On 27th August 2024, a long-lost band from Manchester blew their fanbases minds, and quite possibly many others.
After a tease on the Reading Festival stage after Liam Gallagher’s headline set on Sunday 25th August, it displayed this simple plaque:
Social media went into a frenzy, was it new music? the date also coincided with almost 30 years to the day of the release of Oasis’ album “Definitely, Maybe”, but the biggest rumour swirl of course, was an Oasis reunion.
Previously ignored or denied by one or both of the Gallagher brothers, after the infamous fall out in 2009, a reunion was something all Oasis fans old and new craved, and the shares from both Liam and Noel and the official Oasis account only spurred it on, sending social media worldwide into a meltdown.
On 27th August 2024, at 8am, the wait was over, and the Gallaghers broke their silence after 48 hours of leaving everyone hanging…
Video credit: Oasis via Youtube
Watching the video back still gives me goosebumps, and I can remember the joy that ran through me like electricity, I was over the moon! OASIS WAS BACK.
(the exact date displayed and the actual reunion announcement was also my 30th birthday so cheers for stealing my thunder lads, but since I finally got tickets, I’ll let you off xo).
After a long wait (and I mean months) I finally got hold of the thing I’d been dreaming of, a ticket to an Oasis gig in Heaton Park.
The city of Manchester was adorned with Oasis Live 25′ banners, blown up photos of the Gallagher brothers together again hanging proudly, pop-up merch stands and special shops, and thousands of Oasis t-shirts and bucket hats (myself included), as well as a few of them all important parka’s for the Mancunian weather.
Off to Heaton Park I went on the Bee Network Shuttle bus and it was full of Oasis fans of all ages, all of us singing “Don’t Look Back in Anger” in pure excitement en route to Heaton Park.
Stepping off the bus, in a park I used to walk in a lot when I lived in Manchester, the excitement really started to kick in, the atmosphere just walking to the ticket gates was completely electric and it was clear fans were all in the same mood for Oasis’ last Manchester gig (for the foreseeable maybe…).
Supporting the Gallagher brothers were Cast, 90’s Liverpool Indie-Rock band and of course frontman of Britpop legends, The Verve’s own Richard Ashcroft.
Sadly I missed Cast due to queuing for the shuttle buses, a fantastic system, although they couldn’t leave until they were full, the only flaw en route really, but we made it.
As I got into the arena though, Richard Ashcroft beckoned to the stage, with cheers and shouts of admiration, with a huge crowd already, admittedly I would have liked to have seen maybe an additional smaller band on support, but for the occasion, Cast and Ashcroft were brilliant choices, and there’s always plenty of time for more right lads?
Richard Ashcroft at Heaton Park – 20.07.25 – Photo Credit: Hayley Grice
It was a short but sweet set, a couple of solo hits from Ashcroft, but primarily, songs from The Verve, of course including “The Drugs Don’t Work” and “Sonnet” which is to be expected, the highlights for me were definitely “Lucky Man” and of course “Bittersweet Symphony” – a song worthy of the Britpop hall of fame, if it isn’t already.
Although generally tame with his stage presence, Ashcroft worked it well and still has that real twang in his voice that is to be appreciated and “Bittersweet Symphony” especially really brought the crowd together, it was the perfect warm up.
After Ashcroft bowed off, me and my friend shimmied into a decent spot, with a good view of the stage, and whilst waiting for the main event, chatted and laughed with other Oasis fans, the sense of community and love there was real and it is something I will remember of this gig, as it was genuinely heartwarming, with little trouble in the crowd (that I know of at least!)
Then, it happened, the screen changed and the sound of “Fuckin’ in the Bushes” blared through the speakers, which was met with immediate cheers, this was it, I was excited and my heart was pounding, having seen Liam solo six times and two attempts to see Noel, I never once thought I’d see them together, but here they were.
The Gallagher Brothers walk on hand-in-hand – Heaton Park, Manchester – 20.07.25
Photo Credit: Hayley Grice
On they walked, joined at the hands with them in the air, I’d seen the photos, and I was emotional at that, but this was in the flesh, it was a union and a clear message, Oasis is BACK.
The setlist was incredibly admirable (although some shocks at what was missing) and generally had a very good selection of the Oasis catalogue within it, from the opening chords of Hello, it was obvious that this was not going to be a gentle reintroduction or a slow build, they were going full pelt and the crowd were ready, solidifying their presence, not having lost an ounce of their fire.
Liam Gallagher exploded into the set with all the swagger and charisma that Oasis fans know and love, with Noel smiling along, both of them looking like they were loving every second, which was incredible to see.
The crowd, which was packed, responded with bouncing, chanting, throwing drinks to the sky and general singing-a-long, making it a true homecoming for the Gallagher brothers (for the fifth time at least!).
It was clear that it meant the world to both Liam and Noel, with Liam shouting “It’s good to be back” over the chorus instrumental and I think the sentiment was shared with all.
Acquiesce followed, with them big guitar riffs that we know and love, we were all singing it back, and particularly the line “Because we need each other, we believe in one another” – it had a whole new meaning and it really rang true to all, with Liam and Noel sharing brotherly admiration throughout the track, it was very poetic and we were all here for it.
