Latest news with #Oasis-mania
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘This is going to be epic' – devoted fans make the pilgrimage for second Oasis concert in Croke Park
One mother-daughter duo from Armagh were particularly happy to be heading into Croker. They were preparing to see Oasis together again after nearly 20 years – although in a much different way this time. Bernadette Hughes (44) told the Irish Independent: 'It was their 2005 tour at the Odyssey in Belfast when I was pregnant with Mollaí, and we've waited 19 years to come to Croke Park to see the best band in the world live.' Ms Hughes, who has been a fan for 25 years, was heartbroken when the band broke up 16 years ago. "I was devastated. We went and saw them in Slane in 2009 and [after that] my husband said in the end they would always get back together, and they have,' she said. The Armagh woman said she would be listening out for her favourites from the reunited brothers – Songbird and Champagne Supernova. Oasis-mania has spread through the country this week and even drawn the Irish living abroad home. Inez Waters (46) and her husband Ed (49), who now live in Philadelphia with their two sons Conor (14) and Sean (11), came back to Ireland this weekend specifically for the gig. Ms Waters, who is from Kildare, has been a fan of Oasis for 30 years and now shares the love of the Gallagher brothers with her sons. "Conor has particularly picked it up. I play it in the car, they play sports, so we are always in the car driving everywhere listening away,' she said. She and husband Ed saw the band perform at Slane in 2009, but they were beyond excited to see them play Croke Park. "Slane was a weird one because they weren't talking then. It was a fantastic location, but this is going to be epic. I'm hoping they play Masterplan,' she said ahead of the gig. One Manucian fan milling around Jones Road this evening with his wife has been a supporter from the get-go. Paul Fletcher (55) saw the brothers perform in Manchester in 1991. "It was a small venue, probably about 500 people – so when they started off first,' he said. He followed Noel's solo career closer than Liam's in the years after they disbanded. 'It was probably more Noel than Liam,' he said. 'Liam's all about the front and Noel's in the back doing music.' Mr Fletcher said he'd be watching out for one of the band's slower tunes, Half the World Away. "It's not one of their big hits, but it's definitely one of their best hits,' he said. Following tonight's final performance at Croke Park, the brothers will hit Canada, the US, Mexico, and the UK again – for two nights in Wembley stadium – Australia, Chile and finally Brazil.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Oasis at Croke Park reviewed: This is what the masses want and boy do they get it
They rode into town, pitched up in Croke Park and took 80,000 souls with them for a journey back to Britpop's halcyon days, when their band slugged it out with rivals —as well as each other — and released era-defining songs that continue to hoover up new generations of fans. 'It's good to be back,' goes the repeated refrain of Hello, the first song they play on their sold out Live '25 comeback tour, and the feeling is mutual in Dublin 3. For days, the country has been in a grip of Oasis-mania, the queue outside the pop-up store on St Stephen's Green telling its own story. Unsurprisingly, Croker's crowd features a proliferation of bucket hats, Adidas-branded track tops and Bohemians football shirts with the Oasis logo emblazoned on the front. One wonders how many sporting the latter have ever set foot in Dalymount. From the moment a venerable recording of The Auld Triangle fills the balmy air, the crowd are up for it, with those in the stands abandoning their seats in anticipation of a show that some have paid several hundred euro to experience. Blame the contentious dynamic pricing model that Oasis happily went along with, but the demand was so high that the Gallaghers could have played a full week of concerts at GAA HQ and there would still be fans left ticketless. Both band and audience know exactly what this is: a raucous trip down memory lane and an opportunity for everyone to sing themselves hoarse For those here, it's a set that's relentlessly crowd-pleasing. The Gallaghers wisely understand that their first pair albums are what people want to hear. Unlike 1990s peers Blur and Pulp, they don't even bother to record new songs for these shows. Both band and audience know exactly what this is: a raucous trip down memory lane and an opportunity for everyone to sing themselves hoarse. It's what the masses want and, boy, do they get it. Right from the off, there's no let up. It's Oasis in thrilling, brute force mode. Second song, Acquiesce, has the fans pogoing on the pitch, while Liam and Noel alternate on vocals. 