IT WAS a defining moment of the "Madchester" years,, as rock music molded into dance culture and a concert emerged from the middle of the region's chemical heartlands which spoke for a generation.

The Stone Roses at Spike Island in Widnes was less a musical event as a celebration of an entire culture.

Even now it has that "were you there?" factor, thousands of music fans from around the UK descending to hear the band who had led the indie/dance crossover.

Now Widnes's very own Glastonbury will be held on Spike Island, 16 years to the day after the Stone Roses changed the landscape of British music.

And it is understood that Ian Brown, the former frontman of the Roses, will be approached as a possible performer.

Organiser Adam Franklin, director of Surprisingly Good Events, said: "The Stone Roses' 1990 concert is in many people's conscious and, when we mention Spike Island to people, they automatically recall the event.

"We hope the festival will shape the future for music in the North in a similar way to the Stone Roses concert. We wanted to organise a ticket festival to attract the bigger names to the region."

The three-day event at May Bank Holiday weekend 2006 will be one of the biggest outdoor music festivals of the year.

Organisers hope to attract some of the world's biggest rock and pop stars for Spike Island 2006, starting May 27, which is expected to draw 80,000 people.

The first day will be a free family day with bands from all over the North West and other entertainment and attractions.

Day two, known as "Halton Rocks", will be dedicated to modern and retro rock bands and day three "Halton Pops" will be a massive pop concert.

Mr Franklin added: "Tickets will cost under £20 - if you compare this to the cost of a Glastonbury ticket in 2005 at £125 we are providing an extremely affordable event for the people of Widnes and the rest of the UK.