Oasis 'defy council axe threat' with bold tribute to Gallagher Hill fans at Heaton Park
Oasis fans were left fuming when the council put up fences around 'Gallagher Hill' to stop ticketless fans from gathering to watch the Heaton Park gigs from a distance. Over the last few sold-out shows in Manchester, many took to the area to watch the large screens showing the concert, but Manchester City Council were reportedly not happy about it.
After a 16-year absence, Liam and Noel Gallagher reunited for five sold-out nights at Heaton Park last week as each show drew around 70,000–80,000 ecstatic fans, marking an emotional return to their hometown.
Kicking off with hit songs including Hello and Acquiesce, the shows featured a 22-song set spanning hits like Morning Glory, Some Might Say, Cigarettes & Alcohol, Supersonic, Live Forever, Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova, all enhanced by massive 84m x 12m screens - the largest ever at a UK concert.
The atmosphere turned surreal as the rain cleared just as the band began, culminating in euphoric sing-alongs from all ages. Highlights included a heartfelt dedication to Caroline Aherne during Half The World Away, and Liam's outspoken tribute to Pep Guardiola mid‑set, met with both cheers and boos.
Oasis rallied their audience by acknowledging fans who watched from 'Gallagher Hill' which was an unofficial viewing spot outside the venue. Despite the council's attempts to block visibility, the brothers had their own plans in store.
The fun quickly ended as Manchester City Council soon erected fences around the hill to "dissuade people from gathering there" Councillor John Hacking told ticketless fans of the recently reunited group to head to the city centre to enjoy "a real party atmosphere" instead of hanging around the park.
Hacking explained: "The steps being taken ahead of the next concert regretfully mean the distant view of the large screens behind the event stage will no longer be there".
The council's hand was "forced" into placing the fences to protect the trees, livestock, grass and the safety of the park, Hacking claimed.
At the time, furious fans rushed to social media to slam the decision, with one fan writing on X, formerly known as Twitter: "People can't have fun in the UK anymore," and another posting: "Gigs sold out, why do they care? Miserable t**ts."
"Shame on Bury/Manchester council for fencing off 'Gallagher Hill'. Stripping people of as much joy as they can. It's no different than standing outside Heaton Park or living in a high building where you can still see," another fumed.
While someone else added: "Putting fences up on Gallagher Hill is bang out of order.. what harm were they doing? Miserable f**kers.. they'll find another way to watch from afar and I hope they do so we can go down this weekend."
Gallagher Hill caught the attention of Oasis guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs, who is credited with reuniting Liam and Noel. He shared a video of fans enjoying the concert from outside the venue, alongside the caption: "No tickets needed," alongside red heart emojis.
Now, it has been revealed that Noel and Liam cracked down on the 'woke, pen-pushing drones' and decided to give out 1,000 free T-shirts to people watching Sunday's show from Gallagher Hill.
Facing the threat of having their final Manchester gig shut down, Oasis took bold steps to stand by fans gathering for free on the now-iconic Gallagher Hill.
According to sources close to Liam and Noel, Manchester City Council considered pulling the plug on their sold-out Heaton Park show after thousands without tickets assembled on the hill to listen in. The council had already ordered fencing to block the view of nearby stage screens, but the Gallaghers weren't having it.
'They were furious,' a source said. 'They won't be told what to do by 'woke pen-pushers' from the council.'
Determined to include the hillside crowd, Liam and Noel explored setting up a truck-mounted jumbo screen, but health and safety concerns scrapped that idea, according to The Sun.
Instead, they sent a videographer up the hill during Sunday's show to film the crowd, broadcasting the footage back to fans inside the park. Noel even announced, 'We're going live to Gallagher Hill.'
To top it off, the brothers paid for 1,000 limited-edition T-shirts, distributed to fans and many of them were kids. The volume was cranked up for the finale, and Liam gave shout-outs both nights: 'If you lot are listening on the hill… bring it on down.'
To Oasis, the hill fans were just as important. 'It's a band for the people,' said the source.
The famous brothers' kind gesture meant a lot to fans, with one tweeting: 'I'm so happy both Liam and Noel acknowledged those who went to Gallagher Hill to hear them. We all need music, rich or poor. I'm glad they know how much Oasis means to so many people from different backgrounds.'
Another added: "Thousands were there, all ages, bucket hats galore, all knew every lyric and were having a top time.' While someone else gushed: "So happy to be alive in a time when Noel and Liam Gallagher have proved that they are not just doing this for the money, they are really doing it for us fans and for the love of their music. Top lads as always."
Reviewers called the final performances 'biblical' and 'utterly breathtaking', praising Liam's vocals, Noel's stage presence, and a setlist that turned nostalgia into a long-awaited experience. For many fans, it was a once-in-a-lifetime moment that confirmed Oasis's return to their rightful throne in British music.
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