Oasis are set to return home this summer for a no doubt spectacular show in Manchester’s Heaton Park.
Oasis and Manchester are intricately linked. Hailing from the city, the band have often spoke of their love for their hometown. At one of Britpop’s most iconic concerts the group played Manchester City’s Maine Road stadium, with Noel Gallagher using his now famous Union Jack designed guitar.
Since then, Oasis have changed and evolved. Band members have come and gone, yet the essential heart of the band remains. Last year’s album ‘Dig Out Your Soul’ was their most successful in a decade, cracking the Top Ten in the United States and winning critical acclaim.
The band announced a massive UK tour earlier this year. Playing some of their biggest venues in a decade, Oasis are due to take some sterling talent on tour with them. Kasabian, The Enemy, Twisted Wheel and more are set to perform on the jaunt, with tickets long since sold out for the dates.
In a new interview Liam Gallagher claims that the upcoming Heaton Park shows will better the group’s historic dates at Knebworth. Often taken to be the band’s peak of popularity, Oasis played two nights at Knebworth playing before a combined audience of 250,000.
Released as a concert film, the show is often seen as the high water mark of the Britpop movement and saw millions across Britain apply for tickets.
Due to play three nights at Heaton Park, Liam Gallagher told Manchester Evening News that he thought the shows could become a modern benchmark for the group.
“In total seriousness, I reckon these gigs have the potential to be even better than the Knebworth shows,” he said.
He added: “It’s been a top year for the band, and we’re approaching these gigs at the top of our game. My mind is totally on it. With those Knebworth gigs, we were off our heads and we totally sped into it.”
“With these Heaton Park gigs, we’re more breezing into these gigs. It’s not so chaotic. We’re a miles better band than we were at Knebworth and Maine Road (the former Manchester City ground where they played in April 1996), and we’ll show it. People will have their heads blown off.”
Oasis have already been warned that the potential popularity of the shows could affect the upcoming European Elections. Due to take place concurrently with the dates, congestion from the shows could prevent people from voting.
Oasis are set to play Manchester’s Heaton Park on June 4th, 6th and 7th.
