SZA is soon set to touch-down on UK soil, and she’s coming to visit us here in Manchester for the first stop on her major tour.
It’s been a good few years since SZA’s hit the road, but 2023 is the year that sees the powerhouse US singer-songwriter – real name Solána Imani Rowe – head out on tour to celebrate her second studio album, SOS, which was released to critical acclaim last December, and shot to the top of the albums chart in America and reached number two here in the UK.
It came five years after the release of her debut album Ctrl, which went on to sell over five million copies worldwide.
As well as selling millions of records, and claiming her first number one single with ‘Kill Bill’ earlier this year, SZA has also scooped up masses of awards – including a Grammy, two MTV VMAs, and two Billboard Music Awards, as well as an Oscar nomination for ‘All The Stars’ with Kendrick Lamar.
Not only is SZA one of the most respected artists among her peers, and one of the most loved by critics within the music industry, but she also has a loyal fan base supporting her every step of the way, and tens of thousands of those fans will get to see her sing the hits live as she takes to the stage here in Manchester.
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Heading to see SZA at the AO Arena? Here’s everything you need to know.
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When is SZA playing in Manchester?
Manchester is just one of three UK cities that SZA has chosen for the European leg of her S.O.S tour – with the singer also set to perform up in the Scottish capital of Glasgow later this week, before performing two night’s at London’s O2 Arena shortly after.
She will take to the stage here in Manchester on Tuesday 13 June.
With the AO Arena having a maximum gig capacity of 21,000, fans in their thousands are expected to travel to our city from far and wide to see SZA in a rare live UK appearance.
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Are there any tickets still available?
Given that SZA isn’t known for heading out on tour very often, especially not here in the UK, tickets to see her in Manchester were in pretty high demand when they first went on sale back in April – but now, it does seem like there are some still available if you’re looking to grab yourself one.
At the time of writing, a quick search on Ticketmaster shows both standing and seating tickets available, however they are a little pricer than when they first went on sale – with seated tickets starting at £98, and floor standing at £181.
As always, if you try to buy tickets second-hand, please make sure you’re using a reputable resale site so you don’t get caught out by scammers.
Who is supporting SZA in Manchester?
If getting to see SZA live wasn’t enough, fans who head to the AO Arena a little earlier are also in for a real treat when it comes to the support act, as one of the UK’s fastest-rising music names is also taking to the stage in Manchester.
Raye will be supporting SZA in Manchester / Credit: Publicity picture
Raye
Raye – real name Rachael Keen – is a British singer-songwriter who initially rose to prominence after being featured on a number of commercially-successful singles, including ‘By Your Side’, ‘You Don’t Know Me’, ‘Secrets’, and ‘Bed’ – but in 2022, she decided to step out on her own to properly make a name for herself.
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The 25-year-old received further recognition as a solo artist after her single ‘Escapism’ reached the top of the UK Singles Chart, and also became her first song to chart in the US.
She released her debut studio album, My 21st Century Blues, to critical acclaim back in February.
What’s the potential setlist?
We all know artists tend to switch up their setlists from gig to gig and throw in a few surprises here and there, depending on the energy of the crowd and what they’re feeling that night, but it does seem like SZA has roughly been following a particular order of songs since her 2023 European tour began earlier this month.
SZA released her second album, SOS, in December 2022 / Credit: Publicity picture
Stage Times
Although everything is subject to change, and it’s always best to keep your eye on the venue’s official messaging on the day of the event to get the latest stage times, the AO Arena has confirmed that doors will be opening at 6pm for the SZA gig on Tuesday 13 June.
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Raye is expected to perform from 7:30pm, before a short interval follows, and SZA then takes to the stage any time before 9pm.
The 30 greatest Oasis songs of all time
Danny Jones
We still keep having to pinch ourselves every time we realise Oasis are actually back but it’s not some ‘Idler’s Dream’: they really are and it’s also left us wondering what their very best songs are.
Of course, we’re not going to pretend we’re the first to write up a list of the best Oasis songs of all time – there’s probably more of them online than there are actual tracks to choose from – but that doesn’t mean we won’t join in.
So, in what we’re calling a very rough order because it was very hard to play favourites, here is Audio North‘s definitive list of the greatest songs Oasis ever put out and, hopefully, we’ll get to hear all of them on the reunion tour.
Let’s split some opinions, shall we?
The 30 best Oasis songs of all time
Come on, cutting it down to even 20 is simply impossible…
30. The Hindu Times
Kicking off our round-up of the best Oasis songs ever with plenty people have still never even tried out.
Perhaps it’s for that incredible intro alone but we felt compelled to start this big list of our Oasis favourites with the criminally underappreciated 2002 track, ‘The Hindu Times’. That still riff pops into our heads every couple of days even all these years later and if it’s one you’ve never heard before, fix it now.
