Latest news with #BittersweetSymphony
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Oasis at Murrayfield - community, chaos and itchy wrists
"I waited in the queue for seven hours, had two tickets in my basket, and it booted me out," he laments. He eventually managed to score a couple on the resale market, setting him back £520. He's meeting his mate for a few pints before getting a bus up but he's playing it smart: "You want to remember it, slow and steady is the key." It's a scene which is surely playing out across the central belt this weekend as the Gallagher brothers return to Scotland for the first time in 16 years. A beer garden off George Square is packed with parkas, three stripes and sunglasses as the faithful prepare to head to Queen Street and on to Edinburgh. Read More: The capital witnessed something not dissimilar last summer when Taylor Swift brought her Eras Tour to Scotland, the cobbled streets clacking with cowboy boots and the sandstone contrasting with pinks, reds and golds. When it comes to Oasis there's not really an aesthetic era to crib from, attendees dressed more uniformly in sports casual wear, parkas and the aforementioned bucket hats. Still though the streets around Haymarket are abuzz, 'Supersonic' blasting from a street stall and the local Tesco running decidedly short on beer. Empty beer boxes in a Tesco near to Murrayfield (Image: Newsquest) Oasis fans outside Murrayfield (Image: Gordon Terris) Despite the stereotypes, and the warnings from City of Edinburgh Council, there's a real demographic mix here, male and female, young and old - often together for what is clearly a family moment. As opening act Cast will remark: "This is a gathering. This is a happening. And it is happening." Second support Richard Ashcroft says it's bringing "positive vibes around the country", his mood helped with a couple of pints down at Portobello beach earlier that day. The former Verve frontman's voice remains an incredible instrument, and the first mass singalongs of the night greet 'Drugs Don't Work' and 'Bittersweet Symphony', but there's only one act for which we've all gathered to see. Oasis are due on stage at 8.15pm but those of us at the educational angle witness their arrival a few minutes before as black Land Rovers pull up to the side of the stage. Liam leaps out of one, fist-pumping to those in the sightline, then Noel emerges and gives his brother what appears to be a genuinely affectionate slap on the back. In their 90s heyday Oasis were famously chaotic but tonight they're a well-oiled machine. "We've missed you too," Liam says after an opening which sends 70,000 into delirium. Oasis fans at Murrayfield (Image: Gordon Terris) Fawning over the crowd isn't really Oasis' style but there are little nods, Noel intoning "go on yersel, Scotland" before handing over to the crowd for the chorus of 'Don't Look Back In Anger' while Liam changes the lyrics of 'Bring It Down' to: "You're the underclass/but you don't care/because you drink Buckfast". While there were fears of fistfights and debauchery - and that's just on stage - the feeling in the crowd is one of community. When Liam instructs us to 'do the Poznań' before 'Cigarettes & Alcohol' one man is confused by the crowd turning their backs to the action. "What are we doing?" he asks. "Put your arms around me, then we jump." explains the guy beside him. There's not much in the way of patter from the band, and some of it is frankly baffling. "D'you ever get itchy wrists?" Liam asks at one point, rubbing his together. "It's a sign of biblicalness." Still, when the singer dedicates 'Live Forever' to "all the people who didn't make it through to see us get back together" there are genuine tears from a guy to my right, while 'Slide Away' brings at least one marriage proposal. "This is the last one," he says before 'Champagne Supernova'. "Thanks for sticking with us all these years, I imagine we're a nightmare to support." Fireworks ring out as the crowd shuffles out into the night and I find myself on a tram to Ingliston crammed in with a family of four. One of their number has a crutch and watched the show from the wheelchair they've managed to get into the packed carriage. The father asks me which stop is Ingliston. I tell him it's the one before the airport and that I can alert them when I'm getting off. "Thanks son," he says. "They'll no believe me, you see, I can never be right." His teenage daughter rolls her eyes beneath her bucket hut.
