A GENEROUS helping of pop, dub, and indie rock provides the filling for the big meat pie which is Sound '98, Accrington's very own music festival which takes place over two weekends next month.

East Lancashire's very own chart popsters The Milltown Brothers return to the area with a new line-up, and up-and-coming bands like the Space Monkeys and Cola Moon are set to share the bill with dub and dance acts like Sasquash and the Mayhem DJ collective.

The action starts on Friday, August 7 when Leeds-based dub duo The Rootsman join world dance band Celtarabia at the Town Hall, supported by DJ Sanscrypt. The first night is backed by Lancashire County Council and the whole Sound event is, as always, sponsored by Baxenden-based Hollands Pies.

On Saturday, August 8 the Town Hall plays host to East Lancashire DJ collective Mayhem, whose six-hour extravanganza will feature Ameoba Assassins, Oochi and Semi Here. The far-reaching Mayhem music policy means you can expect to hear anything from Pink Floyd to early club classics mixed in alongside a techno or drum and bass track. Sunday, August 9 sees former Chumbawamba member Midge Hartley bring his Burnley-based band Sage to the stage, with ex-Hawkwind member Harvey Bainbridge, folksters Celtic Cross and songsmith John Coley also appearing. New age hillbilly folk rockers Tower Struck Down will round the night off with what should be an energetic performance.

The following weekend sees local indie-rock bands taking centre stage for the Soundbites night on Friday, August 14. Funky rockers The Space Monkeys, who hail from Bury, Middleton and Heywood, top the bill with support from Rossendale's Cola Moon, Accrington youngsters Relief and Lancashire four-piece Funzig. Saturday, August 9 will see the action switch to the Brooks Club for the return of the Milltown Brothers, who with new songs and a new line-up will be hoping for an improvement on their disappointing performance at the first Sound event in 1993. Support comes from local favourites Slim, whose style is billed as moody and moving.

The finale is the well-established free festival in Oakhill Park, on Sunday, August 16 with live action coming from Blackburn dubsters Sasquash, highly-acclaimed Hyndburn soulsters Soul Deep and Accrington glam punks Slutch. Other acts set to play are Jamboree, Pooka, Gecko, Box, DJ Drac Deville and DJ Hood.

Acoustic performers are set to play smaller stages around the park and there will also be fairground rides, face-painting and, of course, plenty of pies to ensure a fun family day out.

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