Remember when everyone started wondering why ‘Tony McCarroll’ was trending on social media before suddenly realising they might have cocked up getting an Oasis pre-sale code? Us too, and with just a few months until the band’s reunion tour kicking off, he’s sent a message to the boys.
For most Oasis fans, the idea of an actual comeback was something they’d long dreamt of, but one they had mostly resigned themselves to the fact that it was something that was probably never really going to come true.
With that in mind, one man who was not only there at the very start of the phenomenon that was Oasis but – for one day, at the very least – was perhaps the most Googled person on the planet, has shared a heartfelt message of support; here’s what Tony McCarroll had to say ahead of a truly massive summer:
Sharing a sentiment that many of us headed into the new year echoing after we’d learned of the Oasis reunion, the 53-year-old began simply saying, “2025 is shaping up alright, isn’t it?!
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“Almost a lifetime ago, a few Burnage lads got together and created something special. Something that time can’t out date, the start of a wave that’s evidently still rolling with the last real band before the world changed.
“Oasis captured the time and minds of the people; we were the same as them, and they felt it. The connection. Over the last year or two, I’ve noticed something new in the gig and QnA crowds…. youth. The circle has started again lads. A new generation ready to start a journey of listening.”
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The original Oasis drummer, who quit the band in 1995 and was replaced by long-standing replacement Alan White, confessed: “Actually, I’m a bit jealous of that blank canvas they’re about to start on”
“Lads, the world is excited to see this, it’s all people are talking about. The time ‘feels’ right, I can’t wait to see how it all goes down”, he went on to say.
Adressing Liam, Noel, Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs and Gem Archer directly before adding, “I better stop there as I’m not sure who else”, McCarroll wished them the best of luck and reminding them to make sure they “stop and take it in”.
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As he touched on, the full band lineup for the Oasis reunion shows is yet to be officially confirmed but we’ve had pretty strong indications as to who we can expect to be returning.
Last but not least, he went on to quip, “If the drummer fancies a stage partner for ‘Supersonic’ at Heaton Park, give us a buzz” – now what a moment that would be, eh?
“What we started back in The Boardwalk days, has become this. Be proud. I f***** am! Enjoy it”, he signs off. Whether or not he has any regrets that he wasn’t part of the latter decade or so they spent as a bad or not, who knows? Even four years as part of one of the world’s biggest bands is quite something.
One thing that his message has proved for sure is that Tony McCarroll is just as excited to see Oasis come back this summer as every other fan on the planet and, original drummer, Alan White, Zak Starkey or otherwise, just hearing that first roar from the crowd is going to send chills down our collective spines.
For those of you lucky enough to grab tickets, what are you most looking forward to hearing?
Jewish leaders call for cancellation of huge Fontaines D.C. gigs in Heaton Park
Daisy Jackson
Jewish leaders have expressed ‘profound concerns’ regarding the two enormous Fontaines D.C. gigs taking place in Heaton Park next summer.
The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region has called for the shows to cancelled.
They said that ‘the safety of our community must be paramount’.
Irish rockers Fontaines D.C. have been outspoken at their concerts in the past in their support for Palestine, displaying ‘Free Palestine’ messaging on huge screens across the globe.
Now, the JRC has publicly expressed concerns about ‘the potential consequences of inflammatory rhetoric from the band’.
They added: “At a time of heightened antisemitism, the comments and chants associated with the band risks importing tensions from the Middle East into the UK, with Jewish people here becoming the targets.”
Fontaines D.C. are set to play two massive shows at Heaton Park next summer, on 3 and 4 July.
Manchester City Council has stressed that they will be working closely with members of the Jewish Representative Council as event management plans are developed, and added that ‘partners from the Council, emergency services including Greater Manchester Police (GMP), and event organisers, will comprehensively review the plans in place ahead the concerts’.
In a statement, the JRC said: “The JRC has registered our profound concerns with Manchester Council regarding Fontaines D.C.’s forthcoming concert at Heaton Park and has called for it to be cancelled.
“Despite our representations, it appears the concert will be going ahead. We expect and will be working with the council to ensure robust and adequate safeguards are in place to protect the Jewish community.
“We have no objection to Heaton Park hosting concerts.
“Our concerns are not about legitimate political expression but the potential consequences of inflammatory rhetoric from the band.
