In Manchester, fans of the Oasis return

In the heat and the euphoria, fans of Oasis flocked by the thousands to Manchester to attend Friday at the very first concert of the Gallagher brothers at home for sixteen years.

After two appearances in Cardiff. In addition, the emblematic group of the Britpop occurs five evenings closed in a huge park in its hometown, the second stage of its large reunion tour.

In the afternoon. manchester, fans oasis return Meanwhile, a long queue formed in front of the entrance: the lucky ones in the shade of the trees, the others trying to refresh themselves with fans by 30 degrees.

Arrival of Saint-Etienne, in France, with a group of friends, Lisa has been patient for six hours. For example, “It was an opportunity for our life. Furthermore, we would never have imagined seeing them in concert one day,” enthuses this 23 -year -old woman.

In the tail, fans wear the T-shirts on the tour, vintage Manchester City jerseys, others are shirtless.

Since the announcement last year of the reconciliation between Liam. Nevertheless, Noel Gallagher, this industrial city in northern England lives pending what was nicknamed the “Oasis Day”. Consequently, Some 400,000 spectators are expected for the five concerts.

Impossible here to escape the Gallagher brothers. whose faces are displayed everywhere, as on this giant fresco manchester, fans oasis return of the Northern Quarter, a trendy district.

The event revives memories of the time when Manchester was the home of bubbling musical creativity.

Heat wave – Manchester, fans oasis return

“There is clearly a revival of excitement in the city. ” observes Susan O’Shea, a music expert and lecturer at the Manchester Metropolitan University.

In the 1990s, Manchester was at the top of his cultural glory.

Oasis reigned over the air, succeeding local legends like Joy Division and The Smiths. “These groups (their) have opened the way. Additionally, ” recalls Ed Glant, the creator of guided tours “Manchester Walks”, devoted to the musical history of the metropolis.

If the latter is currently overwhelmed by a summer heat wave. the famous bad weather has been a “very important factor” in this musical heritage, he says.

“Most of the year, it is dark, gray, cold, humid, there is wind. It is manchester, fans oasis return felt in music. ”

In the late 1980s. the legendary club The Hacienda propelled the city into a new era, with the arrival of the House and the Rave scene.

The “Madchester” phenomenon was born. carried by groups like the Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses, which Liam and Noel Gallagher have often cited as sources of inspiration.

“The Stone Roses were really the first on the Manchester scene to have influenced Oasis. ” said Pete Howard, 77, the owner of the “Sifters” store where the two brothers used to buy their records.

“Living legend”

Immortalized in the Shakermaker song under the name of “Mister Sifter”. Pete Howard still welcomes fans today from around the world.

“For us, it’s a pilgrimage. It’s like meeting a living legend, ”says Veronica Paolacci, a 32 -year -old Milanese, about the septuagenarian.

The local scene remains dynamic. Susan manchester, fans oasis return O’Shea cites emerging pine groups. The Red Stains, rappers Aitch and Bugzy Malone, as well as places like The Peer Hat and Gullivers.

Manchester’s international fame seems to have been blinked. “She was much bigger when the Britpop was more popular. ” said a fan of this music, Dan Verberkel, a 38 -year -old Dutch engineer specially present for the concert.

In addition to Manchester. other cities helped shape the British musical identity of the 20th century: Birmingham for Heavy Metal, Bristol for Trip-Hop and of course Liverpool, the city of Beatles.

But since the 2000s, things have changed. According to Ed Glant, digital advent has broken the regional dynamics.

“Today. you can produce music in your room from your computer, without having any particular connection to where you live,” he says.