“THIS is a bit déjà vu,” shouts Ian Brown as he takes to the stage for The Stone Roses headline slot on Saturday, a massive twenty-three-years since their last appearance on the same spot.
The crowd may have grown up, but so have the kids, sisters and brothers of the original fans and they are out in full force tonight, bucket hats a-plenty. Two girls beside me in the crowd weren’t even born when the ground-breaking album Second Coming was released, 19 years ago.
A magnificent shower pours down on the crowd before The Stone Roses take to the stage, but a rainbow and picturesque sky appear just in time for The Roses set. Opening with I Wanna Be Adored, the crowd go predictably mental bouncing from start to finish. From where I stand it’s not clear if Brown is in tune, but that need not matter with a crowd passionately-chanting each and every lyric.
Highlights of the slick set include Dont Stop which follows a crowd favourite Waterfall and what seems like a permanent smile from Mani as he plays The Roses bass to perfection.
The gig kicked off late afternoon with The View opening the show. An impressive gathering for the lads saw them belt out their hits Superstar Tradesman and Sunday. Next up was Jake Bugg, fresh from The Isle of Wight festival he treated the crowd to some new material and favourites I’ve Seen it All and Two Fingers.
A homecoming gig for Bobby Gillespie and Primal Scream saw them keep new material to a minimum and hit the crowd with the energetic Swastika Eyes, Rocks and Country Girl. Gillespie worked the crowd like a pro as the Primal Scream set got the crowd jumping.
As I am the Resurrection closed the set and red and green flares lighting up the sky as darkness fell, it was clear this wasn’t just a gig in the green, it was a gig that sparked a legion of Roses fans with the generation that missed them the first time around.
Words: Nadine Walker
Set List
‘I Wanna Be Adored’
‘Elephant Stone’
‘Ten Storey Love Song’
‘Sally Cinnamon’
‘Standing Here’
‘Shoot You Down’
‘Fools Gold’
‘Something’s Burning’
‘Waterfall’
‘Don’t Stop’
‘She Bangs The Drums’
‘Love Spreads’
‘This Is The One’
‘Made Of Stone’
‘Breaking Into Heaven’
‘Elizabeth My Dear’
‘I Am The Resurrection’
Primal Scream will play Glastonbury and Kendal Calling festival in June and July. For more information visit http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/ and http://www.kendalcalling.co.uk
