CityLife

DESPITE the stuttering start, thousands left Heaton Park last night knowing they had witnessed something special.

With old Britpop foes Blur in town later this month, Liam had promised Oasis would be on form – and they were.

Gone was the shouting down the microphone – replaced by a fantastic vocal performance from a frontman more than happy to be back on home turf.

“Only in Manchester,” he almost grinned as the band emerged for a second time after electrical problems to perhaps fittingly race through “Shock of the Lightning”.

Worship

It was a night for worship and the irony wasn't lost on one of Burnage's favourite sons.

“Last time I was here was to see the Pope, he didn't have many tunes,” he joked before launching into (What's the Story) Morning Glory.

All the old favourites were there alongside material from new album Dig Out Your Soul.

Perhaps fittingly “Don't Look Back in Anger” was one of the highlights of a 24-song show when almost every track was belted out by a raucous 70,000.

Curfew-busting

Noel, clearly upset by the generator problems (“You'd think it was the 1950s”), promised the band would play a curfew-busting set to make up for it.

And by the time the final chords of Champagne Supernova drifted over the trees and across the north Manchester air, not many were left feeling short changed.

Earlier, Saddleworth indie rockers Twisted Wheel kicked things off with a stunning performance that bodes well for their future.

Clearly not fazed by the huge audience they rattled through the trademark rip-roaring anthems of their debut album.

Stunning

Reverend And The Makers, a late replacement for The Enemy, whose frontman suffered food poisoning, kept the tempo rising before Leicester outfit Kasabian took to the stage.

They delighted the gathered hordes with a stunning set including tracks from acclaimed new album West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum.

Oasis play Heaton Park on Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7.

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Burnage Oasis Bar set to ‘Roll with it’ for Band’s homecoming gigs

The newly refurbished Farmers Arms in Burnage is launching a new bar in honour of local supergroup 'Oasis.'  The aptly named 'Oasis Music lounge' will be staging a four day Oasis festival to coincide with the bands homecoming open air gigs at Heaton Park. 

The Festival features an exhibition of ‘Oasis’ photographs by rock photographer Karen McBride taken at their last open air gigs at the City Of Manchester stadium.  It also features a collection of Oasis memorabilia in the newly opened lounge dedicated to the band.  The festival kicks off on Thursday 4 June and runs until Sunday 7 June.

Lawrence Hennigan the owner of the bar said “We are really looking forward to opening up the new music lounge in time for the return of Burnage’s Prodigal sons.  The response from the general public has been overwhelming since we first decided to create the special lounge.  Fans have been emailing us from all over the UK asking for details and offering to donate items.  After we have the music lounge finished we are looking into the possibility of an Oasis Museum in the stables at the rear of the property.”

“One of the items we had donated was a photograph of Liam’s former football team at St Bernard’s Primary School.  It would be great if we could trace his former team mates for a possible charity match.  We are still looking for a photograph of Liam when he played for the Farmer’s.”

The bar is hoping to start a monthly new music night to support local bands and solo acts who want to be the next supergroup to come out of Burnage.  For further details about the bar or the new music night email rockfest24@hotmail.com

Press Listing

Oasis Festival featuring Oasis exhibition by Karen McBride

Thursday 4 June to Sunday 7 June in the Oasis Music Lounge at The Farmers Arms

8pm-late

FREE ENTRY

Oasis Music Lounge at The Farmers Arms , 254 Burnage Lane, Burnage, Manchester M19 1NA
 

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