Music festival line-up unveiled

Hard-Fi return to the festival after an appearance last year

Some of the country's hottest bands are to play on Tyneside during an annual music festival.

The line-up for Orange Evolution includes Sunderland-band The Futureheads along with Hard-Fi, Graham Coxon and The Go!Team.

The festival will run between 18 and 29 May and there will be 30 gigs in six venues across Tyneside.

It will end with a free outdoor event on the Bank Holiday Monday on Newcastle and Gateshead Quaysides.

Festival director Jim Mawdsley said: "For 2006 we also have a more focused indoor programme bringing together all of Newcastle-Gateshead's major venues and promoters."

This year's will be the fifth annual festival and will include free seminars developed by music development agency Generator to support musicians and those working in all areas of the music industry.

The event will raise funds for the international charity WaterAid, which helps provide clean water and sanitation for some of the world's poorest people in Africa and Asia.