TICKETS are still available for the first major event in Widnes after restrictions lift.

Spike Island: The Resurrection will go ahead as planned on Saturday, July 24.

With all government coronavirus restrictions due to the lift on July 19, the organisers have confirmed the festival will go ahead as-planned the following weekend.

The one-day outdoor festival is anticipated to be one of the first major music events to take place in post-lockdown England.

In a statement, organisers Lightbulb Festivals said: “In light of the recent government announcement and their promise that July 19 will be the 'terminus' date, we are delighted to confirm that we are proceeding with plans to hold the gig on Saturday, July 24.

"This has been an incredibly difficult decision given the recent uncertainty, and the team have been doing a lot of hard work behind the scenes to try and make the event go ahead as planned.

"We are now very confident that our festival will be one of the first to take place in the UK after the re-opening… We are incredibly grateful for all the support we have had for the event, with a staggering number of people keeping hold of their tickets.”

Spike Island: The Resurrection will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Stone Roses’ era-defining gig at Spike Island, Widnes.

Originally planned to take place in 2020, the festival is bouncing back this year with more than 85 per cent of tickets for the 2021 fixture now sold out.

With its full and original line-up still intact, concert goers have been promised a number of further 'exciting surprises' to be unveiled in the final weeks counting down to the event.

The event will also see performances from 'top-tier tribute acts' plus a number of original faces from the iconic Madchester scene including Clint Boon (Inspiral Carpets), Bez (Happy Mondays), Andy (808 State), and MC Tunes (Dust Junkys).

Making history in its own right, Spike Island: The Resurrection will be the only live performance to have been held at the Widnes site since the Stone Roses headlined in 1990.

The famous gig became the subject of a 2012 film.

And even the tribute celebration is on course to break records as the biggest tribute-themed festival the world has ever seen with 5,000 tickets snapped up on the first day of sale.

Headliners The Clone Roses are the longest serving and best selling Stone Roses tribute act in the UK. 

Baggy, bassist for the Clones said: “The prospect of performing on the exact same site as The Stone Roses played their now legendary show is almost unbelievable.

"Growing up only a few miles from the original site on the Mersey estuary we were all brought up on the tales of that day. I'll admit I was just a little too young to attend on the day but if you believe what folk say around here it appears there was closer to 330,000 rather than 30,000.

"We hope to give the veterans a nostalgic trip down memory lane as well as a chance for younger Roses fans to experience just some of the magic of that day more than 30 years ago.”

Cllr Rob Polhill, from Halton Borough Council, added: “I am delighted that 30 years after the Stone Roses played at Spike Island a re-creation of that concert featuring tribute band The Clone Roses will take place on that site.

"That legendary gig is still talked about fondly all these years later and we know from the many enquiries that we have had over the years that many people have wanted to see it repeated.

"Our park at Spike Island is ideal for this kind of event and our officers will now be working closely with Lightbulb Festivals Ltd to ensure we have a successful and safe event for the fans to enjoy.”

Visit spikeisland2021.com  

Line Up:

The Clone Roses

Oas-is

The Smiths Ltd

Happy Mondaze

The James Experience

True Order (New Order tribute)

DJs:

Clint Boon

Andy (808 State)

Bez

MC Tunes

Dave Sweetmore