Oasis – Live ’25: Opinion

By At The Barrier on 16th July 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

The brothers Gallagher return. Oasis are once again, the talk of the World. For 41 nights, Oasis are back. We reflect on that opening night in Cardiff, and the return to home turf.

All pictures: Oasis/Big Brother Recordings

CARDIFF – FRIDAY JULY 4TH
BY JOHN MARTINSON

“Nice one for putting up with us over the years, we are hard work – I get it.” Prior to breaking into their final song of the night, a night sixteen years in the making, Liam Gallagher held the revived beating heart of Oasis in a quest for universal redemption. Yet, one scan of the crowd would have revealed that for some this hadn’t been years of waiting but more a passing of the flame from the generation before them.

Music-hungry late teens enveloped in the relentless drum-fused love of 90s rock and roll. Another scan of the crowd and you’d have seen that other band: the once-wistful youth of 90s Britain throwing themselves back at the mercy of the brothers from Burnage and desperate to hold their arms aloft and chime back each guitar refrain and snarled lyric. Drenched in sweat and with arms around strangers, the great wait was over and Cardiff embraced these once-warring siblings like they’d never been apart.

WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE

Sixteen years: countless prime ministers, a global pandemic, cost-of-living crisis, and still no major trophies for the English men’s football team – all dissipated with one shake of maracas and a lovers embrace as they: Liam and Noel; appeared like they had never been away. Until this point, the Ticketmaster turmoil and dynamic pricing had held the Adidas-clad masses in potential anti-climactic hype. Bonehead was there – the iconic cult hero, as were Andy Bell and Gem from the declining years of the band. Musically, this was on a knife-edge: Liam’s voice is 30 years on from its heart-crushing best and Noel admitted recently his guitar playing had become limited. Then, without a moment to take it in, amidst all the mania and hype, ‘Hello’ exploded and within seconds “Life is a game we play…” bounced off the walls and roof of the Principality Stadium. They were off.

The songs rattled one after another; played faster than I can ever remember. Acquiesce was, quite simply, beautiful; full of the poignancy from which it was written all those years ago – with the snarl of Liam contrasting poetically against Noel’s falsetto. With both Gallagher brothers stepping back for a brief moment, the crowd managed a quick breath and then, without warning, Morning Glory riffed through the suspended stacked speakers and we were back in 1995 at breakneck speed. Some Might Say followed and Liam prowled the stage with Noel focused on each strum, pick and vocal layer. The Poznan-led Cigarettes and Alcohol was the first nod to their debut album and it hit as hard as it ever did. The band ripped straight into Fade Away – punkier than most of the back catalogue, this was a song written for moments like this.

EUPHORIA

By the time we were through the static drum intro and arpeggio riff of Supersonic, the looks of disbelief of the masses were changing to euphoria. The band sounded good, really good. If they held this up then, well, it might change everything. The rasping grunge guitars of Roll With It maintained the enthusiasm of the crowd even if it is, in reality, a bit of a drone: a low point of their early catalogue. And with guitar slide still penetrating the humid Welsh air, Liam left for a breather and the elder statesman and older brother took control of the ride. Some respite for the crowd, and for Liam’s vocals. It’s time for the love-fuelled B-sides.

Talk Tonight is a personal mixtape favourite: for all my young love, this was thrown mid-C90 tape as a nod to being an Embassy-tapping indie kid but with a yearning heart. Noel delivers it simply but elegantly, with Bonehead by his side and urged on by 60,000 souls who all know what the recent past has been like for a 58-year-old. Noel follows up with another B-side masterpiece, Half The World Away, written at a time when everything he touched turned to a silk purse and then some. The slow point of the night came in the form of Little By Little; on a good day, this is a decent sing-along, and this evening, it played its part. A sigh of relief for Noel as that first solo set of the tour was done; the Cardiff crowd caught its breath, and we’d passed the point of euphoria.

