TOWN favourites Exile Parade kick off a series of new gigs established to raise the profile of the Warrington music scene tonight, Thursday.

The band, formerly known as Bangkok, will be joined by The Vandahls and St Helens group The Loungs, who are currently featuring on Channel 4 programme The Road To V, at WA1 tonight.

The show has been organised by the newly formed Warrington Music Collective, a partnership between the WA1 venue bar, Warrington Borough Council and musicians across the town.

Events will be staged at the WA1, The Pyramid and Parr Hall as well as twice monthly at Chester University's Padgate Campus.

And next year will hopefully see two outdoor music festivals in the town, arranged and part-funded by the collective.

Anyone looking to get involved, perform or find out gig dates can visit warringtonmusic.com or myspace.com/warringtonmusic.

l BELL X1 are set to play a short tour of the UK this summer in support of their forthcoming single Rocky Took A Lover.

The Irish band, who are currently preparing for a hectic festival season, will visit Manchester Academy 3 on August 15.

Rocky Took A Lover, out on August 14, will be the second single to be taken from their critically acclaimed album Flock.

The single will also feature a cover of the seminal Depeche Mode track, Enjoy The Silence.

For tickets, priced £8.50, call 0161 832 1111.