerged from the ashes of fraggle-popsters The Senseless Things and the Llama Farmers have already released a competent single showcasing their indie-influenced melodic grunge, which is pitched somewhere between Ash and Kenickie.

Other acts set to play Manchester University in January include MERCURY REV, IAN McNABB, DAVID McALMONT, HEATHER NOVA and MADDER ROSE.

Gritty grunge pop favourites GARBAGE, riding high on the success of their second album Version 2.0, play Manchester Arena on Friday, January 22.

The nationwide Skint Tour, featuring INDIAN ROPEMAN and SPACE RAIDERS alongside top flight DJs, comes to Manchester University on Tuesday, February 2, and also calls in at Liverpool Mountfield Hall on Thursday, February 18. Noise merchants THREE COLOURS RED are among the acts set to appear at Manchester University in March.

The visitors to Manchester's Apollo include punks OFFSPRING on January 13, UNDERWORLD on March 5, CATATONIA on March 18, ORBITAL on March 20 and weird Welsh pop-rockers SUPER FURRY ANIMALS on April 29. Rockers TERRORVISION come to Warrington's Parr Hall on February 7.

And love them or hate them, cutesy folk posers THE CORRS call into Manchester Arena yet again on February 1.

Early booking should be advised for that evening, and there is likely to be a very high demand for BOYZONE's scheduled appearance at the Arena on May 21.

At Burnley Mechanics Motown man EDWIN STARR is set to take to the stage on February 19, while former Jimi Hendrix Experience bassist NOEL REDDING is set to bring his band to the venue on March 4. Other established acts set to play the Mechanics include FAIRPORT CONVENTION and LINDISFARNE, while tribute outfit VOULEZ VOUS celebrate a quarter-century of Abba hits when they appear on February 6. Dr Hook founder member and lead singer is set to take to the Mechanics' stage on Saturday, January 30.

Blues fans can put the BURNLEY BLUES FESTIVAL in their diaries between Friday, April 2 and Monday, April 5.

Watch Pulse for details of the line-up as soon as it is announced.

Jazz fans in East Lancashire will be kept busy with regular Sunday afternoon sessions at Oliver's Bar inside Burnley Mechanics and frequent Monday jazz nights at Blakey's Cafe Bar in Blackburn.

Grass roots British bluester VICTOR BROX will jam with two members of THE DUST JUNKYS when he comes to Manchester's Band On The Wall on January 13, while THE CRAZY OF WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN is just one on the names on that venue's varied list for the next few months.

Have a very happy New Year and don't forget to read Pulse for the latest music news, previews, gigs listings and live reviews.

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