Since the moment the Gallagher brothers stepped foot back in Heaton Park, Manchester has felt like it was about to split at the seams. Five hometown shows across July are proving to be nothing short of a cultural catharsis—no small feat for two siblings whose public rivalry once defined a generation. The atmosphere has been electric from the opening chords.
Doors swing open at 3 pm sharp, with Cast warming the stage at 6 pm and Richard Ashcroft following at around 7 pm, before the Gallaghers finally appear at 8:15 pm—a perfect schedule for a night of nostalgia, set to conclude with a 10:30 pm curfew.
Setlists so far read like a greatest-hits time capsule: classics such as “Hello,” “Morning Glory,” “Some Might Say,” and “Cigarettes & Alcohol” ignite the crowd’s passion. The encore—“Don’t Look Back in Anger,” “Wonderwall,” and “Champagne Supernova”—brings fans to tears, driven home by Liam’s unmistakable swagger and Noel’s melodic guitar work.
But it’s more than just the music. A nostalgia-fuelled pop-up barber—“Gallaghairs”—has been offering the iconic mod haircut to fans near Piccadilly station. The stripes and feathered layers transported locals and tourists alike back to the ’90s, underlining how deeply Oasis’s aesthetic still resonates.
A dramatic flashpoint arrived on July 11 when Liam dedicated “D’You Know What I Mean?” to Pep Guardiola, then booed by parts of the crowd. Noel vocally defended the gesture—“Who the f**k are you all booing?” he challenged—while Liam bizarrely called Guardiola “the greatest manager of all time,” prompting mixed cheers and jeers.
Security measures have ramped up. After initial attempts by ticketless fans climbing “Gallagher Hill,” steel fencing was erected, and crowds that sneaked in—including one man disguised as a litter-picker—were discreetly moved on. Police confirmed there were no major incidents, apart from a few minor arrests.
Manchester’s local environment has been fiercely protected. Council and organisers are emphasising that fences aren’t just for crowd control—they’re urgently needed to shield the park’s delicate grounds from damage caused by massive turnouts.
The sheer scale of demand has been staggering. Heaton Park’s capacity has been upped to 80,000 per night, meaning roughly 400,000 locals and visitors will enjoy five nights of Britpop resurgence. And while all shows were sold out in minutes, a few resale tickets occasionally surface on Ticketmaster, Stubhub and Twickets—but buyer beware.
Amid the roar of City scarves and classic songs, the evening carries deeper significance. “Hello,” “Live Forever,” and “Rock n’ Roll Star”—performed together for the first time in over 16 years in their hometown—strike a poignant note for both band and borough.
By the time “Champagne Supernova” faded into the night sky, it felt unmistakable: mourning for the old Oasis, celebration of the present, and speculation about an undefined future. Yet with no new music announced, this may well be the last chance to feel that unfiltered, Manchester-born reunion buzz.
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