'Because we need each other,' Noel sings, 'we believe in one another.' He has always claimed that the song is not about him and Liam. Who is he kidding? Difficult as their relationship may be, they bring out the best in each other. For the bulk of the first 40 minutes or so, it's Liam who takes vocals, although he has the entirety of Croke Park to sing along with him. Some Might Say, Cigarettes & Alcohol and Supersonic are nothing short of epic, the younger Gallagher in his element, his light, hooded jacket buttoned up to the neck, sunglasses clamped on, a born frontman. Thirty years ago to the weekend, Oasis's Roll With It went to war with Blur's Country House for the UK number one single. Blur pipped them to the post, but Oasis smashed them when it came to album sales. Tonight, before a spirted version of Roll With It, Liam dedicates the song to the people of Charlestown, Co Mayo — the place where his mother Peggy hailed from and where he and Noel spent many a childhood summer. He may have noticed a Mayo GAA flag draped from the posh seats of the Davin Stand directly in front of him. Later, Stand By Me is dedicated to Peggy. There's a welcome change of tempo when Noel takes over the singing, but there's no diminishment in audience engagement. They sing back Talk Tonight and Half the World Away, word-perfect. Even haters of the band would have to agree that the hat-trick of Whatever (which features a snippet of the Beatles' Octopus's Garden), Live Forever and Rock 'N' Roll Star is nothing short of mesmerising And then, there's a reminder of Oasis' imperial phase, three decades ago, when Noel's songwriting gifts seemed boundless, and when Liam's singing was magisterial. Even haters of the band would have to agree that the hat-trick of Whatever (which features a snippet of the Beatles' Octopus's Garden), Live Forever and Rock 'N' Roll Star is nothing short of mesmerising. Liam offers his thanks for those who stuck with the band during a fractious 16-year hiatus. 'We must be hard work,' he quips. Nobody cares, now that he and Noel have patched up their differences and are taking a pivotal slice of 1990s nostalgia on the road with them. Virtually every song played tonight was released in their mid-1990s heyday. Little By Little is the only song released this century to be played. Instead, the meat and veg of the show is derived from debut album Definitely Maybe and its massive selling follow-up, (What's the Story?) Morning Glory. And then there's a composition as masterful as The Masterplan — which opens the four-song encore — and you're reminded that Oasis released it as a B-side. Madness. Early on in the show, Liam wonders aloud if Oasis have ever played Croke Park before. They haven't. Noel resists the opportunity to say that he played a Gaelic football match here — in the old stadium — in 1983. Apparently, he scored a point for his Manchester GAA club, St Oisín's. The pair may walk onto the stage united, literally hand in hand, arms held aloft, but there's none of the on-stage banter between them that was common in the old days. A cynic might wonder if they have really patched up their differences. They are certainly not going through the motions, however. Musically, Oasis have never sounded this good. Liam's vocals are far, far better than they were 30 years ago — that was evident at his solo 3Arena how last year — and he points out that he's rarely been as sober in Ireland as he is now. Noel's virtuosity on the guitar is apparent on several songs. He's no slouch, either, when taking lead vocals, his care-worn voice capable of heartstring-tugging. It is true that this tour has sanded down Oasis' rough edge and that's not necessarily a good thing This live iteration of the band features founding member Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs as well as fellow guitarist Gem Archer, bassist Andy Bell and drummer Joey Waronker. The latter has bashed the skins for everyone from Beck to R.E.M. All are highly accomplished musicians and they play as though their lives depend on it. It is true that this tour has sanded down Oasis' rough edge and that's not necessarily a good thing. Gone, too, is the unpredictability that made early Oasis shows so thrilling. This is a very slick affair and the setlist has barely varied from