“At a time of heightened antisemitism, the comments and chants associated with the band risks importing tensions from the Middle East into the UK, with Jewish people here becoming the targets. The safety of our community must be paramount.”
A Manchester council spokesperson said: “We understand the very real concerns that members of our Jewish community have in the wake of the horrific antisemitic terrorist attack at Heaton Park Synagogue last year and a wider rise in antisemitism. Our thoughts remain not just with those who lost their lives and their loved ones but with the whole Jewish community.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with them in saying there is no place for antisemitism or discrimination of any form in Manchester and continue to work with the police, communities and other partners to provide reassurance and support.
“On the specific concerns expressed by some members of the Jewish community in relation to the two Heaton Park concerts in summer 2027, addressing these concerns will be front and centre in preparations for these events. We have met recently with members of the Jewish Representative Council and will continue to work closely with them as we develop event management plans.
“Partners from the Council, emergency services including Greater Manchester Police (GMP), and event organisers, will comprehensively review the plans in place ahead the concerts. This is standard practice for all major events in the city and is there to ensure events take place safely and successfully.
“In advance of the concerts, as with any other large-scale events, a thorough risk assessment of every aspect of the event will be carried out, focused on ensuring the safety and security of the event, its attendees and the wider community.
“The organisers, City Council and GMP will put in place suitable and proportionate mitigations and assurances to make sure that the concerts are delivered in full compliance with the licensing conditions. Organisers would also be happy to meet with concerned parties to help address any concerns. They are clear that discrimination or intimidation, including antisemitism, have no place at their events.”
Manchester’s beautiful winter Teepee is back, with free pints this weekend and live music every day
Daisy Jackson
Nothing heralds the arrival of the autumn/winter seasons quite like the appearance of The Oast House’s beautiful winter Teepee.
The popular seasonal space is officially reopening its doors this weekend, and inside you’ll find roaring fires, a giant disco ball, live music, and plenty of pints to keep the colder months feeling a little less grim.
After giving its beer garden a major glow-up this spring and hosting a summer packed with live music, The Oast House is bringing back one of Manchester’s favourite winter hangouts – and it’s kicking things off with a proper belter of an opening weekend.
We’re talking twinkling fairy lights, faux fur throws, and a dedicated bar pouring Staropramen fresh from the tank, all inside its massive winter Teepee.
And there’s even better news for the first few through the door.
To celebrate the Teepee’s return, The Oast House team will be cracking open a full tank of fresh Staropramen on Saturday 10 October, with free pints up for grabs for the first 440 guests.
There’ll be live music every night in the winter TeepeeManchester’s cosiest venue is back
The Teepee will be keeping things lively seven nights a week throughout autumn and winter, with The Oast House’s much-loved Open House programme moving indoors for the season.
Expect everything from Bandeoke and Musical Bingo to Retro Sounds and Oast Acoustic sessions, meaning there’ll be something different on the cards every night of the week.
The venue’s free monthly live music festival, Oast House Live, isn’t going anywhere either. It’ll continue inside the Teepee on the last Saturday of every month, bringing even more live music to the heart of Spinningfields.
Of course, it wouldn’t be The Oast House without a menu worth getting stuck into.
The kitchen will be serving up its 12-hour-brined rotisserie chicken, alongside a line-up of tempting sides like Ziggy Fries tossed in chicken salt and chicken butter, cheddar and onion slaw, and charred corn on the cob drenched in house-made Scotch bonnet butter.
Food in The Oast House Winter TeepeeThere’ll be 450 free pints given away on SaturdayRotisserie chicken
And if you’re after something a bit different, the house-special ‘addictive’ Chicken (T)oastie is one you won’t want to miss.
Sundays are all about the roast, too, with the kitchen dishing up its signature rotisserie chicken alongside chicken-butter roasties tossed in chicken salt, all the trimmings and bottomless house chicken gravy.
Basically, if you’re after somewhere to escape the cold without sacrificing a good night out, you know where to head.
The Oast House and its Winter Teepee are open daily from 11am until late throughout the season.
The Oast House Winter Teepee opens Saturday 10 October, with free Staropramen pints for the first 440 guests.
For more information and to book your table, head HERE.
Danny Jones -
8th April 2025 
