21. Well being: the art of noise

Oldham Advertiser, Friday 20 January 2006
Music makes you feel happy or sad, now a local woman claims to have tapped into its health benefits. Angela Cooper talked to Conrad Astley about what sound therapy can do for you.

22. A bit about... Alexei Sayle

Oldham Advertiser, Friday 17 February 2006
Liverpool-born Alexei Sayle rose to prominence as part of the alternative comedy boom of the early 80s and became the first compere at London's Comedy Store, before appearing in TV in The Comic Strip Presents and The Young Ones. He is now concentrating on his career as a novelist and comes to Deansgate's Waterstones store on March 2 to read from The Weeping Women Hotel.

23. Their torch is still flaming

Oldham Advertiser, Friday 21 April 2006
The Flaming Lips, former crowd pleasers at Old Trafford's Move Festival, return to Manchester next week for a gig at The Apollo. Conrad Astley looked at their long and occasionally troubled past.

24. Food: A hairy biker's guide to Manchester fodder

Oldham Advertiser, Friday 31 March 2006
Despite travelling around the world, eating crocodile satay and tequilla flambeed scallops, Hairy Biker Dave Myers likes nothing more than coming home to a nice bit of hotpot. He told Conrad Astley about his love of Manchester and its food.

25. The big picture: but is it art?

Oldham Advertiser, Friday 20 January 2006
A new exhibition aims to take the mystery out of the strange world of modern art. Conrad Astley took a look.

26. Revealing roots to Victoria

Oldham Advertiser, Friday 7 April 2006
A biography of Victoria Wood's mother gives an insight into life in east Manchester before the Second World War. Conrad Astley spoke to its author - the comedian's brother.

27. Previews

Oldham Advertiser, Friday 17 February 2006
From glam electro rockers Goldfrapp to delicate little Brit winning ex-squaddie James Blunt, we look at next week's gigs.

28. The week ahead: going back in time to Christmas

Oldham Advertiser, Friday 7 April 2006
We look at two great double acts - David Tennant and Billie Piper, and Adam Hart-Davis and Myleene Klass.

29. I'm so glad I left Scunthorpe

Oldham Advertiser, Friday 6 January 2006
Manchester-based songwriter Stephen Fretwell is kicking off the new year with a national tour. He told Conrad Astley about how 2005 was for him, and about how he did not regret his decision to leave Lincolnshire.

30. A bit about... Kym Mazelle

Oldham Advertiser, Friday 7 April 2006
There's aren't many people who can count Michael, Janet, Latoya and Tito Jackson as their childhood friends, but Kyn Mazelle is one of them. Growing up around the corner from the Jacksons in Indiana, she had music in her blood from an early age. Her vocals have been used on tracks by Soul II Soul, and in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo And Juliet. She is appearing is Ray Charles tribute I Can't Stop Loving You at the Opera House from Wednesday.