29. Wonderwall
Yes, get angry all you like, ‘Wonderwall’ is going in super early because we all know what we think of this incredibly ubiquitous, unquestionably successful, popular and catchy worldwide smash hit. The only reason it’s low on the list is because it’s so overplayed that we kind of hate it sometimes. You get it.
We know it has to be on any list of the best Oasis songs but you’ve heard ‘Mr Brightside’ a million times before too, so you understand…
28. Married With Children
This stripped-back little number always felt like Liam’s answer to ‘Half The World Away’, at least in spirit, and like it could have just as easily become the Royle Family theme. We’re not sure whether it was the short run-time or lack of demand live that ultimately held it back, but we’ve still got a soft spot for it.
From some of the oldest to their most recent (well, 2008, but still) and the first of just two picks off their seventh and final album before breaking up, Dig Out Your Soul. It still feels like a really mature and introspective release that stands out just as much now as it did then. Deserved to be on a better record.
This album had so much potential when you look back at songs like this.
26. Whatever
The first time the Burnage boys got close to channelling those Beatles influences they made so apparent when breaking onto the scene, only with the cockiness of the younger Gallagher brother making the whole thing feel more modern. An orchestral pop-rock banger perfect for turning crowds into choirs.
The game changes when violins are involved.
25. Let There Be Love
Our first of a few picks from the admittedly middling Don’t Believe The Truth but, again, a moment in which we got to hear a softer side from both of them. Hearing Liam and Noel going back on forth on this one still warms our hearts, just as the song title hoped it would and those repetitions at the end are great.
Secretly one of the best “shyyyyiiiine” moments ever and also one of the first examples of the legendary Britpop band indulging themselves in a truly extended play, multiple breakouts and solos as well as some classic crowd participation “na na nas”, ‘All Around The World’ is just such a well-rounded track.
A really underrated track if you ask us.
23. Acquiesce
Next up is one that the older we got the less it feels like a cult classic – instead, it’s just a really good song that transcended it’s B-side origins to represent Oasis swagger in a nutshell. Noel was still clearly learning how to sing at this point and maybe it should have been Liam but we still enjoy it nonetheless.
How much do we reckon Oasis playing at Maine Road would cost nowadays?
For some reason, this is still one of our earliest memories of Oasis – downloading it onto a very early generation iPod and listening to it on repeat until the earphones practically gave out – and it’s also just a rammer. Maybe it’s the simplicity of the pounding guitar and chorus but we’ve always rated ‘Lyla’.
One of the most memorable choruses they ever produced even if it was never their biggest tune, we’re still eternally grateful that Oasis made ‘Cast No Shadow’, and not just because it gave its name to the likes of canal boats and one of our favourite spots in Ancoats.
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20. The Importance of Being Idle
Ok, now we’re getting into the nitty gritty: in a number 20 is ‘The Importance of Being Idle’, which still feels like one of the most dramatic and generally theatrical pieces of music they ever put out. The literary references are there to see in the title, the video and so on, it also feels a little bit like something out of a Western at times.
There are some Southern American influences going on here and some very good acting from Rhys Ifans.
19. Talk Tonight
Back to the more gentle stuff and arguably Noel‘s best singing even to this day, not to mention a love letter to how stunning and emotional simply letting to blokes strum acoustic guitars can sound. We always felt the claps were a bit unnecessary but songwriting really is the star of the show here.
It’s one of the songs most synonymous with Oasis simply, not least because of the hit 2016 documentary of the same name and the associations with the infamous Knebworth weekend and it really is a great tune, it’s just always felt formulaic to be up there with the big boys. A truly iconic guitar solo though.
On this list not only as it was a proper rager that they still managed to put together when relationships were souring but because we still remember the first time we heard it: sat watching a highlight reel of the weekend’s footy on Soccer AM with this as the soundtrack. The best song on the whole Dig Out Your Soul album.
Quietly one of the best things they ever did.
16. Songbird
In at sweet 16 was Liam’s first foray into songwriting long before his solo career started and short and sweet is very much the operative prhase here. Created as a tribute to his fiancée at the time, it did feel like something different for band, and as straightforward as it may be it’s still a beautiful little number.
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There’s a bit of Paul McCartney about it there’s also some lovely folky production with the keys and the twinkly outro.
15. She’s Electric
Halfway mark and possibly one of the happiest tracks not only off their sensational sophomore album (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? but maybe of their entire catalogue. Upbeat, strutty and bluesy, She’s Electric is a rare but surviving indie athem from the otherwise usually in your face rockers.
Where does this rank on your list of the greatest Oasis songs ever?
14. Stand By Me
in a very similar vein to ‘All Around The World’ in some respects, this was another time that they did a pretty decent Beatles impression, at least tonally, and where the heavy use of strings on Be Here Now was well placed. Nowadays it’s on Halifax adverts but for us it will always be a drunken pub song with your mates.
Reading and Leeds out in full voice.
