Hundreds of revellers welcomed Oasis home to Manchester for the first time in 16 years – without paying a single penny.
The sounds of Morning Glory, Supersonic and Don’t Look Back In Anger could be heard for miles around Heaton Park as Oasis fans who didn’t manage to nab a pricey concert ticket flocked to the hills surrounding the stage.
As Liam, 52, and Noel Gallagher, 58, performed to 80,000 concert-goers in their hometown on Friday night, many more made the musical pilgrimage to experience the gig live and curb the eyewatering prices (ranging up to £350 on the day for last-minute tickets).
They may have been half the world away, but nothing could have stopped their enjoyment as the swathes of musical nomads ascended a hill just outside the perimeter of the concert to enjoy the Britpop rockers.
‘Henman hill? Welcome to Gallagher hill…,’ X user _ciewan wrote.
‘Amazing night on Gallagher Hill in Heaton Park for Oasis Best atmosphere & lovely people!’ MarieM echoed.
Journalist Angela Epstein captured some video from her backgarden, saying: ‘Oasis concert in Heaton Park sounds like one massive karaoke night. Crowds seem like they’re having an amazing time.’
The homecoming was punctuated by a frenzied summer haze with temperatures climbing to as high as 30 degrees and, as the set came to an end, fireworks lit up the night sky.
What’s more, Oasis fans were sent into a tizzy when a picture of Liam and Noel Gallagher’s children supporting their dads backstage landed on social media.
Gene Gallagher, Liam’s 24-year-old son, posted the photo dubbed the ‘pic of the century’ as he posed alongside his brother Lennon, 25, Noel’s daughter Anais, 25, and his sons Donovan, 17, and Sonny, 14. .
As well as Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who was seen belting out the words in the crowd (Man City and England’s Jack Grealish was also spotted during the night).
This performance kicked off a five-night run at the public park, which boasts around 600 acres, so fans who missed the opportunity to catch the reunited brothers have another chance.
They’ll be returning on Saturday, July 12; Wednesday, July 16; Saturday, July 19; and Sunday, July 20. For those wanting to take the more conventional route, tickets are still available to purchase here.
It’s far from the first time eager fans without a ticket have tried their luck on nearby hills. During Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, the hill outside her Munich venue was filled to the brim
As for the Gallagher brothers, the reunion tour has proved a smash success so far after kicking off in Cardiff as the brothers seemed to firmly put their bad blood in the past to put on the show of a lifetime.
Now, they are continuing the winning streak with a fresh set of rave reviews.
‘Standing shoulder-to-shoulder, some of them with tears in their eyes, it becomes crystal clear that it doesn’t really matter where you were when they announced their reunion last summer, because right here, right now, Manchester has just witnessed history,’ Manchester Evening News wrote in a five-star review.
The Telegraph called it ‘perfect and priceless’ in a similarly glowing review.
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