one city to the next. For reasons unknown, they haven't found room for one of their finest songs, Columbia. There are few pyrotechnics, although the big screen that runs almost the entire width of Hill 16 is a wondrous thing, delivering the band in stunning high-definition, and utilising a dazzling array of imagery that helps to burnish the band's own legend. Notably, there are no secondary stage to do the sort of stripped back segments that the likes of Coldplay so enjoy and there's no 'vanity ramp', favoured by the likes of Robbie Williams — who plays Croke Park next Saturday. Instead, the band remain in an area not much bigger than the small parallelograms to be found on the Croke Park pitch when football and hurling matches are under way. For much of the set, Liam stands stock still, his hands behind his back, his head tilted upwards. It's his trademark and he remains as consummate a frontman as he was when first playing Slane 30 years ago. Speaking of rock's leaders, the Verve's Richard Ashcroft plays a blinding support set, with The Drugs Don't Work and Bittersweet Symphony especially potent. Oasis bring the night to a close with the song that has ended every show on this tour. Champagne Supernova is suitably super-sized for the occasion. Afterwards, as the Hogan Stand crowd mill out onto Jones Road, they take up its closing refrain. 'Where were you while we were getting high?'
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Things to do in Ireland this weekend if you're NOT an Oasis fan
Ireland has well and truly been swept up in Oasis-mania as the Gallagher brothers and co. gear up to play two sold-out shows at Croke Park this weekend. Oasis will player their first gigs on Irish soil in 16 years when they perform to 160,000 fans at GAA HQ on Saturday and Sunday, with Dublin rolling out the red carpet for Noel and Liam ahead of the concerts. The Irish capital has been busy getting ready this week for the arrival of the Britpop legends, with pubs and restaurants near Croke Park adorned in Oasis gear ahead of the Croke Park gigs. While the upcoming Oasis gig may be the the hottest ticket in town, there are still plenty of fun events taking place around the country for those who don't know their Wonderwalls from their Supersonics to enjoy. So, if you're on the hunt for for some non-Oasis activities, or simply missed out on a ticket and want to forget that the shows are happening, here are some of the best things to do in Ireland this weekend that don't involve heading to Croke Park. Big Grill Festival 2025 The Big Grill - Europe's biggest barbecue festival - returns to Dublin's Herbert Park this week as the 'brightest and best' Irish and international chefs, restaurants and barbecue experts come together to create a feast of unique live-fire dishes. Big Grill has become legendary for shining a spotlight on the skilful techniques, incredible versatility and pure magic that comes with cooking over live fire. - and this year is shaping up to be the best yet. Running from Thursday until Sunday, the festival showcases some of the biggest names in the BBQ and food world - from across Ireland, London, Paris, New York, Newfoundland, Montreal, Cornwall, Texas and more. It's your chance to try dishes you'd normally have to travel the world for, all in the leafy surroundings of Dublin's Herbert Park. Attendees can also expect local craft breweries, cocktail bars, dining experiences, live music, DJs, Little Grillers kids area and lots more craic. For more information and to purchase tickets to the Big Grill, click here. Murder Mystery Night at The Grand Dame Step into an evening of mystery, drama, and culinary delight at Murder at the Grand Dame, hosted this Friday in the elegant surroundings of The Imperial Hotel as part of the Cork on a Fork Festival. Begin the night with a sparkling drinks reception, setting the stage for an unforgettable experience. Then, sit down to a sumptuous three-course dinner spotlighting the very best of local Cork produce. But beware—as the courses unfold, so does a thrilling whodunnit. Ticketholders and and their fellow guests will become part of the story, piecing together clues and interrogating suspects in a race to uncover the killer. Tickets are €80 each and available here. The Sugar Club presents The Songs of Bob Dylan, Neil Young & Van Morrison Music fans can step back in time and experience the magic of three of music's greatest legends; Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Van Morrison, performed by the fantastic Muddy River Band. This talented group of musicians