October 22nd 2024.
When it was announced that Oasis would be making a return, the question on everyone's mind was, "Who will open for them?" The anticipation was high, with many names being thrown around as potential opening acts. As a fan, I was eagerly waiting for the Gallagher brothers to reveal their chosen artist.
But when it was finally announced that Richard Ashcroft would be the "very special guest" for next year's shows in Cardiff, London, Manchester, and Dublin, I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Richard or the Gallagher brothers, but let's face it, he's just a really boring choice.
Liam Gallagher even took to Twitter to defend the decision, stating that there are levels to this game and the young bands crying about not being chosen as the support act are just not on their level. But for me, this was a missed opportunity to showcase the many talented bands that Britain has produced in recent years.
I couldn't help but wish that Oasis had taken a leaf out of Taylor Swift's book when it comes to choosing support acts. The Eras Tour was a perfect example of how established artists can give a platform to up-and-coming musicians, potentially helping them become the next big thing.
And it's not like Richard Ashcroft and The Verve are a bad group. In fact, Noel Gallagher once called Richard a "genius" and his vocals are undeniably impressive. But as a fan, I'm just not excited to see him on stage. It's not a bad choice, but it's not a choice that gets me pumped up for the show either.
In fact, the whole situation has me worried for the future of music. Oasis was a symbol of Britpop at its height, when British artists dominated the charts. But now, homegrown talents struggle to compete with big American acts in the world of streaming. And in 2024, only two songs by British artists topped the Official Charts in the UK.
Established musicians like the Gallagher brothers have an opportunity to give back to the industry that made them famous. And while it's not their job to fix the slow and painful collapse of the British music scene, their choice of support act could have gone a long way in boosting the UK's music industry.
A support act is meant to warm up the crowd and introduce them to new artists. And with Oasis headlining, these 2025 concerts are already nostalgic throwbacks. So why not use this opportunity to showcase some of the talented bands that the UK has right now? Bands like The Courteeners, Blossoms, and Lottery Winners could have really benefited from the exposure.
And let's not forget about the female-led groups like Pale Waves and English Teacher, who could have used this show to change their lives. But instead, we get a nostalgia act that appeals to fans who think music peaked in the late 90s.
But Liam Gallagher seems to think that it's not their responsibility. He defended the decision by saying that there are levels to this game and most young bands are just not on their level. I want to believe that this means Oasis has more support acts to announce, but I'm not so sure.
Maybe their egos are too big, or maybe they just don't want to follow in Taylor Swift's footsteps. But as a fan, I can't help but feel disappointed. We deserve better than this. What do you think about Oasis' choice of support act? Share your thoughts in the comments below. And if you have a story to share, email us at jess.email. Thank you for reading.
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