In a gig we waited seven years for, Sampha proved he is the master of his craft.
Celebrating his second album, LAHAI, Mercury Prize-winner Sampha headlined his first Manchester show in nearly seven years last night.
And it was well worth the wait.
As one of only two UK stops on his 2024 tour, we felt extremely lucky to watch the UK breakout star take to the stage at Aviva Studios.
Taking place in the formidable warehouse space, excitable crowds flocked in a circular motion to secure their spot around the stage.
For such a vast space, performing in-the-round created a real sense of intimacy that wouldn’t have been made possible in any other venue.
Image: Supplied
Gazing onto the stage filled with electronic keyboards, synthesisers and drums – the anticipation to see someone who’s since grown to be a global icon since last in the city was truly immense.
But we didn’t have to wait long as the London-born singer songwriter plunged us straight into the deep end with emotive hit Plastic 100°C.
An honest reflection of both love and fear, Sampha and his incredible band had us enamoured from the very start and we knew we were in for a great night.
His new album, LAHAI, shows just how much he’s grown since first breaking out on the music scene back in 2017.
From what was first heart-wrenching meditations of discovery now had sounds of acceptable and joy throughout, and truly it was a joy to hear.
Making his way through the album we of course were treated with tender ballad (No One Knows Me) Like The Piano, and even as the first chords were struck there was a communal sigh amongst the audience.
There were most definitely some wet eyes amongst the crowd as Sampha wistfully opened up his heart to us.
Image: Supplied
But it wasn’t all melancholy meditations, Sampha and his crew jumped around the stage interacting with the audience, at one point communally banging a drum in the centre of the stage.
The new tracks took unexpected twists and turns, introducing flavours of jazz, soul, rap, dance and jungle which the band and himself merged seamlessly with their already mastered R&B genre.
Highlights included the vocally layered Suspended and piano-heavy Dancing Circles, both of which I’m sure many of us played through our speakers as soon as we got in (myself included).
Ending triumphantly with Blood On Me, the lights turned red on Aviva Studios as we danced as a singular and were reminded just what a talent Sampha truly is.
And we left hoping he wouldn’t leave it another seven years until he comes back.
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.
Clementine Hall -
16th February 2024 
