Oasis played the first of five shows in Heaton Park tonight as part of their eagerly anticipated reunion tour
The Heaton Park Oasis crowd
Oasis’ Liam and Noel Gallagher paid a subtle tribute to the city of Liverpool during their first of five sold-out home city gigs. All eyes turned to Manchester tonight, Friday, July 11, as the brothers continued with their much-anticipated reunion tour.
Those lucky enough to get their hands on the gold-dust-like tickets were treated to the Oasis classics, including Whatever, Half The World Away, Hello and Morning Glory. The two made their anticipated entrance on stage at 8:15pm and were greeted by roaring applause and cheers from adoring fans sporting the signature bucket hat and glasses look.
During the performance, the brother played Whatever, their 1994 hit from the Definitely Maybe album. Like they did at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Liam sang a couple of lines of The Beatles classic Octopus Garden. Liam sung: “I’d like to be, under the sea, in an octopuses garden in the shade”, before the crowd joined in with him.
The track, written by Ringo Starr, first featured on the 1969 Abbey Road album. It was written after the drummer stayed on a yacht belonging to actor Peter Sellers in Sardinia and had a conversation with the boat’s captain about the creatures.
The Gallagher brothers arrive on stage for the Oasis show at Heaton Park(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Oasis ’25 kicked off in style last week with two shows the Cardiff Principality Stadium. The tour continued today in their home city with the first of five shows in Heaton Park. The UK was hit with glorious sunshine for the first show in Manchester on July 11.
The band created the sound of a generation when they skyrocketed to stardom with the release of Definitely Maybe in 1994. The group continued their incredible success with the subsequent releases of (What’s the Story) Morning Glory, Be Here Now, Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, Heathen Chemistry, Don’t Believe the Truth and Dig Out Your Soul.
However, the band devastated music fans across the world in 2009 when Noel confirmed he had departed the band. Noel left the band over a backstage fight with Liam at Rock en Seine festival in Paris.
Oasis fans enjoying the sunshine in Prestwich ahead of the Oasis Reunion tour concert at Heaton Park(Image: Jason Roberts / Manchester Evening New)
In a message on the band’s website the same day, Noel said: “It’s with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight. “People will write and say what they like but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer.
“Apologies to all the people who bought tickets to the shows in Paris Konstanz and Milan.” Despite parting ways in 2009, the Gallagher brothers continued to remain relevant and continued their incredible careers as musicians. Noel went on to found the High Flying Birds and achieved chart success with the self titled debut album that included hits such as If I Had A Gun and AKA…. What a Life.”
Oasis fans enjoying the sunshine in Prestwich ahead of the Oasis Reunion tour concert at Heaton Park(Image: Jason Roberts / Manchester Evening News)
However, fans finally got what they were waiting for with the reunion shows this year. In the programme notes for the tour, it was revealed the younger generation’s love for the band inspired the band to reunite. Notes from the programme said: “As for the reunion we’ve all been waiting for, why now?
“The reason is simple. Kids all over the world have grown up loving Oasis, just as much as the fans who were there to see them for the first time round. Not only have the songs improved with age, not only is there an overwhelming desire to witness one of the greatest bands of all time in the flesh, but we live in a much less liberated age than the one Oasis came up in.
“At a time when social media means public figures are terrified of saying or doing the wrong thing, there is something inspiring about two brothers who said what they wanted, did what they wanted, and dealt with the consequences because they knew that tomorrow was another day.
“All this has made the return of Oasis one of the great events of the 21st century, a blast of hope for anyone who believes in rock ‘n’ roll, freedom, and not worrying your life away.”
An eager crowd waiting for Oasis to come on stage at Heaton Park
Noel has explained the reason why he feels Oasis’ music continues to connect with new generations. He said: “A new generation recognises how Oasis wasn’t manufactured/
“It was chaotic, and flawed, and not technically brilliant. We were rough and ready guys from a rehearsal room, and people recognised it.” The singer played down his own talents as he said: “I didn’t invent anything. I had a good taste in music, a cool record collection, I could write a melody simple enough to make it work, and it was 50 percent inspiration and 50 percent copying.”
Oasis UK tour dates in full
- July 4 – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
- July 5 – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
- July 11 – Manchester, Heaton Park
- July 12 – Manchester, Heaton Park
- July 16 – Manchester, Heaton Park
- July 19 – Manchester, Heaton Park
- July 20 – Manchester, Heaton Park
- July 25 – London, Wembley Stadium
- July 26 – London, Wembley Stadium
- July 30 – London, Wembley Stadium
- August 2 – London, Wembley Stadium
- August 3 – London, Wembley Stadium
- August 8 – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
- August 9 – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
- August 12 – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
- September 27 – London, Wembley Stadium
- September 28 – London, Wembley Stadium