IAN FREEMAN

A MANCHESTER supergroup fronted by the lead singer of the Inspiral Carpets is set to play Warrington.

Tom Hingley's new band - The Lovers - is to bring their spiky garage pop to the WA1 club next week.

As well as the Madchester legend on vocals the band also contains The Fall's former rhythm section.

The band will be performing tracks from their debut album, which Tom describes as 'garagey, punk, funny songs with me having a rant about something'.

Tentatively titled "Abba is the Enemy" his main bone of contention is the bands and singers produced by shows such as Pop Idol.

"We don't hate Abba, we are just having a dig at all the tenth-rate George Micheal's. We think the public are as sick as us with manufactured pop," he said.

Tom spent last year reviving the Inspiral Carpet's, releasing a new single and a greatest hits collection.

He said: "We are not expecting to do anything this year, we did more than 25 gigs last year and played at the main stage at Glastonbury which was magnificent.

"We got to meet REM there which was a career high for me I would say - they were really nice people and Michael Stipe even had a light saber fight with one of my daughters."

The frontman was at WA1 recently to watch Emmerdale's Cain Dingle and was impressed by the set up and atmosphere of the venue.

"It was a really good nightand I think it is a great opportunity for people and bands to see that they don't have to go to Manchester to hear good music."

The Lovers play WA1 on Friday, April 30. Tickets cost £6 adv/ £7 on the door.