Spike Island, The Resurrection 24th July 2021
Spike Island, The Resurrection 24th July 2021, Spike Island Widnes.
This was no ordinary tribute festival. After a couple of postponements in 2020 due to the pandemic and the resulting lockdowns and restrictions, the gig to celebrate the now legendary Stone Roses gig at the very same spot 30 years ago actually took place (well 31 years ago now due to cancelations) Warren Millar was there as he was 30/31 years ago although this time he wasn’t trying and failing miserably to bunk in.
Warren Millar
Initial preparations for this gig started back in November 2018 and at that time no one involved could foresee what was about to unfold and how it would affect the live music industry. Quite fitting then that “Spike Island The Resurrection” was one of the first really big outdoor live music events, with little or almost no restrictions and to take place only a matter of days after so called “Freedom Day”. It’s also worth noting that Spike Island has never been used as a live music site since that May afternoon and evening in 1990. So another big thumbs up to the organisers not only for using the exact same place but also holding it there for the first time for over 30 years.
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I did wonder about the punters who were there on Saturday and who went to the 1990 gig and what memories it brought back to them. I can’t really comment on that as after failing to get into the original gig all those years ago and having to resign myself to sitting on the canal bank and just listening, I didn’t get the whole vibe although in that spot on that day the wind was in the right direction and I have been told since by many that the sound that day was probably better were I was, on a side note I can think of two main differences from Saturday’s event and the event in 1990. Both would have been on view from the stage. Number one would be the view of the new Mersey Gateway Bridge and the other would have been the lack of emissions from the cooling towers and the now decommissioned Fiddlers Ferry Power Station. Both Good or bad depending on how you look at these things.
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Walking to Spike Island from where I had parked up at 11 am two hours before the gates opened, I got a sense of what a gig this was going to be like, at least four coaches passed me on the way to the coach park and quite a few punters were making their way complete with bucket hats and Stone Roses T-shirts, the weather was looking good, no sign of rain which up until the day before was forecast. They got that wrong, It was a lovely warm and dry day!
Entering the site via the Catalyst Museum car park, a museum which is dedicated to the chemical industry and how chemicals are used in everyday life which is the industry that the town of Widnes was formed and famous for, picking up my accreditation and looking around the whole site I was amazed by what “Light Bulb festivals” had built, everything some of the big three day festivals I have covered were there and ready to receive the crow!
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Now on to the day’s action which kicked off by New Order tribute “True Order” really getting the early punters in the mood with such classics as “Blue Monday” and “Bizarre Love Triangle” and the stage was set for an epic day. “MC Tunes” then played some real Manchester bangers on the decks before James Tribute act “The James Experience” got the ever growing crowd even more in the mood. Then came the first of two DJ sets By Manchester’s very own “Clint Boon” along with many shouts from the crowd of “BOON ARMY” following on from this was Happy Monday’s tribute “Happy Mondaze” complete with “Fake Bez” That’s his official name honest! And the crowd loved him. Next on stage was “The Smiths’ ‘ Tribute band “The Smiths Ltd‘ ‘ giving a real performance and getting the crowd singing and dancing under the ever increasing blue skies. Then the actual Real Bez took to the stage and although he was only dancing (As only Bez can) and getting the crowd whipped up, loved by every single one of the many thousands !! If any band, other than The Stone Roses, are iconic to the Manchester scene then it would be Oasis. So next was Tribute band “Oas-is” with a great set and really getting the whole of Spike Island in the mood for what was to come next.
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At just after 8.30 pm The Stone Roses tribute “The Clone Roses” came on stage, Over 31 years before, and the last time Spike Island was used for a gig, Ian Brown and his band were in the exact same spot coming on stage to thousands of fans just like “The Clone Roses were doing now. This was a special moment, a celebration of an iconic event in music history brought back to life 31 years later. No matter what you think of Tribute acts This was just amazing.
With an almost Identical setlist from 1990 and even the blowup globe, it was pure magic to hear top tunes such as “Adored”, “She Bangs The Drum”, “Sally Cinnamon”, “Fools Gold” and many more all ending with “Resurrection” which is only fitting as this was “Spike Island The Resurrection”
Bucket Hats off to “Lightbulb Festivals” for getting this off the ground after so many setbacks and can I just say ……… “YOU BLOODY SMASHED IT”
All Image credit and property of Warren Millar.
