REVIEW: Oasis five night residence at Heaton Park Manchester
- Natasha Judge
- Jul 18
- 4 min read
Gallagher brothers, Liam and Noel, have reunited as Oasis, and have been performing to crowds of 80,000 for five nights at Heaton Park, Manchester.
The brothers certainly have not looked back in anger, and realised that they need each other - as track ‘Acquiesce’ signposts, and put on a belter of a comeback.
The Burnage brother duo have reunited with original band member, Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs, the man that started it all back in 1991, and they sound better than ever.
Despite inevitable rumours of this reunion being that of a cash grab, from seeing just the opening few tracks, it is obvious it is so much more than that. Visible time and efforts have been made to look after themselves and their craft, as vocally they sound immaculate.
The band walked out to track ‘Fuckin in the Bushes’, and crowd erupted when Liam and Noel walked out hand in hand.
Walking up to the microphone, Noel, said: “This is the place. This is the fuckin place.”
Liam, added: “Oasis vibes in the area. Manchester vibes in the area.”
Once warmly welcomed back home, they kicked off the evening in the 30 degree heat with the track ‘Hello’ - which felt very poignant, especially with the crowd chanting along the lyrics ‘It’s good to be back, it’s good to be back’.
There was not a song performed where the audience was not belting it back to the band, the hiatus without the northern powerhouse of a group was definitely well missed over the years, since their split in 2009.
The opening night at Heaton Park welcomed many well-known Manchester faces in the crowd, including Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola - who was there in person and as a cardboard cut out on stage.
In Man City style, Liam encouraged the crowd to do the Poznań - a football fan celebration of the crowd facing their backs to the stage and jumping.
Liam, said: “It’s Poznań time, I don't ask for much, I don't make you do the macarena, or any of that nonsense the locomotive.
“It’s good to be in the cool gang.”
There were several dedications to their tracks throughout the evening, including ‘Cast No Shadow’ for Richard Ashcroft, and ‘Fade Away’ for all the people from their hometown of Burnage song.
Not forgetting the tribute Noel gave to Craig Cash and the late Caroline Aherne, the creators of iconic northern sitcom - Royle Family. Of which the theme is the beloved Oasis track ‘Half the World Away’.
Nearing the end of the two hour gig of hits after hits, Liam addressed the crowd with great admiration.
He said: “I want to thank you all for sticking with us over the years and that, I know we are hard fucking work, you want to try be in a band mate.
‘Beautiful people, I know I’m a cocky bastard, and I give it all that, but I fucking adore you all - you’re all beautiful, and I don’t tell you enough.”
Everyone in attendance, including those on the newly proclaimed ‘Gallagher Hill’ were surprised by the finale of fireworks as track ‘Champagne Supernova’ played out.
From the duration of the long firework display, to even the firework colours matching the sunset on the screens, and the graphics throughout the performance - it was evident just how much time had gone into planning these gigs
The oasis mania did not stop at Heaton Park, the entire city joined in the festivities of the return of the iconic Mancunian group, with pop up merchandise shops, decorations, and seas of bucket hats across the city.
The show had support from Cast and Richard Ashcroft - which were excellent choices in getting the crowds gathering ahead of the hometown gig, with Heaton Park being a hometown gig for both Oasis and Ashcroft.
Ashcroft performed some of the great Verve songs including ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’, ‘Sonnet’ and ‘Lucky Man’. Of course, no Richard Ashcroft set would be complete without a close on ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’ - the unofficial growing national anthem.
Ashcroft jokingly addressed the crowd with a “get your shazams out” before jumping into the famous track, following internet trends of people frantically searching for the lyrics.
The band have two evenings left of their run of hometown gigs this weekend, before heading to Wembley, Edinburgh, and Dublin.
Although all further dates are sold out, there are the occasional re-sale tickets being made available via Ticketmaster or Twickets, but be wary of any alternate ticket avenues.
Further updates on the Live 25 tour can be accessed on the Oasis website.
Setlist:
Fuckin in the Bushes
Hello
Acquiesce
Morning Glory
Some Might Say
Bring It On Down
Cigarettes and Alcohol
Fade Away
Supersonic
Roll With It
Talk Tonight
Half the World Away
Little by Little
D’You Know What I Mean?
Stand by Me
Cast No Shadow
Slide Away
Whatever (with snippet of The Beatles - Octopus’s Garden)
Live Forever
Rock ‘n’ Roll Star
The Masterplan
Don’t Look Back in Anger
Wonderwall
Champagne Supernova
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