It finally happened. Oasis, together again in Manchester, and somehow, they sounded better than ever.

Their split in 2009 felt final. After that infamous backstage bust-up in Paris, most of us accepted we'd probably never see the Gallagher brothers share a stage again. Over time, even the idea of a reunion began to feel more like a punchline than a possibility.

But on Saturday night, July 19th, standing among 80,000 fans at Heaton Park, it all became real.

This wasn’t their first show back. The Heaton Park run kicked off on the 11th, but this one felt like the one. The air had that something. And against all expectations (and a dodgy weather forecast), the rain stayed away. The crowd was buzzing. And the band? Fully locked in.

Let’s get this out the way: Liam’s vocals were a genuine shock — in the best way. I was a bit apprehensive when the reunion was first announced. After all, his voice had its shaky moments back in 2009, including during the last Heaton Park Dig Out Your Soul tour. But he’s clearly taken this seriously. His delivery was strong, clear, and packed with the attitude that made him a frontman icon in the first place.

To be honest though, even if it wasn’t perfect, I wouldn’t have cared. Just hearing these iconic songs live, with this band, was enough.

They opened with "Hello", and it couldn't have been more fitting. As Liam spat out “It’s good to be back,” you could feel the grin across the entire field.

What followed was basically a dream set for any Oasis fan:

"Morning Glory" and "Some Might Say" early on to set the tone.

A rough-and-ready "Bring It On Down", dedicated to the fans listening from Gallagher Hill outside the venue. 

“If you lot are listening on the hill… bring it on down.”

Liam’s shout-out seemed to address reports of attempts to interrupt fans who had gathered on the hill to watch the show for free, a gesture that made it clear he wasn’t impressed by efforts to move them on.

Crowd-pleasers like "Cigarettes & Alcohol", "Supersonic", and "Roll With It" sounding as fresh as ever.

• Some emotional moments too: "Talk Tonight," dedicated “to the ladies,” and "Half the World Away," a song well known from The Royle Family TV series.

Then there was "Slide Away," and "Live Forever," which he offered up to Oasis fans: “This one’s for the people that can’t be here but are here, if you know what I mean.” That one hit hard.

Noel was cool, calm, and collected, just like you'd expect. He handled lead guitar on the songs that mattered, still nailing those iconic solos. Hearing him on "Don't Look Back in Anger" was as powerful as ever, with the entire crowd taking over the chorus like it was a shared hymn.

The band closed with "Champagne Supernova", with Liam thanking the crowd:

“This is Champagne Supernova, take care of yourselves, thanks for making this happen. I know we’re a nightmare and that.”

It was humble, honest, and kind of beautiful.

Saturday night was more than just a gig. It was a full-circle moment, not just for the Gallaghers, but for everyone who’s ever screamed Wonderwall at a mate in the pub, or played Definitely Maybe until the CD cracked.

Oasis might’ve started this Heaton Park run on July 11th, but on the 19th, they delivered something unforgettable. Something emotional. Something that felt like closure, but also a new beginning.

I never thought I’d see this band live again. And now that I have? I want to see them again tomorrow.

Full setlist:

Hello
Acquiesce
Morning Glory
Some Might Say
Bring It On Down
Cigarettes & Alcohol
Fade Away
Supersonic
Roll With It
Talk Tonight
Half the World Away
Little by Little
D'You Know What I Mean?
Stand by Me
Cast No Shadow
Slide Away
Whatever (with a snippet of The Beatles' "Octopus's Garden")
Live Forever
Rock 'n' Roll Star

Encore:
The Masterplan
Don't Look Back in Anger
Wonderwall
Champagne Supernova

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and chief editor of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.