WHILE Sir Bob and friends are saving the world down in London, Manchester’s first SWAP (songwriters and publishers) Festival is fighting to save the song. Which, we think, is just about as important.

What is it with this city? While Nine Black Alps and the Longcut are slicing their paths of sonic, head-spinning wonder, we’ve also taken to our hearts the introspective and the finely spun – embracing a clutch of truly remarkable city songwriters such as Stephen Fretwell, Liam Frost and Sam Hammond.

SWAP recognises this with a showcase of local talent bubble wrapped with some of the world’s greatest singer songwriters performing over this weekend.

New country, alt.blues, electro folk, call it what you will, SWAP celebrates it all - the common thread linking the acts in this debut event are simply extraordinary writing, and genuine musical talent.

No surprise, then, that these are exactly the same artists who are pushed to the margins of the playlist smothered, talent-phobic radio stations.

If you’re looking for quality of the calibre of Thea Gilmore, Steve Earle and Damien Dempsey we suggest you check out Radio 2’s Bob Harris show (Saturdays, 10.30pm), Radio 3’s Late Junction (Mon-Thurs 10.15pm), or Manchester Academy from Friday to Sunday, July 1 - 3, where, over three venues you can experience a short but stunning selection of gigs from some of the best: Shane MacGowan to Kathryn Williams, The Be Good Tanyas to Allison Moorer.

But SWAP’s aims are broader than your average festival. As the big summer events get ever more corporate, and ever more identikit, SWAP promises to offer something special - the chance for all of us to have at least a brush with genius - so there will be a night of unsigned acts performing as well, plus a couple of workshops have been laid on.

Here is the line-up in full:

Friday, July 1
Thea Gilmore (9.35 - 11pm) + Martyn Joseph (8.30 - 9.10pm) + Sam Hammond (7.45 - 8.15pm)
7.30pm - Academy 2 - £14.00 Adv.

SWAP Unsigned feat. Gideon Conn, Isobelle Heyworth, Whisky Cats, Ed Cottam & The Everythings, Fultons Point and Jon Barrie Southall
7.30pm - Academy 3 - £5.00 Adv.

Saturday, July 2
Shane McGowan & The Popes (approx 10pm) + Damien Dempsey (9 - 9.45pm)
8.30pm - Academy 1 - £17.50 Adv.

The Be Good Tanyas (9.40 - 11pm) + Roger Young (8.45 - 9.25pm) + Angie Palmer (8.10 - 8.35pm)
8pm - Academy 2 - £13.50 Adv.

Patrick Wolf (9.15 - 10.30pm) + Azis Ibrahim (8.15 - 8.45pm) + Liam Frost (7.30 - 8pm)
7pm - Academy 3 - £8.00 Adv.

Sunday, July 3
An Evening With Steve Earle (8.40 - 10.30pm) & Alison Moorer (7.30 - 8.15pm)
7pm - Academy 1 - £17.50 Adv.

Brendan Benson (9.30 - 11pm) + Johnathan Rice (8.45 - 9.15pm) + Aidan Smith (8 - 8.30pm)
7pm - Academy 2 - £11.50 Adv.

Kathryn Williams (6.15 - 7.35pm) + Amos Lee (5 - 6pm)
4.30pm - Academy 3 - £12.50 Adv.

Outdoor stages:

Sunday, July 3

Triangle (1.30 - 3.30pm): Kojo, Jon & Justin, Red Strings, Josephine Oniyama.
Albert Square (1 - 5.30pm): Lucy Jones/Stephen Ballinger, Katie Buckhaven, Sam and Me, Dukes of Portland, Lee Griffiths, Hanky Park, Sarah Dickson, Liam Frost, Gideon Conn.
St Anne's Square (1 - 5.30pm): Out of the Gray, Beck Walker, Hilda, Tobias Froberg, Jonjo Feather, Mike Addlerman, Peter Ashman, Frannie Eubank, Ya Freddy.
Printworks (1 - 5.30pm): Chris Knowles, Madams, Twenty Twenty Vision, Colour Run, King Street Hobo, Lee Broderick, Edwin Williamson, Isobel Heyworth, Ecuador.

Weekend passes for this event are also on sale now at £50 and £35 for students. These passes are worth nearly £100 each and offer a great saving to anyone hoping to catch more than a couple of the SWAP gigs.

For more information, click here.