For the first time in over 16 years, Oasis returned to their hometown of Manchester, and if Friday night’s kickoff show at Heaton Park is any sign, this is more than just a reunion tour—it’s a full-blown cultural moment.
Fans had been queuing since the early hours, temperatures hit 28°C, and the city buzzed with nostalgia as Liam and Noel Gallagher stepped onto the stage, hand-in-hand, to begin their long-awaited five-night homecoming.
A Hometown Show Like No Other
The gig marked the Manchester leg of their Oasis Live ’25 World Tour, which started in Cardiff and includes stops at stadiums across the UK, Ireland, and beyond.
But the Heaton Park shows feel different.
Tucked inside a sprawling 600-acre park, they’re the only UK dates not staged in massive sports stadiums, and that intimacy hit different for fans.
The crowd? A staggering 80,000 strong—and they knew every lyric.
A Setlist for the True Believers
Oasis opened the show with “Hello” from their classic 1995 album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, then rolled right into “Acquiesce.”
From there, it was hit after hit: “Morning Glory,” “Cigarettes & Alcohol,” “Some Might Say,” and “Supersonic.”
At one point, Noel broke into an acoustic set—Liam gave him a quick hug and walked off stage as his brother sang “Half the World Away” and “Little By Little.”
Later, the full band returned for “D’You Know What I Mean,” “Cast No Shadow,” “Whatever,” “Stand By Me,” and a raucous “Rock N Roll Star” that brought the crowd to its feet before the encore.
Gallagher Family Reunion Behind the Scenes
Backstage, it wasn’t just the fans feeling the love.
Liam’s son Gene, 24, posted a group photo to Instagram with his brother Lennon, 25, and cousins Anais Gallagher (25), Donovan (17), and Sonny (14)—Noel’s children.
Adding a twist of celebrity, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola joined the family for the photo.
Gene called it the “pic of the century.” And honestly? It kind of is.
Opening Acts Bring Nostalgia and Star Power
Richard Ashcroft and Cast were on hand to open the evening.
Cast brought out P.P. Arnold for a performance of their latest track “Poison Vine”, while Ashcroft closed his set with “Bittersweet Symphony”, giving the crowd a dose of The Verve magic.
Even Happy Mondays legend Shaun Ryder was spotted among the crowd.
City Traffic and Festival-Like Chaos
Things weren’t all smooth. Earlier that day, Noel Gallagher was swarmed by fans outside his Manchester hotel.
Dressed in casual jeans and a black polo, he waved and smiled while his driver argued with a traffic warden over a parking ticket he never received—thanks to the wall of fans blocking access.
Meanwhile, concert-goers faced a 90-minute wait for trams at Victoria Station.
Many had to walk or take taxis to reach the venue.
Fans began lining up hours before the gates opened, braving the heat with umbrellas and camping chairs.
Luckily, gates were opened early, five hours before showtime, letting fans secure their front-row spots.
Dynamic Pricing Drama Clouds Ticket Sales
The return of Oasis didn’t come cheap.
When tickets first dropped, fans were shocked to see prices skyrocket from £148 to as high as £355 due to dynamic pricing.
The backlash was so intense, it caught the attention of the UK Government and the Competition and Markets Authority, both of which have vowed to investigate how ticket prices are being set.
Tour Dates Stretch Across the Globe
After Manchester, Oasis will continue their UK and Ireland run with multiple shows at Wembley Stadium, Edinburgh’s Murrayfield, and Dublin’s Croke Park.
Then they head overseas, with concerts lined up in Japan, South Korea, South America, Australia, and North America through the end of the year.
TikTok Mischief Spurs Security Warnings
With demand far outstripping ticket supply, some TikTok users have started sharing sneaky hacks to break into Heaton Park—from climbing fences to swimming across the boating lake. Yep, you read that right.
One video shows a fan saying, “Climb over this fence here, and you’re just in there for Oasis.”
Another says: “You get in the water and swim across.”
Manchester City Council quickly condemned the videos, urging fans without tickets to stay in the city centre instead.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed there will be a large and visible security presence.
Organisers, SJM Concerts, said 2,000 stewards and dozens of police officers will be on-site, with a double perimeter fence and mobile patrols ready to intercept would-be gatecrashers.
Tensions Rise Over Press Access Restrictions
Not everyone’s thrilled with the band’s reunion—photojournalists and news agencies have pulled out of covering the tour visually after the band’s management imposed tight restrictions on photography inside venues.
That means fans will likely be the main source of images from inside the gigs moving forward.