MUSIC lovers have been sharing their favourite moments from Parr Hall over the years as the Palmyra Square venue marks its 125th birthday today, Saturday.

The Culture Warrington team asked its supporters and followers on social media to pick out their best gigs and talk about their memories ahead of the milestone anniversary.

The information was used to compile the below top 10.

VIOLA BEACH CELEBRATION

Topping the list was the Viola Beach celebration in April 2016 – a special one-off concert featuring the likes of Courteeners, Blossoms, The Zutons and The Coral – when indie royalty paid tribute to the Warrington band and Woolston manager Craig Tarry after their tragic deaths.

Weekend editor David Morgan described it as ‘a day like no other and probably one of the biggest parties Warrington has ever seen’.

Warrington Guardian:

Courteeners at the Viola Beach tribute celebration

He added: “With everyone singing in unison, with umbrellas being twirled, with beach balls being hurled into the air, with everyone there supporting each other for that shared purpose and for an evening full of emotion and joy, I felt proud to be from Warrington that night. And so should everyone else.”

STONE ROSES

Stone Roses’ reunion gig came a close second. Warrington was at the centre of the music world when the Roses played their first show in 16 years at the Parr Hall.

Warrington Guardian:

Robert Mason said: “It was an amazing unexpected night – it was the first time I’d managed to see my favourite band and the back of my head made it onto the NME coverage the next day.”

Jason Bevan added: “The cheer when they come on stage was like being at a football match.”

PAUL HEATON AND JACQUI ABBOTT

Also described as ‘an amazing night’, former Beautiful South duo Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott made the list – wowing Warrington in June 2017 before going on to perform on huge stages nationwide.

ARCTIC MONKEYS

And who can forget when Arctic Monkeys performed at Parr Hall in February 2007 on their path to superstardom?

Dave Laff told Culture Warrington: “Half the Wire team was there as well – awesome.”

Warrington Guardian:

Arctic Monkeys pictured by Natalie Persoglio

LENNY KRAVITZ

Despite performing in Warrington 30 years ago, Lenny Kravitz made a big impact on his Let Love Rule tour in 1990.

Emma Bewley said: “It was the best gig I’ve ever been to and I still remember it vividly.”

DOVES

Like the Stone Roses, There Goes the Fear singers Doves also played their first reunion show at Parr Hall which was a highlight for many and described as a ‘top gig’.

Tickets sold out in just four minutes for the March 2019 concert – a decade after they previously played at the venue.

JAMES

Manchester indie giants James’ appearance in Warrington in December 1991 has also gone down in legend.

Gig goer John Reid added: “Two gigs in one day recorded for video. Superb.”

GABRIELLE

Much more recently, chart-topper Gabrielle’s gig in March 2019 was described as ‘outstanding’.

KASABIAN

And Kasabian’s Parr Hall show on October 2004 also makes the top 10.

Russell Hope said: “Kasabian were pretty special on the first album tour.”

ROLLING STONES

Last but certainly not least is Rolling Stones at Parr Hall in November 1963 which has gone down in music history.

The band had only released two singles at the time but sold out the 1,100 capacity venue.

Warrington Guardian:

Backstage they heard about the assassination of John F. Kennedy, an event which would feature in the lyrics of their hit Sympathy For The Devil in 1968.

Chris Persoglio, venue and events manager at Parr Hall said: “The fact that we were able to host a Rolling Stones gig as they were coming up to the height of their fame is great for the venue.”