NO matter how big our how well prepared your live music event might be, there isn't much you can do if the heavens decide to open over Furness and send everyone running for cover.

That was exactly what happened in 1993 when Furness Live Music presented its Amphi 93 event at the Furness Abbey Amphitheatre.

The Mail, on Monday, July 19, noted: "Things were looking grim by 3pm.

"Big black clouds that had hung menacingly over Barrow since lunchtime burst open and it started to throw it down.

"But by the time rock covers band Heart N' Soul finished their set it had eased off to a drizzle that was barely noticeable.

"Furness Live Music organisers said around 1,500 turned up which meant they had broken even but they were hoping the crowd would be 5,000.

"The rotten weather had a lot to do with the turn out as hundreds of damp Barrovians crammed into the beer tent which doubled as the kids' face painting area.

"The Other Mothers braved the wind and the rain at its heaviest and churned out some excellent soul and R&B covers on a stage - a T.Brady lorry.

"Singer of Heart N' Soul Gordon Belbin livened up what could have been a drab afternoon when he launched himself off stage and into the crowd armed with a portable microphone during their cover of T Rex's Hot Love.

"The best of the afternoon were The Behans. They roped in a couple of backing singers who harmonised excellently with vocalist Steve and were joined on stage by a little lad who strummed away on his plastic guitar."

There was more than just music on offer at the Amphitheatre event.

There was a puppet show, a bar fly wall to leap at in a Velcro suit, space ball rides and a drumming workshop.

The rain came back with a vengeance as Furness band the Smashers took to the stage at 8.30pm but it didn't stop them - or headliners Robinson of Stockport - from entertaining hardy fans watching from the relative shelter of the beer tent.