By now, it’s no secret that the music and events industry is on its knees.
The report, Music by Numbers 2020, found that 65% of musicians’ income would be lost in 2020. But that figure increased to 85% for the ones that rely on live performances and events.
We know that the Culture Recovery Fund has provided £1.7 billion in grants from the government, supporting venues, festivals and 75,000 jobs. But whilst some financial help has been available, the industry as a whole remains at a standstill. As we see venues announce their permanent closure on a weekly basis, we’d be fair to question how sustainable government grants are.
Plus, with major festivals like Glastonbury already announcing their cancellation, it’s clear the issues are more long term. We can expect more to follow suit in the coming weeks as it’s just not feasible to go ahead with their plans for the summer festival season.
On a more local level, Manchester’s music scene has experienced the same upheaval. Venues are in a state of despair and many musicians are losing faith.
The O2 Ritz
As emerging talent is finding it near impossible to break into an already tough industry, concerns have been raised about the future of music here. Not being able to perform live can massively limit an artist’s visibility and opportunities. COVID-19 is ultimately preventing an entire wave of new artists from pursuing a music career.
So that’s why Business & IP Centre Manchester (BIPC) are coming up with ways to inspire and motivate new and existing musicians.
They’ll be hosting a virtual event on 27 January, hosted by Inspiral Carpets’ bassist Martyn Walsh. From 6pm, there’ll be talks and live Q&A.
A panel of Music Industry luminaries featuring David Gedge, DJ NikNak, Mix-Stress, Jay Taylor & Lola Mitchell, hosted by Martyn Walsh in a full & frank discussion on the future of the UK's live music scene in 2021 & beyond
— BIPC Manchester #LibrariesFromHome (@BIPCManchester) January 25, 2021
They’ve invited a panel of industry experts to chat about the future of music in 2021. They’ll also explain how they’ve adapted their own music careers to overcome COVID-19 challenges – aiming to restore some much-needed hope back into Manchester’s music.
The panel of speakers will represent a variety of areas of the music industry, from artists to booking agents. Joining will be DJ Mix-Stress, DJ NikNak, Night and Day Café’s Jay Taylor, Lola Mitchell from booking agency 13 Artists as well as musician David Gedge.
Image: Mix Stress/Instagram
Organisers know how important it is for us to understand how different the music scene looks now. In doing so, they want to uncover new ways of approaching a music career and provide inspiration for those struggling to keep their current ones afloat.
Titled ‘Reset. Restart: Live Music in 2021… Where do we go from here’, the event forms part of the Reset. Restart programme run by the BIPC; which supports small businesses in their struggle through the pandemic by providing business future-proofing advice and training.
So, if you’re interested in learning how the music industry will look in 2021 or want some COVID-19 advice, get yourself signed up for the event here.
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Oasis merch prices as huge flagship stand opens in Manchester city centre
Daisy Jackson
An official Oasis merch stand has opened in the heart of Manchester, selling all the Gallagher-printed wares your heart could desire.
The Oasis Live ‘25 Touring Flagship Stand has sprung up on St Peter’s Square today, where it will remain for the duration of the Manchester reunion shows.
Stacked with everything from band tees to bucket hats, plus posters, tote bags, and that exclusive adidas x Oasis collection, the merch stand is already pulling in some serious queues.
And with a few days still to go until Oasis Live ‘25 hits Heaton Park (those dates, if they aren’t burned into your brain, are 11, 12, 16, 19 and 20 July) there’s still plenty more time to shop.
The merch stand has opened in addition to the official merch fan store across town in Spinningfields.
And it’s at the heart of the Music for the Senses art trail, which has seen painted guitar artworks installed all over the city centre.
Back to that Oasis merch stand in Manchester though – there are pieces from their adidas collection, including a sky blue (obviously) three-stripe long-sleeved jersey for £55, a tour jacquard football jersey for £85, and a classic Firebird track top for £90.
Event-specific merch like t-shirts in various colours emblazoned with the Oasis Live ‘25 artwork will set you back £40, and you can choose from photos of the brothers back together in 2025, or back in their pre-split heyday.
Oasis merch prices as huge flagship stand opens in Manchester city centre
There’s also a £70 black hoody with the tour dates on the sleeve, plus a What’s The Story blue-tone hoody for £70, and a blue tone sweatshirt for £50.
A range of posters starring Liam and Noel are priced at £40 apiece.
There’s an Oasis Live ‘25 tote bag for sale at the merch stand in town, which costs £20.
Then the most Manc item of all – a reversible bucket hat (black on one side with the Oasis logo in the centre, or a collage of Oasis logos on the other side) – is £35.
The stand is home to city-specific event items, exclusive adidas lines, and other exclusives.
The Oasis Live ’25 Touring Flagship Stand is open from 10am to 8pm Monday to Saturday, and 11am to 6pm on Sundays, then 10am to 7pm on Oasis show days.
Levi’s are the latest fashion brand to launch an Oasis collection
Danny Jones
In case you missed it amid the tidal wave of merch currently flooding our feeds and shops everywhere, global fashion brand Levi’s has become the latest label to launch an Oasis collection.
With the Live ’25 world tour now officially underway, it feels like not only are Oasis back on top, but that there’s a large-scale Britpop revival happening here in the UK and overseas.
In terms of fashion, the 1990s and early 2000s style has been steadily making its way into contemporary culture once again in recent years, but with seemingly every big name trying to hop on the marketing machine that is the Oasis reunion bandwagon, you can’t move for crossover.
Be they official collaborations like the one with Manchester City, adidas Originals; American fashion brand Abercrombie & Fitch bashing out merch, or a local t-shirt maker on Bury Market, that famous logo is absolutely everywhere – cue Levi’s latest launch:
Releasing just five or five main pieces (not including individual item variations), Levi’s Oasis gear has been kept pretty straightforward, simply relying on a less is more philosophy and the quality that the denim specialists are renowned for.
Nevertheless, there is an undeniably 90s feel to the approach.
As well as the standard Oasis band tee design, available in the brand’s main red, white and blue colour, as well as black, white and light blue – the Manchester City influences never stray too far, after all – there are a couple of other types of tee.
However, while we’re sure plenty of people might have a penchant for the parka, the undeniable star of the show for us is the Type II Trucker Jacket with the group’s name and ‘Live Forever’ stitched on the breast pocket.
Still, at £170, these sure-to-be collectors’ items don’t come cheap, and that’s not even the most expensive in the Levi’s x Oasis collection. Regardless, if you fancy treating yourself, you can find them here in Manchester and at the likes of The Trafford Centre.
Any of it pique your interest?
Don’t worry if not because, as mentioned, there is absolutely tonnes of Oasis clobber at various different price points all over the place at the minute.
Hannah Starkie -
25th January 2021 
