As the curtain fell on Manchester we were fortunate to get tickets for the last night in the bands home town. This is a personal review with plenty of images and footage including many supporters and behind the scenes footage. It’s going to be picture heavy as it was an incredible experience and something that I really want to share. Last year I was one of many disappointed not to get tickets but my youngest Son was fortunate to get 4. Although I really enjoyed the group I had never seen them before at a live concert, the thoughts of so many people filled me with anxiety if I am being honest. For the last year for me personally it’s been mixed emotions of excitement and anxiety especially when people told me to expect wee chucked from an empty beer container to be heading my way 😫. But it is what it is and I was kind of hoping that it was just someone pulling my leg. I had no idea where to park or go before the concert. We looked at staying over in Manchester but refused to pay the extortionate and inflated prices for the night. So after advice we booked a parking space in Bury. I thought that’s a good start £14 for the day. We got up early on the Sunday morning to travel and park before the rush as we expected it to be very busy.
We arrived at 10am in Bury and decided on going into Manchester to a Wetherspoon’s for a cheeky breakfast, after Louise sent her eggs back ( yolks solid) 🤣 we finally eaten and decided on heading to Heaton Park.
Already lots of people milling around and people selling Temu hats and shirts for £20 and £40 quid respectively
we then went to find our entrance. The line started moving at 1pm and then it stopped but we had lots of banter and chats with people in the line.
We spotted a group of lads from Italy 🇮🇹 that randomly decided to make cheese and ham sandwiches in the line with a loaf of medium sliced Warburton’s bread very random but then again genius 😎
At 2.20 the huge doors opened and we made our way in..
Security was very tight and thorough of which you would expect.
Looking around it was a vast arena and the realisation that in just a few hours it’s going to be full of people made me shudder as I have never experienced anything like it in my lifetime. I was very impressed with the amount of food stands and drink outlets. You can see from the footage below. I lost audio for a few seconds but comes back.
My original plan was to stay at the back or the fringes but I ended up right at the front but more towards the side, not sure how it happened but I just went with it. So this would be our spot for the next 8hrs or so 😜
I was then thinking of toilets but we were lucky the Gents toilet was close bye but figured that around 5 if you left your spot you would lose it so limited fluid intake and tried to squeeze as much out as possible 🤣. We were fortunate that in our vicinity was some amazing people, on one side a group of proper Mancunian lads and behind us a Mother and Son from Sweden 🇸🇪 who were fulfilling ambitions of seeing Oasis live.
Supporting Oasis was Craft and the legendary Richard Ashcroft. I have always considered the latter an iconic musical genius especially the album Urban Hymns that he did with the Verve. The atmosphere inside Heaton Park was incredible, at 58 years old I have been fortunate to see quite a few live performances and some very big concerts but this was really off the scale. I was at times frightened to look behind me to see so many faces looking towards the stage and pinched myself several times in disbelief, this really was becoming an iconic moment that many will treasure for the rest of their lives. Craft took to the stage at 6pm vastly experienced group from Liverpool performed so well and were equally in awe of the massive audience. I really enjoyed them and did a good solid 30 minute set.
Next up at 7pm Richard Ashcroft known as the frontman from The Verve but has also made a good solo career. His incredible vocal performance is always one to be admired and appreciated. I was actually feeling quite emotional at a few of his songs as you will see in the actual footage he nailed them.
Just after 8pm a group that will never need any introduction Oasis took to the stage. The Gallagher brothers and Paul Bonehead Athurs from the original lineup joined by Gem Archer, Andy Bell and Joey Waronker on drums. The group went through their repertoire of global hits much to the crowd’s appreciation. The atmosphere was incredible as you will see in my concert footage. I loved Liams banter with the audience especially when somebody held up a sign asking to sing with him on stage..Liam told him that he couldn’t cope with 80,000 people watching and his head would blow up and he would lose his arms and legs and become a worm 🤣 he also made everyone aware that
“This one’s for all you love birds…don’t worry we don’t have a camera, it’s not a Coldplay moment.
It’s none of our business who you’re with – doesn’t matter who you’re tingling with, mingling with and * with.”
it was comedy gold and also legendary moments. Noel a little more reserved but also had his moments during the concert as well all made for an unforgettable experience.
Look at those crowds 😻
Please enjoy my footage 😎
Getting out after the concert was a little tricky with so many people but in general everyone was quite well behaved.
It took a few hours to get home but what an incredible experience. Oasis probably the best group ever and most certainly the best live performance that I have ever seen..
I hope that you have enjoyed my longish review
Thank you for reading
Peter Mowbray Live In Blackpool
