BURY band Al!ve are set to follow in the footsteps of Oasis this weekend with a gig at the prestigious 'In The City' music festival.

The group will perform on Saturday at 10pm in front of a large number of industry big-wigs all searching for the next big thing in Liverpool's Voodooroom club.

And frontman Andy Ross, aged 17, who writes the band's material as well as strumming the lead guitar and proving the vocals, is on course to steer his band to national success.

For the annual event has been famous for helping to launch a host of top talent, including the pop careers of Welsh band Catatonia, spiritual rockers Kula Shaker and Manchester bad boys Noel and Liam Gallagher.

Al!ve - which also includes 17-year-old Daz Kane on rhythm guitar and keyboards; Craig Stelnicki, 18, the backing vocalist and bass guitar player; and Martin Whyment, 17, the drummer and second backing vocalist - are famous for being the first band to perform inside Buckingham Palace after they received an invitation from the Queen.

They have also appeared on the Children's BBC show, Live and Kicking, as well as This Morning and the National Lottery Live alongside All Saints, Madonna and The Corrs.

The band played at last year's event which was held in Manchester. The festival was controversially moved to Liverpool this year under a blaze of anger from city chiefs.

Singer Andy Ross said: "It's a big gig for us because record company bosses and producers will be in attendance."

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