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Scotsman
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Oasis fans at Murrayfield left furious after having to abandon bar queues after waiting for an hour
Oasis fans were forced to abandon bar queues at Murrayfield after waiting for up to an hour for drinks or risk missing their favourite hits. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Thousands of fans were stuck in slow-moving queues at bars in Murrayfield Stadium last night (August 8), as Edinburgh geared up for the first of three Oasis concerts in the city. Some were forced to wait more than an hour for a few pints, with many having had to walk away from the queues to make it back to their seats in time to see the Manchester band's big return to the stage. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A video taken at the front of a queue showed bar staff having to take time to pour cans of Tennent's into pint glasses. Scott McGachan, who missed Richard Ashcroft's set while he was waiting for drinks, said: 'In Scotland, this is how we do bars at the biggest gig of the decade, at a national stadium, in the capital city, at a rock n roll show on a Friday night. It's a shambles. Oasis fans were left waiting for over an hour for drinks at the first Murrayfield gig on Friday | Scott McGachan 'Myself and everyone in the queues around me missed Richard Ashcroft's entire set. The organisers have clearly chose this model because it maximises what they can make at the bar charging £8 for a can of warm lager, instead of paying to bring in facilities that can pour multiple draft pints at a time, with zero consideration of the impact that has on the customer. Bar staff worked really hard in a challenging environment. Not their fault.' Speaking to the Evening News, another irate fan said: 'I arrived at Murrayfield well before Richard Ashcroft took to the stage and I joined one of the many queues for drinks thinking we had plenty of time. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'But 20 or so minutes passed and the queue had barely moved. To be honest it was at a standstill. It was clear that there was a serious problem with whatever system was in place. It was a maximum of four drinks per person but it seemed to be taking ages for each person to be served. 'I ended up abandoning the queue after 40 minutes because Bittersweet Symphony came on and I knew it wasn't worth missing.' And the queues didn't let up even when the Gallagher brothers were on the stage. One fan, who left during Oasis' set in an attempt to buy a drink, said: 'I went out to the bar thinking it'd be much quieter during the show but obviously a lot of people had had the same idea. It really was terrible. I ended up drinking water for the whole night because waiting in the bar queues just wasn't an option.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Last night saw Oasis take to the stage at Murrayfield Stadium for the first of three sold-out shows. Approximately 70,000 fans are set to return to the stadium tonight (August 9) and on August 12 for the Britpop legends' reunion gigs. Launching a scathing attack on Edinburgh council at the band's first gig in the city, Liam Gallagher said he was 'still waiting for an apology' from the authority after claims that fans of the band were old, overweight and 'rowdy'. Murrayfield has been approached for comment.
Metro
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Oasis have let down UK music with their choice of support act
'Did they just Shazam the national anthem?' an outraged Oasis gig-goer posted on TikTok in a viral video, sparking a pile-on of an unsuspecting woman. No, she wasn't discovering Champagne Supernova, it was support act The Verve's 1997 hit Bittersweet Symphony. While fans may have blasted her ignorance – with a classy response from frontman Richard Ashcroft — the moment proved something I've felt all along. Oasis' choice of openers (The Verve and Cast) was, no offence, quite boring. When I first shared this thought 10 months ago, I was met with some angry emails for voicing my disappointment. But as the tour has gone on, my opinion hasn't changed. While clips of Liam and Noel Gallagher performing and even holding hands flood social media, their support artists seem to cast no shadow. Only the 'national anthem' is cutting through, while Lucky Man gets an honourable mention. There's even less hype for Cast. As we waited for Liam and Noel Gallagher to finally reveal the chosen support, plenty of new artist names flew around. This included Mancunian up-and-comers Blossoms, who are friends with Noel's daughter Anais. She was even at their house when the reunion was announced. So I, like many other fans, was deeply underwhelmed when Oasis finally announced that Richard Ashcroft would be the 'very special guest' for the shows in Cardiff, London, Manchester and Dublin. This was a chance to look at the many exciting bands Britain has produced in recent years, and give one of them, or maybe several of them, the chance to shine on a major stage. The chance, even, to potentially become the next big thing. I wish they'd taken a leaf out of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour book. It's not that The Verve are a bad group by any stretch of the imagination, Noel once called Richard a 'genius' and his vocals are undeniably impressive. It's not that I believe the Mancunian band is a bad or detrimental choice, people are still singing along and enjoying the music as they wait for Oasis. But as the London gigs approach, to which I have a ticket, nothing about The Verve makes me feel excited. In fact, the choice and Liam's dismissive response to those who criticised it ('There's LEVELS to this game') have me worried for the future of music. Dramatic? (definitely) maybe, but Oasis are a symbol of Britpop at its height, the days when artists from the UK would dominate our charts. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Now, homegrown talents struggle to compete with big American acts in the world of streaming. In fact, in 2024 alone, just two of the songs that have topped the Official Charts in the UK were from British artists. While singers like Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift become ubiquitous, the arts in the UK are being throttled due to rising costs and lack of support. That's why established musicians like the Gallagher brothers need to give something back. And no, the slow and painful collapse of the British music scene is not Oasis' job to fix, but their choice of support could have gone a long way to helping boost that essential export. A support act is meant to warm the crowd up, ready for the big performance but this is also a chance for the crowd to get to know a new artist. Yes, that one girl didn't know Bittersweet Symphony, but the majority of the crowd are clearly aware of at least the bigger tracks, which are nearly 30 years old. While some might walk away from Oasis Live '25 with a newfound appreciation for Richard Ashcroft and The Verve, an artist whose biggest album was released in 1997 is hardly going to be a sudden discovery for concertgoers. Oasis fans might not thank me for the comparison, but they could do worse than learn from the Eras Tour. Swift's support was a revolving door of young artists bursting with potential, like the aforementioned Sabrina, Phoebe Bridgers and Raye. Fans saw those acts support Taylor, and went on to stream their music, buy their albums, or even attend their gigs – all of which put money back into the economy. By choosing a nostalgia act, Oasis has failed not only their fans but also the lesser-known bands who might be tomorrow's superstars. And with the Gallaghers themselves headlining and a setlist bursting with iconic tracks, these concerts aren't exactly short of a feel-good throwback factor. Nor is the UK short of bands who could have used the momentum from the show to really build something incredible – think of the Courteeners, Blossoms, and Lottery Winners. That's before we even dare to mention a female-led group like Manchester-based Pale Waves or Mercury Prize winner English Teacher, for whom this kind of show could have really changed lives. To all the folk who are crying about us not showing love to the young bands and not letting them support there's LEVELS to this game and I'm afraid 99 p cent of ya are way off LFUCKING x — Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) October 22, 2024 Liam doesn't seem to think that's his responsibility, writing on X after backlash: 'To all the folk who are crying about us not showing love to the young bands and not letting them support there's LEVELS to this game and I'm afraid 99 [per cent] of ya are way off.' More Trending At the time, I hoped this meant Oasis had a few more lesser-known support acts to announce, but so far I've been proven wrong. Ultimately, The Verve is a safe choice designed to please nostalgia-hungry fans who think music peaked in the late 90s. But one thing's for sure — the British music scene deserves much better than this. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: Music legend, 84, admits 'I might be dead next year' ahead of new tour MORE: I always play 'check-in chicken' on flights – it works a treat MORE: Italian Oasis fans recreate iconic Manchester street Renaissance photo
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Famous rock singer responds to viral video of fan Shazaming song at concert
A video of a concertgoer Shazaming an Oasis song at one of the band's shows has gone viral, and the musician who sang it has responded himself. Richard Ashcroft, formerly of The Verve, was performing 'Bittersweet Symphony' at Oasis' show at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on Friday, July 4 when a fan pulled out the Shazam app. The app identifies the name of a song and artist by recording a short clip of the track. 'Imagine not knowing the greatest song of all time,' the caption on the now-viral TikTok reads. The video has accumulated more than 5 million views since it was posted on Friday. Apparently, Ashcroft was among those millions of viewers because he seemingly responded to the viral moment in an Instagram post on Sunday. 'Thanks to everyone who came down and gave such beautiful support for my set,' the singer wrote. 'If you don't know it Shazam it, all new fans welcome! Love to LG for Cast No Shadow, what a tune! We move on Manchester. Are you ready? Music is Power.' Fans recognized that Ashcroft was referring to the viral incident by leaving comments on the singer's post. 'Still can't believe someone had to Shazam Bittersweet Symphony,' one Instagram user commented. 'Richard Ashcroft saw the video of the girl trying to identify one of the most recognizable songs on the planet — and didn't shame her for it. What a king,' another comment reads. Another Instagram user chimed in by saying, 'Gaining new fans keeps the music playing for generations to come.' Ashcroft is supporting Oasis on the legendary band's reunion tour, which their first time back together in 15 years. Oasis originally announced a string of European shows before adding North American tour dates. More information about where to buy tickets for Oasis' North American tour can be found here. Prolific rock musician postpones tour to have surgery Country icon, 86, suffers heart attack after coming out of retirement Son of country music legend who suffered stroke on stage updates fans Famous singer hasn't washed his hair in 15 years: 'Condition only' Country music singer says he could be deported under Trump's new law Read the original article on MassLive.