No shortages of tunes, “Morning Glory”, “Some Might Say” and “Bring It On Down” all following, a mix of tracks from albums “Definitely, Maybe” and “(What’s the story?) Morning Glory” and there was no shortage of sing-a-longs in the crowd.
“Cigarettes and Alcohol” definitely whipped everyone into a frenzy, and it was clear that the final night was going to be a similar (if not the same) setlist as the previous Manchester gigs, no complaints here mind.
One of the many colourful backdrops of the gig – Heaton Park – 20.07.25 – Photo Credit: Hayley Grice
The backdrops on the screen showed some really colourful and fun themes, as well as shots of the Gallagher brothers, the crowd and of course, the infamous Gallagher hill, which became a famous high spot in Heaton Park for those without tickets to watch the gig and be a part of it, which Liam fully got involved in, having given 1000 black t-shirts with the words “Gallagher Hill” in the Oasis branding, a nice and classy touch.
“Fade Away” – which was dedicated to “the actual people of Manchester” (thanks Liam, I consider myself an honourary Manc though, having lived and studied in the city for many years, I think… please.), “Supersonic” and “Roll With It” all followed, with every song, the energy of the band and more so the crowd just elevated even higher, to levels I should have expected in all honesty, but it was an incredible atmosphere.
It was now onto the part of the night where Noel took centre stage, acoustic guitar in hand and it really changed the vibe of the show—quieter, more personal bits that gave the whole night some real space to feel probably all the emotions possible.
“Talk Tonight”, “Half the World Away” and “Little By Little” were all real highlights, everyone singing, lots of crying and everyone just being together and connecting with Noel on stage, it really is something to be admired and something that brought strangers, friends and family, whoever people were attending with, all closer together.
They weren’t done yet though, oh no…
More iconic tracks followed, “D’You Know What I mean”, “Stand By Me” and “Cast No Shadow” all carrying that same energy.
One of my personal highlights of the night? “Slide Away”, this was the moment I knew that the crowd really peaked, shouting “Now that you’re mine, We’ll find a way of chasing the sun… Let me be the one who shines with you!” back at the band and really soaking it all in, “Slide Away” is a personal favourite and it didn’t disappoint, at all.
We all knew the big ones were coming, but the performance so far had been anything but small, with tracks of all Oasis era’s dominating Heaton Park and beyond.
Another personal favourite blared out in “Whatever” followed by the famous snippet cover of “Octopus’s Garden” originally of The Beatles, I don’t know how they made it work, but it does and I’m here for it.
Then the last two songs of the initial set, “Live Forever”, which really twanged that it was coming to an end, it was followed by “Rock and Roll Star” which really teased the energy ahead of the big encore, before a swift exit from the band, we knew they weren’t done and it was obvious, but everyone waited in anticipation.
The band stormed back on the stage, going straight into “The Masterplan”, which really set an emotional tone for the beginning of the end of the night, but emotions were running high, particularly with the lyrics:
“Dance if you wanna dance, please, brother, take a chance, you know they’re gonna go which way they wanna go”.
Alot of us I think for the first time in a long time picked up on a lot of the subliminal messaging in their music from the ups and downs of the original Oasis hayday, which made us all appreciate what was in front of us so much more, with Noel introducing all members of the band to the crowd.
The tugging at the heart-strings didn’t stop there though, with “Don’t Look Back in Anger” kicked in, it wasn’t just another crowd-pleaser, for many, a moment of remembrance, having been heavily paired up to tribute the victims of the Manchester Arena attack in 2017, but instead of sadness, everyone was filled with strength, singing their hearts out, with their arms around each other, even complete strangers and it was bloody beautiful.
Of course they don’t get away without singing “Wonderwall”, which is not their best song, still incredible, but not the highlight, and then came in the big finale, “Champagne Supernova”.
A champagne/firework finale – Heaton Park – 20.07.25 – Photo Credit: Hayley Grice
It was the obvious and best choice to close the show, it was somehow incredibly intimate, despite thousands being there, and naturally, to end the gig and the final Heaton Park gig, fireworks burst into the sky, creating the perfect ending to the perfect night, as Noel’s guitar drifted and Liam’s voice mellowed into the last lyrics, it brought everyone together with both Gallagher brothers looking physically and emotionally moved, Noel’s parting message being:
“For the last ten days the eyes of the world have been on this city… and you’ve done yourself f***ing proud.”
It’s a statement I think resonated with everyone there that night.
Overall, an incredible night, gorgeous effects, a brilliant setlist, although missing the delights of “She’s Electric”, “Digsy’s Diner”, “Lyla”, “Stop Crying Your Heart Out”, “Columbia” and “The Importance of Being Idle” (to name a few!) – it was the perfect night and genuinely a bucket list item ticked off, my younger self is happy, I’m happy and as I’m writing this, I will confidently say it is the best gig I have ever been to, and probably will, I’m on a massive gig comedown and this will stick with me for many many years to come.
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