Oasis return to Manchester on Friday for their first hometown gig in almost 16 years – a homecoming that ranks among the most eagerly awaited in recent memory.
Fresh from kicking off their world tour in Cardiff, the band are heading home for five sold-out nights at Manchester’s Heaton Park.
Manchester has long been a breeding ground for musical legends. From the jangling melancholy of The Smiths to the swaggering rise of the Madchester scene in the 1980s, the city has consistently punched above its weight. Oasis are just one of many bands to break out with that unmistakable Mancunian drawl.
It will likely be a true cultural moment for Manchester as thousands descend upon Heaton Park in the searing heat to sing their hearts out to the likes of “Wonderwall”, “Slide Away” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger”.
Leading up to the concert, the city made it known that Gallagher brothers Liam and Noel were back, after the tram network replaced its announcement voiceover at Heaton Park with Liam’s voice on the concert dates.
Aldi supermarket also joined the fun, building on the buzz by changing one of its store signs in Prestwich to “Aldeh”, embracing the Mancunian pronunciation of its name.
The band haven’t played in Manchester since June 2009, when they played three huge shows at Heaton Park. This came just months before the relationship between the brothers broke down following a backstage brawl at the Rock en Seine festival in Paris. Noel abruptly quit the group, saying he “simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer”.
Although both Gallaghers played various Manchester shows during their respective solo careers, the prospect of seeing the two local lads, who grew up in the city’s Burnage suburb, triumphantly return to the place that made them is an irresistible prospect.
Still, the connection between the band and their hometown runs deep. Liam and Noel’s beloved 82-year-old mother, Peggy, still lives in Burnage, Manchester, acting as just one string that ties the brothers to their hometown - that and their pronunciation of "sunshineee".
To some fans' knowledge, the city has also inspired some of the band’s best tracks. In 1991, Noel wrote the hit Live Forever while working for a building company. Legend has it, a foot injury meant the young star was allowed to work in the storeroom, giving him more time to write music. Other tracks, such as the band's lesser-known B-side "Round Are Way", comment on their working-class upbringing in the city.
The Gallagher’s football team of choice, Manchester City, will also have a presence at the gig. The club's badge featured as part of the band’s set at Cardiff, while a cardboard cutout of manager Pep Guardiola, with a sky blue and white scarf wrapped around it, also joined them on stage.
When Oasis last played in Manchester, Manchester City hadn’t lifted a trophy since the 1976 League Cup. In a true reflection of how much has changed, the club has since claimed eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups, six League Cups and a Champions League.
Because we need each other, we believe in one another! 🩵 pic.twitter.com/KWNWYTGaXA
— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 4, 2025
The band announced their Oasis Live ’25 tour last August, kicking off with two nights in Cardiff before heading across the UK and Ireland.
While fans welcomed the long-awaited reunion, many were left outraged when standard ticket prices surged from £148 to as much as £355. The backlash sparked government scrutiny, with the UK’s competition watchdog pledging to examine the use of dynamic pricing.
After the Manchester shows, Oasis will head to London’s Wembley Stadium, Edinburgh’s Murrayfield, and Dublin’s Croke Park for dates across July, August and September.
The group will then head to Japan, South Korea, South America, Australia and North America.
A movie produced by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is being made in conjunction with the reunion tour.
Formed in Manchester in 1991, the rock band was led by lead guitarist Noel and his brother, lead vocalist Liam, during their 18 years together.
Oasis signed to independent record label Creation Records in 1993, rising to fame with the release of their chart-topping debut album Definitely Maybe on August 29 1994.
They had hits with songs including “Don’t Look Back In Anger”, “Champagne Supernova”, “Wonderwall” and “Live Forever”.
Dig Out Your Soul, the band’s last studio album, was released in 2008, just months before the Paris row.
