ENSCHEDE - The 15,000 visitors are all silent when Venice sings "The Family Tree," THE song of the firework catastrophe, played during the funeral of a firefighter.  Goosebumps on the arms of many.  Promotor Tonnie Buitink is crying.  "Isn't this something?" he says.  The moment of a gala.  Singer Kipp Lennon (41) of Venice knows the impact of "Family Tree," the sweet-voiced requiem of family trees and branches lost. The Americans know the song was played during the funeral of one of the firefighters who lost his life, over a year ago.  And while the band sings it, on a full, peaceful and sunny UT-campus, it becomes quiet, very quiet.  Over lines such as "As we say goodbye to one of our own" and "Tears will fall."

Tonnie Buitink, who organized the commemorative concert last year, is touched, and tears are brimming in his eyes.  And he is not the only one.  Crying, he puts his arms around one of his staff members, who is just as touched.

The goosebumps remain all the way to the end of the concert by the Americans, who are only famous in our country.  They perform a Joni Mitchell oldie, "Woodstock."  It reflects the atmosphere of the UT-festival.  "We are stardust, we are golden." The Venice members can hardly contain their own emotions.  Just before the show, Kipp Lennon and his brothers - all Lennons - talked to a fire fighter, who tells them about how the song touches the right chord.  Over and over again.  "We feel so close to Enschede," Kipp says.  "It may seem like a show biz thing to say, but it is not!  The story behind it is sad, but we feel honored that our song has grown to mean so much to people."

Twente Shirts
Venice almost played in the green FC Twente shirts the team wore during the final they won against PSV.  Supporter Willy Berends (36) had four special outfits made, with the names of the band members on the back…  Four times Lennon.  He had the chance to offer these to the band members after their show.  Berends tells the members (who, if at all, can only watch soccer at times like 2 am) that the local heroes won the cup.  "The first time they won anything!"  The Venice members receive the shirts and a special edition of Goa Stoan, this newspaper, thanks to the Twente legion.  Enthusiastically, Kipp and his family members put the shirts on.  The ultimate merger between deep-felt sorrow, frantic soccer delight and great pop music on a wonderful sunny afternoon.