bring to life the unforgettable melodies, poignant lyrics, and electrifying performances that have echoed through the lives of generations of music lovers. Join the Muddy River Band at The Sugar Club on Dublin's Leeson Street this Saturday for an unforgettable night of music that transcends time, bringing together fans of all ages to celebrate the enduring legacies of these true music icons: Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and Van Morrison. Whether you're a lifelong fan or discovering these legends for the first time, this show will leave you inspired and longing for more. Tickets are available here. Ballybunion Bean Festival Set in the beautiful surroundings of The Barna Way near Ballybunion, the Ballybunion Bean Festival offers a day-long programme of thought-provoking talks, guided walks, interactive workshops, film, music, and shared meals. With a focus on the cultural, nutritional, and ecological importance of beans, the event brings together local voices, guest speakers, and artists to celebrate sustainable living and community resilience. From morning meditation to evening music, participants are invited to connect with the land, each other, and the wider world—one bean at a time For more information and to book your tickets, click here. Slane Sessions: With Inspire Choir Music fans can enjoy nostalgic journey through iconic past concerts at Slane Castle, and enjoy the unique opportunity to perform with a choir. Slane Sessions: With Inspire Choir promises a stellar evening of music celebrating legendary acts that have rocked the iconic Slane stage since 1981. Ticketholders can sing along to timeless hits and relive the magic of performances by world-renowned artists. Attendees have the exclusive chance to become part of the show—learn and perform a classic song alongside the incredible Inspire choir, all in the historic setting of Slane Castle. The atmosphere will be electric, with drinks flowing and a sizzling BBQ to satisfy every appetite. Whether you're singing or simply soaking it all in, this is a night not to be missed. The Rocky Horror Show The hit musical The Rocky Horror Show wraps up its run at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin this weekend. Actor and singer Jason Donovan reprises his role as Frank N' Furter following a successful tour in Australia, while Dancing with the Stars Ireland co-host Jennifer Zamparelli take on the role of the Narrator in Richard O'Brien's legendary rock 'n' roll musical. For those unfamiliar, The Rocky Horror Show is the story of squeaky clean college students Brad and his fiancée Janet who take shelter in a creepy mansion after their car breaks down. There, they meet the charismatic Dr Frank n Furter. It is an adventure they'll never forget, filled with fun, frolics, frocks, and frivolity. The Rocky Horror show is running at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre until Saturday 16th August with tickets priced from €35. The Big Grill BBQ & Food Festival returns to Herbert Park in Dublin 1 of 9 Big Grill ticketholders will learn how to grill, smoke, marinate, butcher and more at the all-action Bastecamp stage 2 of 9 Big Grill attendees can sample an array of dishes from top live-fire chefs and restaurants, as well as in-depth demos, talks, tastings and workshops 3 of 9
Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Pep Guardiola joins Liam Gallagher's son at Oasis gig for 'pic of the century'
Oasis made their much-anticipated return to Manchester on Friday evening as they played in front of 80,000 at Heaton Park and Pep Guardiola was among those attending Oasis-mania has taken over the country as the Gallagher brothers tour the nation after reuniting following a 16-year hiatus. And as the fever reached their hometown of Manchester on Friday evening, Pep Guardiola wasn't about to miss out. The Spaniard will be enjoying some rare time off after his side were knocked out of the Club World Cup earlier this month, as he looks to rejuvenate himself following a tough year. But his success at the Etihad Stadium wasn't about to be forgotten given how close the club is to the Gallagher brothers' hearts. And it wasn't long before Guardiola was taken in by the Gallagher family at Heaton Park. The Catalan coach posed with the children of Noel Gallagher: Anais, Donovan and Sonny, and the sons of frontman Liam Gallagher: Gene and Lennon. And it's safe to say Gene was pretty happy with the moment. Posting the image on Instagram he said: "Pic of the century alright now everyone else **** off". Gene's mother, Nicola Appleton