MUSIC across the generations will form York's two-day outdoor festival, AIR2003, on Knavesmire on July 26 and 27.

Dozens of live acts will be participating in a weekend event to be headlined by Bad Manners, The Animals and Friends and Chris Helme's new band, The Yards.

International acid-jazz musician Bherman will lead the entertainment on a marquee stage in while the city's York's music scene will be represented by the likes of Dust Bowl Central, The Stanleys, Hardwired and AKP.

The event organiser, York Arts Forum, intends the festival to be a family affair with three giant art panels on site for people to add their own mark to the weekend. Paints and marker pens will be available for festival revellers to paint, doodle, or simply write their names on to the huge boards, and the finished artwork will be exhibited later at the Grand Opera House.

Liz Topi, City of York Council's events officer, says: "It's really quite unusual for a music festival to offer such a wide diversity of acts, with music from the Sixties right through to today's cutting-edge bands.

"Knavesmire is a fantastic setting for a summer concert and we're hoping that festival-goers will help us to create some fantastic art to exhibit. We'd particularly like children to get really involved because this is a festival for the whole family to enjoy."

The festival also will feature a market, food village, beer tent and overnight camping facilities. Admission is £12, £6 for under 14s, for a single day; or £22, under 14s £11, for the weekend. Weekend tickets with camping facilities, available for tents only, cost £25.

Tickets can be booked from York Barbican Centre, tel 01904 656688, or from the York Arts Forum website at www.yaf.org.uk

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Updated: 12:15 Friday, July 18, 2003