BE HERE NOW

Swaggering back on, Liam squared up to the microphone, and the tempo picked right back up again. ‘D’You Know What I Mean’ is a low-key highlight. The trudging start and enduring intro juxtapose brilliantly with the first sneering vocal: ‘Step off the train all alone at dawn…’ Tonight, Liam grips it with almost two decades of frustration; by the time the lights swamp the crowd and we are dragged through the pre-chorus, the snarl really rips, and 60,000 reply back: “yeah yeah”.

The second verse is better; Liam bounces over to the microphone – he looks better than ever, and when Noel jumps in on the chorus, the pace was back, and it appeared so was their soul. Stand By Me is another popular sing-along, and the crowd were well up for it. The nod to Be Here Now was over – for all its derision, some of its tracks endure the test of time.

CAST NO SHADOW

The time ticked on towards the 10:30pm curfew, and some of the most eagerly anticipated tracks were yet to be played. Cast No Shadow, originally penned for Richard Ashcroft, feels apt tonight. Ashcroft had been on stage a couple of hours earlier and played a near-perfect set. The brothers’ response here was equally emphatic, and Noel hit the high notes largely unscathed. It doesn’t feel like the easiest song to sing for either Gallagher, and the 30 years of strain could be heard, but if anything, it added to it. An appreciative crowd was amplified by the backing singers’ fallow efforts.

A few chants of “Oasis” follow before the opening two-note riff of Slide Away, and we were rocked by one of the highlights of the entire night. Again, it was the perfect blend of the sneer and the falsetto, alongside some crisp guitar playing and clashing cymbals, that drove through the euphoria out to the welcoming arms of all present. Whatever follows beautifully, and the backdrop changes to the psychedelic field from the single cover; no outro tonight, which was missed, but who are we to moan at this point?

LIVE FOREVER

Live Forever – largely regarded as the highlight of the Oasis back catalogue and sits high in the pantheon of British music – was sublime. The vocals were near-perfect, and the poignancy of the image of the recently and too-soon-lost Diogo Jota, with Liam turning to face it, will be an image that will last with me for a long time. The main set finishes with Rock n’ Roll Star, as if there could be any other choice. Liam breathed through each word of the chorus, and the other band members duly thumped through an incredible live performance of the song that introduces the entire Oasis catalogue. Tonight, when Liam sings this, like every other time he has, his voice does with the arrogance and whim that makes him one of the greatest frontmen in rock history.

Returning to the stage without Liam, Noel gave the band pleasantries and we applauded duly, with Bonehead given extra gravitas. I remember Maine Road in 1996 and watching Noel sat on that huge stage with just an acoustic guitar and playing Masterplan like he had no care in the world. Back then it was perfect; a song of hope and a call for unity. Tonight, he’s on stage with his estranged colleagues and it sounds as good as ever. “Sail them home with acquiesce…” hasn’t sounded the same since the split from his brother; perhaps tonight I appreciated the song more
than ever before.

DON’T LOOK BACK IN ANGER

With Liam still prowling backstage – probably pacing with the maracas aloft – Noel had only one place he could go next and, without hesitation, we were echoing back with “… a better place to play…” Don’t Look Back in Anger is seldom the favourite song of any Oasis fan but it’s a classic track and, with your mates in arms, an anthem of Britain: and do we need one now.

As time ticks, Liam is back on and it’s time for the most played Oasis song. With almost 2.5 billion streams on one music service, Wonderwall is ubiquitous and yet tonight sounds as fresh as it did in 1995. With a nod to the venue, Liam belts out “There are many things I would like to say to you, but I don’t speak Welsh.” He’s still 20-something somewhere inside. He doesn’t look his age and he’s certainly not keen on acting it. Wonderwall needs no description – it’s hedonistically Britpop and gets delivered with aplomb. And then, after almost two and a half hours of nostalgia, Liam lets us know we are there – the final song. It’s been rip-roaring, professional and, dare I say, emotional.

CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA

Champagne Supernova’ closes the masterpiece that is ‘What’s the Story…?’ Tonight it closes one of the most anticipated reunions in music history. Psych-influenced and lyrically chaotic, it’s the perfect close to an incredible night. As the song draws out its final bars, Liam’s maracas and tambourine are launched into the crowd, some lucky souls got a memento for life and I half hope it’s one of the new kids, the ones here because the influence was passed down to them. Someone here because British rock music refuses to lie down. Someone here because, despite the noise and confusion, these two brothers managed to write songs that defined an era and caught the mood of a nation. Perhaps, tonight, they will capture it all over again.

And there they are, front of stage, Liam holding Noel’s arms aloft like the prize fight was declared a draw and the belts are shared. It’s a long tour, but if they hold it together like this, they’ll create a new wave of musicians; of that there is no doubt.

After the lights went up, no one really moved. The crowd seemed to mingle and meander for a while, piecing together the night. Milling around to hold on to it for that bit longer. Savouring the spirit of years lost without them. Somewhere in the back storage room of Sifters Records will lie a receipt of one Gallagher buying the works of an artist that went before them: T-Rex, Bowie, Kinks… proof that music endures. So if the optimism of the 90s can rejuvenate one section of society, then it kickstarted tonight in emphatic fashion.

MANCHESTER – FRIDAY 11TH JULY
BY DOMINIC WALSH

“THIS IS THE PLACE!” says Noel as he walks up to the mic, hand in hand with his brother. Manchester doesn’t need an invitation to get amped; when the opening drum sound of Fuckin’ In The Bushes hits, it is utter bedlam. Phones aloft, pint pots flying and a realisation that this is happening. It is 16 years since Oasis played live in Manchester; at this very venue. The same venue Pope John Paul II visited in 1982; there is clearly something biblical about the place.

Pre-show weather warnings for heat are issued. It’s touching thirty degrees in Manchester. The city centre is awash with fans, primarily lapping up the lavish Adidas branded merch and queuing for transport. I myself plumped for the 135 bus owing to the huge Metrolink queues!

THE SUPPORT

Cast deliver their hits and a new one with legendary singer PP Arnold. Having just signed to local label, Scruff Of The Neck, there is a sense of rejuvenation with Cast. They have their own celebratory tour slated for later in the year celebrating 30 years of All Change. They have some great singles that makes them perfect for this slot.

Richard Ashcroft has a plethora of massive tunes to satiate any size of crowd. Sonnet, Space & Time and Lucky Man all sound brilliant. The latter is dedicated to his partner and their anniversary, Ashcroft seeking a little WD40 for his love life! “If you’ve got a number one single, you might as well play it,” he says before The Drugs Don’t Work. Closing out with Bittersweet Symphony is the only obvious end. It is a song fitting for the occasion and tees up the returning Mancunians perfectly.

WE PUT THIS FESTIVAL ON YOU BASTARDS!

And so, the moment arrives. Footage after the event shows Noel grabbing Liam’s hand with vigour. In this moment, they are firmly on the same page without any hint of phoning this in. ‘MANCHESTER VIBES IN THE AREA!’ hollers Liam. Here we go. This is not a drill. With Hello, they have the ideal opening and go straight into Acquiesce, wow. Not for the first time this evening, you ask yourself…How was this not an album track?!

Morning Glory still cuts. The pumping beat and rolling riff shrieks and the 75,000+ on hand belt back the chorus. It’s a full on stomper that has the crowd moving. The first diversion towards Definitely Maybe comes with Bring It On Down and the timeless Cigarette’s & Alcohol. “It’s good shit innit?” says Liam in response to reluctant Man Utd fans asked to ‘do the Poznan!’ Most play along, and as stated earlier…it is getting towards euphoria; so early on.

Supersonic and Roll With It take us to a Noel Gallagher led trio. The first, Talk Tonight, is a brilliant choice. One that tugs at the heartstrings and one that is a definite jewel in Noel’s crown. Written whilst down on his luck touring What’s The Story after one of the many infamous bust ups, Talk Tonight is reflective and emotional. Again, a song not deemed good enough for an album!

