04 June 2009 (gig)
07 June 2009
On a sunny afternoon in Heaton park 70,000 fans begin to arrive at the largest concert the park has seen since the Pope visited the city of Manchester in 1982. With the threat of rain forecast for the weekend the speculation grows as to whether it will rain or not. The public notice’s boards tell us that the enemy has pulled out of the gigs and reverend and the makers will fill there slot.
Opening act twisted wheel begin proceedings with a mediocre set of ambiguity. Then the replacements riel the crowd with promises they will join us in the crowd after there set. Their ska beats loosen up the crowd ready to be pummelled by the driving Kasabian, who blend their three albums seamlessly together, ready for the main event.
The stage is cleared the crowd becoming more and more expectant at the homecoming of Manchester’s sons. The video rolls and the band emerge to a rapturous applause. Getting underway with supersonic the crowd are jubilant. Then nothing! no lights no sound! The stage empties, to the bewilderment, of the crowd. 5 minutes later they return and get underway again, but 2 minutes in we are back where we where.
After 30 minutes the crowd is appeased with the remerged band and noel proclaiming full refunds and to play until 2 in the morning. The park erupts! And the 70,000 fans forget past hurts and join together to cheer on Liam and noel.
Overall power cuts aside an amazing performance. 14 years on from the release of defiantly maybe oasis have still got it. There energy and fan devotion is like none other, even with the blip in the career begin standing to the shoulders of giant and tales of argument and splits this opening gig put history behind them and looked to making a new chapter.
