PLAYING intimate venues such as Bolton Albert Halls may seem a world away from bringing Live Aid to millions across the world but, unlike many popstars, there's genuine depth to Midge Ure.

For a start, he would not actually describe his former band Ultravox as popstars - their sweeping electronica and image hardly evokes the glamour such a phrase implies.

Secondly, his songs have won Grammy awards, Ivor Novellos, gold and platinum discs and a variety of other accolades.

It is 20 years since he jointly organised Band Aid with Bob Geldof, an event which raised a nation's conscience as well as millions of pounds for famine-stricken Ethiopia.

And since Band Aid and Live Aid the Glaswegian, who played the Albert Halls three years ago, has split Ultravox, enjoyed a number one single with If I Was and hit the top 10 with his version of the Walker Brothers' No Regrets.

He has also been involved in a lot of production work and still sells hundreds of thousands of records across Europe. In Britain he operates commercially via his online shop, which allows him to release material without record company involvement.

He is now back at Bolton Albert Halls on Saturday for an intimate acoustic show that will combine a selection of his own hits from Vienna - a song kept from the number one spot firstly by Joe Dolce's Shudduppa Your Face and secondly by John Lennon's Imagine - and If I Was to Dancing with Tears in My Eyes, alongside performances of some of his favourite songs by other artists such as Queen, Travis and Fleetwood Mac.

He says his Uncovered show gives him the chance to explore his musical roots and share some of the anecdotes and journeys that his career has followed.

Midge said he was still proud of Live Aid, but pleased he managed to return to his real job of playing music. "The whole thing could have become an albatross around my neck if I had let it, but I was able to go back to being Midge Ure.

"Bob was the one that became part of the UN, going on to have dinner with Tony Blair, while I was allowed to pick up my guitar and get back to music. In that respect I'm the lucky one."

Tickets for the show are available from the Bolton Albert Halls on 01204 334400.