Here’s yet another great idea to emerge out of the Basement on Lever Street. Now Hear This!, Manchester’s first mixtape festival, is ‘a celebration of music and DIY culture’ that begins tomorrow and continues through to April 27:

Its simple; record a load of songs on a tape or CD (at least 5 copies please… CDs are best), bring them to the Basement and hand them in to the cafe/bookshop staff any time before April 20, and they will be put out during the festival for other music lovers to take FOR FREE!

It’s a two-way thing of course, so you’ll walk away with a mixtape full of random music for your effort. There’s also an event at the Basement this Friday to launch the festival, featuring performances and DJs and giving you first chance to browse the mixtapes.

For more information visit Now Hear This’ Myspace or email nowhearthis@riseup.net. They’ve also put together a list of six tips to help you construct your mixtape.

Oh, and by way of a rather tenuous link, James at Yer Mam On Toast is celebrating the second birthday of his blog. He’s always putting together cracking (virtual) mixtapes. Congratulations are in order.