of All Saints, was quick to respond to the photograph with a grinning squinting face emoji and heart emoji. While her sister Natalie said: "Fabulous photo!! Cousins" with the addition of heart emojis. READ MORE: Premier League pre-season schedules including alarming Man City and Chelsea plans Guardiola was present to see the Gallagher brothers march on stage hand in hand for their homecoming as they tackle five nights in the city, following two gigs in Cardiff last weekend. A massive 80,000 fans are set to be in attendance each night. And Guardiola was among them on Friday as he attempts to avoid thinking about the ill-preparation his team have been required to undergo ahead of 2025/26. City saw their term extend until the start of July as they travelled to the Club World Cup in the United States. The club currently have just one friendly planned before the new season against Palermo in Sicily on August 9. The plan is to rest as long the Premier League permits them. 'I try not to think about it, otherwise I will be so anxious,' Guardiola said while at the Club World Cup. 'We will rest the time the Premier League allows us to. And game by game, month by month, we will see. 'And maybe in November, December, January, ask me, Pep. I may say: 'So listen, we are a disaster. We are exhausted. The World Cup destroyed us.' I don't know, but it's the first time in our life that that's happened. So we will see. 'So I try to be relaxed, to enjoy the days here, the good vibes that we have, the competition, to try to win it. And the most important thing, to recover, to find or re-find ourselves what we were. This is my main target in this tournament.' Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Daily Mirror
03-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Oasis member Noel Gallagher's old Bentley goes on sale for staggering amount
A Bentley once owned by Noel Gallagher has gone up for sale, with the news coming ahead of the musician going on the much awaited Oasis reunion tour with Liam Gallagher A car once owned by Noel Gallagher has gone on sale priced at £1.2 million. The Oasis guitarist's 1997 Bentley Turbo R has been listed, with it teased that the red vehicle is set to "strike a chord" with both fans and car collectors. The four-door saloon car listed on Auto Trader was previously owned by Noel, 58, although he can't drive. He once suggested that he gave up learning to drive after being mobbed by children whilst parked near a school on a lesson. Speaking about the sale, Erin Baker, editorial director at Auto Trader, told PA: "Cars listed by music legends don't come around very often, and Noel Gallagher's Bentley Turbo R is certainly one for the Auto Trader history books." They teased that it's expected to attract attention. Erin told the outlet: "With over 80 million visits to Auto Trader every month, we expect this rock 'n' roll ride to strike a chord with music lovers and car collectors alike." The car has the number plate 'OASI6 2'. It's in reference to the Britpop band Oasis, which was formed by the likes of Noel's brother Liam Gallagher in 1991. Noel has previously spoken about having once learned to drive. He spoke about his experience to Zoe Ball whilst a guest on her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show two years ago. Speaking about his driving lesson in the 1990s, he said in 2023: "I have had one driving lesson in the 90s and I was driving round a housing estate in Slough and [the instructor] said to me, 'if you just indicate and pull over here' then I pulled over." He shared: "She got out the car she said, 'I'll be back in a minute', she came out with her mum, she drove me to her house. Then the local comprehensive bell went and they all came out. This is at the height of Oasis-mania and I was like, 'never, never again'." As previously reported, Noel said on the radio show that he had been learning in a red Nissan Micra at the time. He recalled the vehicle having a "great big triangle on the top of it with an L". The news comes ahead of Oasis reuniting for a run of gigs this year in the UK and Ireland. The tour was announced last summer and comes following the disbanding of the group in 2009. The tour will launch at Cardiff's Principality Stadium next month. It will then be at Manchester's Heaton Park, London's Wembley Stadium, Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium and Dublin's Croke Park, over the course of July, August and September. The group is then set to embark on a world tour. It includes gigs in Asia, South America, Australia and North America.
