Spike Island festival plans announced
Ian Brown 3
New May Day festival to be held on Stone Roses gig site
Plans to stage a new three day music festival at Spike Island have been given the go-ahead.
The event has been given approval by Halton Council’s executive board and is likely to take place over the May Bank Holiday (May 27-29).
The Stone Roses played a influential set on Spike Island on May 27 in 1990 where 28,000 people gathered to celebrate the fusion of dance and rock.
Executive board member for tourism, Councillor Rob Polhill said: "This is great news for the borough. This event is set to be the biggest concert here in ten years and it is appropriate that it is taking place at Spike Island, where the played their famous concert."
The first day of the event (May 27) will be free and feature new and unsigned bands including those chosen from a Battle Of The Bands competition – the heats of which are to be held over the next few months at Liverpool’s Cavern Club.
The second day of the festival (May 28) will be dedicated to rock, with eight to ten big names playing, while Monday (May 29) will feature pop acts, organisers say.
Tickets for the Sunday and Monday are expected to cost £20 per day, although there are plans to offer a discount for weekend tickets.
According to local newspaper Widnes World, director of promotions company Surprisingly Good Events, David Millar said that line-up has not yet been decided, adding: "The festival will be taking place before the other major concerts such as the Reading Festival so that bands can still play both."
Organisers intend to make Spike Island festival an annual event.
The event has been given approval by Halton Council’s executive board and is likely to take place over the May Bank Holiday (May 27-29).
The Stone Roses played a influential set on Spike Island on May 27 in 1990 where 28,000 people gathered to celebrate the fusion of dance and rock.
Executive board member for tourism, Councillor Rob Polhill said: "This is great news for the borough. This event is set to be the biggest concert here in ten years and it is appropriate that it is taking place at Spike Island, where the played their famous concert."
The first day of the event (May 27) will be free and feature new and unsigned bands including those chosen from a Battle Of The Bands competition – the heats of which are to be held over the next few months at Liverpool’s Cavern Club.
The second day of the festival (May 28) will be dedicated to rock, with eight to ten big names playing, while Monday (May 29) will feature pop acts, organisers say.
Tickets for the Sunday and Monday are expected to cost £20 per day, although there are plans to offer a discount for weekend tickets.
According to local newspaper Widnes World, director of promotions company Surprisingly Good Events, David Millar said that line-up has not yet been decided, adding: "The festival will be taking place before the other major concerts such as the Reading Festival so that bands can still play both."
Organisers intend to make Spike Island festival an annual event.
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