MUSICIANS will be uniting against racism when Stoke-on-Trent hosts a major music festival.

The Britannia Stadium will be the venue for this year's Love Music Hate Racism (LMHR) carnival, the biggest anti-racism event in the UK.

Last year's festival, which featured acts such as The View and Hard-Fi, attracted 110,000 music fans to London's Victoria Park, and organisers hope a diverse range of chart-toppers and local acts will draw another big crowd to the Brit.

Stoke-on-Trent has hosted a number of smaller LMHR concerts in the past, but the festival on Saturday, May 30, is set to be the biggest music event the city has ever seen.

The aim of the event, which is being staged by LMHR, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Stoke City FC, will be to celebrate Britain's multicultural society and unite people through music.

It will take place just days before the European elections, at which the BNP is hoping to win its first seats.

Lee Billingham, spokesman for LMHR, said: "Love Music Hate Racism is about celebrating what we all have in common – and music has always been a powerful force for undermining the division and misery that racism can bring to our communities."

A launch event was due to take place at the Britannia Stadium today, ahead of Stoke City's match against Middlesbrough.

The organisers have not yet announced which bands and artists will be headlining the festival, but in previous years they have included Babyshambles, Basement Jaxx, Kasabian and Estelle.

Acts will perform on an outdoor stage at the stadium's South Stand, while Delilah's Bar will host a dance arena featuring a range of DJs.

The winners of LMHR's Road To Britannia competition, which has seen entries from across Staffordshire, Cheshire and Shropshire, will also be playing on the day.

Mr Billingham said: "The event will also show those from outside the city who join us on the day that the majority of people in Stoke-on-Trent prefer living and working together to racism and division."

The festival is being supported by Kick It Out, football's anti-racism campaign.

Tony Scholes, Stoke City's chief executive, said: "There is a great line-up being put together and it is something we are very excited about and proud to be hosting."

Hazel Lyth, portfolio holder for enterprise and culture at the city council, said: "Staging a festival of this significance in this city sends a message to the rest of the country that Stoke-on-Trent is serious about music and multiculturalism and that we are dedicated to providing top class entertainment for the young – and not so young – of the city."

The announcement that Stoke-on-Trent will be hosting the festival was welcomed by anti-racism campaigners across the city.

Angela Glendenning, chairman of Partnership Approach to Racial Incidents in North Staffordshire, said: "I'm very glad that this event is coming to Stoke-on-Trent. It's a tremendous idea.

"It will help people from across the city and the wider area to realise what poison racism can be."

Tickets for the event, priced at £10, are available from the ticket office at the Britannia Stadium or by calling 0871 663 2007.