HALF THE WORLD AWAY

Little By Little is a huge singalong. It is not a personal favourite of mine however on this night, and in this set, it works. The singalongs continue with Half The World Away, dedicated to Craig Cash and Caroline Aherne. Another beautiful moment in the sun-kissed surroundings of one of Manchester’s biggest green spaces.

With any reunion of this size, much speculation has been rife over the setlist. How would Oasis play it? For the price, you want to hear the hits and transport yourself back to a time when life was just a little simpler. D’You Know What I Mean? and Stand By Me are included to nod to Be Here Now; aside from Little By Little, these are the only deviations from the Definitely Maybe/What’s The Story era. The selfish fan in me would have loved Go Let It Out or The Hindu Times but in all honesty, there are zero complaints here.

I LIVE MY LIFE IN THE CITY

Slide Away is a vintage song that taps into that ‘acquiesce’ feel between the Gallaghers. Their vocals ricochet emphatically with the ‘take me there’ refrain absolutely huge. Live Forever needs no introductions. A suitably Liam intro about people not here adorns the opening beat before an almighty, ‘Maybeeeee….’ from the crowd. It is spine tingling. As one of the best songs in the Oasis canon, and of the last fifty plus years, Live Forever shakes Heaton Park to the core.

To show the clout that Oasis hold, Live Forever is not in the encore, or a set closer. There is still more heavy artillery to be fired. If Live Forever speaks to people in reflective mood, Rock N Roll Star is sheer hedonism. Every word that Liam sings rattles ribcages. Like every single time you see him sing it, Liam believes every word he sings. He shadow dances with his mic stand snarling through every lyric.

For me, Rock N Roll Star is the Oasis song. It defines a time; not just then, but now. There are folks here who have seen Oasis many times; from The Boardwalk to King Tuts; from Earls Court to Maine Road to Knebworth; the Reebok Stadium to Manchester Apollo to Milton Keynes Bowl. Then, there are the first timers. The wide eyed teens who have never seen Oasis save for internet clips and stories from their parents. Rock N Roll is the unifying force here, and it is incendiary.

THE MASTERPLAN

With ‘Live ’25’ flickering over the gigantic screens, Oasis re-emerge. Again, remarkably, The Masterplan was only a B-Side. It boots off a four song encore that is completely mesmeric. Don’t Look Back In Anger is halted after a false start; lesser bands would lose their heads. Not Oasis; it is passed off with Noel’s wit before an audibly massive rendition. As the sun sets, Heaton Park is essentially a choir. Following with Liam reappearing for Wonderwall, Manchester knew their night was heading for the finish line.

To close out, Champagne Supernova reverberates around the entire area. Those Manchester vibes that Liam shouted of. early doors, are unabating. Each word is sung resplendently and the emotion in the park spills out of peoples mouths (or those that have voices left). There are tears, hugs, phones up, arms aloft…it is spectacular. As the band departs, a huge fireworks display lights up the night sky before punters make for the exits. There are swathes of ticketless people outside exits trying to catch a glimpse of the show/sing along in the streets. The feeling of joy is beautiful.

ALL AROUND THE WORLD

This is a victory lap. It has been stated countless times. But what a victory lap. There is a renewed fire and vigour in Oasis. It is wonderful to see Bonehead back in the mix, and Andy Bell and Gem Archer have been in Oasis longer than they haven’t. Joey Waronker is no stranger to the material having been in Liam’s band, and he helps propel the band. There is no one else like Liam Gallagher; he is the very definition of a rock star. And Noel, well, he looks like he is loving being a part of it all again. His lead work is excellent and his rhythm lines feel resurgent.

Definitely Maybe was a cultural moment. Britpop was a cultural moment. Knebworth was a cultural moment. The Maine Road homecoming was a cultural moment. Oasis imploding was a cultural moment. Now, Oasis add another cultural moment to their catalogue.

Oasis have global dates lined up until November 2025. You can find resale tickets here. If you can…get involved.