ITV News
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Oasis 2025: Your complete guide ahead of sold out Heaton Park shows
Oasis are about to embark on a worldwide reunion tour - with one of the first places they're visiting their home town of Manchester. Hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to visit Heaton Park for the iconic band's long awaited return after a bitter 15-year split. A yellow heat health alert has been issued for the weekend - with Manchester expected to reach highs of 30C on Friday and 31C on Saturday - and fans are being advised to drink plenty of water and wear suncream and a hat. The band, who formed in 1991, are known for the hits Wonderwall, Don't Look Back In Anger and Stop Crying Your Heart Out. The UK and Ireland tour began at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, before it comes to Manchester, moving on to London's Wembley Stadium, Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium and Dublin's Croke Park throughout July and August. With close to half a million fans expected to descend on Heaton Park, here is your complete guide to the event: When are Oasis due to perform in Manchester? Oasis have five sold out shows at Heaton Park - making it, and Wembley Stadium, the venues with the highest number of consecutive tour dates. The Gallagher brothers will be performing on: Fri 11 Jul – Heaton Park, Manchester Sat 12 Jul – Heaton Park, Manchester Wed 16 Jul – Heaton Park, Manchester Sat 19 Jul – Heaton Park, Manchester Sun 20 Jul – Heaton Park, Manchester Gates will open at 3pm, and while stage times have yet to be confirmed the gig will end at 10.30pm. Who are supporting Oasis? For the UK and Ireland leg of Oasis' world tour, they'll be supported by Wigan -born musician Richard Ashcroft, who first found fame as lead singer The Verve and is known for hits such as Bittersweet Symphony and Drugs Don't Work. They will also be supported by Liverpool Britpop band Cast, which has previously embarked on a number of tours with Oasis. In 1996, Noel Gallagher described watching the band live as a "religious experience". How can fans get there? Organisers have partnered with a number of organisations with an aim to make it easy for fans to get to Heaton Park, but engineering works across Manchester may cause some disruption. For those coming from outside of Manchester, organisers recommend using their official partner Big Green Coach, which offers drop-off and pick-up options both before and after the show. Coaches will run from cities and towns across the north of England as far away as Newcastle, while also offering routes from London Victoria. All of the coaches will arrive at Heaton Park before the music starts, and take fans home after the gig finishes. Closer to Heaton Park, the Bee Network will be operating a dedicated bus service from Lever Street in Manchester's Northern Quarter. Tickets for the shuttle bus must be bought in advance for £10 on the Bee Network app. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) also recommend the tram as the easiest way to travel to Heaton Park from Manchester's city centre. However engineering work will be taking place at Piccadilly Gardens, which means there will be no trams operating from Piccadilly Station to Heaton Park. For fans planning to get the tram after the gig, TfGM has warned that the Heaton Park tram stop will be closed from 9pm. Instead, those looking to get back to the city centre will be directed to the nearby Bowker Vale tram stop. Organisers have also warned that there will be no regular or disabled parking available at Heaton Park. What is the advice for the heatwave? With temperatures of up to 31C forecasted on Friday and Saturday fans are being urged to stay hydrated and take precautions. Gig-goers can bring an empty plastic bottle - of 500ml or less - which can be refilled at a number of stations around the site. Those without a bottle can get an empty cup from the welfare tent to use at refill points. It is also advised to bring and wear suncream - as long as it is in a small bottle of 200ml of less - and wear a hat. What rules are in place at Heaton Park? To keep everyone safe and avoid overcrowding, a number of restrictions are in place during all of the Heaton Park shows. To maximise space, the gigs will all be fully standing with no seating offered and no outside seated allowed into the park. While there is a designated accessible viewing platform with seating, tickets for this area has sold out. Organisers are also recommending fans do not bring any bags with them, as they will be made to wait in long queues where their bags will be checked. If attendees do bring a bag, they must be no bigger than an A4 piece of paper. A number of items are banned including: Are tickets still available? Unfortunately, tickets for Oasis' Heaton Park shows sold out in less than ten hours. While other venues received extra dates after the phenomenal demand, the band currently has no plans to return to Manchester as part of their world tour.