13. Rock ‘n’ Roll Star
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Might as well rename it Ronseal because it does what is says on the tin: a quintessential Oasis track which simply has to be considered one of their best songs ever purely because it sums up everything they were about it from the beginning to the end. There’s no intellectualising this one, it’s just a rammer – even as a cover.
Yet another major Morning Glory moment that typifies a lot of what still makes Oasis the best thing since sliced bread. You can practically hear Liam leaning in and out from the microphone and the layered vocals make it feel like a stadium song; plus, “standing at the station” will forever be a satisfying earworm/vocal stim.
The simple but heartwarming B-side that became one of the nation’s most beloved singalongs, as well being made even more famous after becoming the intro and outro to one of our greatest sitcoms of all time. If you don’t want to wrap your arms round a mate and sway side to side when this comes on, there’s something wrong with you. Just beautiful.
Ok, serious business and we’re about to start p***ing people off but just know that we don’t mean to. Breaking into the top 10 is ‘Little By Little’, a.k.a. one of Noel’s finest moments and not least because of how that music video (also one of the greatest of all time) makes you feel when you watch it. Sublime.
Big up Robert Carlyle.
9. Live Forever
It’s voted the best British song in history pretty much every year at this point and it’s not hard to see why. ‘Live Forever’ makes us feels things, no matter whether it’s big or little brother singing it and it pretty much changed the game for what music coming out of the UK could sound like. Iconic.
This was a special way to hear it.
8. Cigarettes & Alcohol
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Very much like ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’ but dialled up to 11, this is just one of the coolest songs ever written in our books and as close to pure punk as they ever came. Liam Gallagher’s snarling vocal style at it’s very best and one of the greatest moments of our lives. We can’t wait to do it all over again at Heaton Park.
l mean, the epitome of Manchester music had to be in the top 10, didn’t it? See, this is where songs sit on the very edge of being overplayed but never teeter too far onto the wrong side of the fence. There are very few British anthems that get every single person belting back every word and we will always love it.
Oasis attitude once encapsulated in just over five minutes of what we can only describe as a rock and roll masterclass. One of the greatest intros to a song of all time and also some of the most fun a field full of people can ever physically have jumping up and down to a song. Roll on summer 2025.
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Some of the best British rock ever made.
5. The Masterplan
We can’t lie, the last few picks have been hard enough as it is put top five territory is night on impossible. That being said, for now, we feel like one of the greatest B-sides ever written has to be in there. The lyrics, the moments of quiet before the swelling brass sections; the big band feel of it all – it’s just a complex, spellbinding song as die-hard Oasis fans know all too well.
And a great Lowry-esque animated video to boot.
4. Champagne Supernova
We will never get over the first time we heard those waves slowly washing us up on the shore and the feeling of that softly psychedelic, sun-soaked and yet somehow late-night-sounding guitar coming in. Makes you want to lay your head back and let go all of your problems – and learn to play the harmonica.
A delicious fever dream of a musical experience.
3. Slide Away
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Definitely Maybe is full of belters (in other news, water is still wet), but we don’t know if there’s a moment on it with more effortless style than ‘Slide Away’. It makes us want to put on a climb on a mate’s shoulders, swing our wide arms up, forget the world’s still turning and sing our hearts out. Speaking of…
Still sounds immense even to this day.
2. Stop Crying Your Heart Out
Taking the silver medal is the single greatest song on all of Heathen Chemistry and that’s ‘Stop Crying Your Heart’. We don’t know about you, but we get always more moved seeing a bunch of Mancs in a group singing this than any of the usual suspects. A punchy ballad that we wish they made more of.
Everyone sings this song with the same passion.
1. Don’t Go Away
That’s right, we’ve come to the end of the road and reached our controversial choice for the greatest Oasis of all time and, in our humble opinion, is the utterly gorgeous and eternally heartbreaking ‘Don’t Go Away’. For our money, it’s the best Liam’s vocals ever sounded, the simultaneously soft and sticky guitar is as vulnerable and full of ache and longing as LG’s voice and the strings add that uplifting overtone.
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In fact, for all that has been said about the mastering of Be Here Now, this is the one moment in which they definitely nailed it. Don’t like it? Then in this instance, you can go away.
You may notice some notable exemptions like ‘Roll With It’, ‘Shakermaker’, ‘D’You Know What I Mean?’ or maybe even ‘Gas Panic’ for that small enclave of fans that are still weirdly stan-ing on the shoulder of giants (it’s ok, you can admit it wasn’t their best), but feel free to skewer us in the comments.
As mentioned, we’ve struggled to put this in any real order and we really could have been here forever and ranked their complete discography, but you’ve given us enough of your time and still very much look forward to hearing how wrong we were.
However, not as much as look forward to hearing these songs live on the long awaited reunion tour and, who knows? Maybe we’ll hear some surprises too…
Us when we saw those LG tweets:
Seriously now, @liamgallagher – is new Oasis music REALLY on the horizon?… 👀
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Oasis (via YouTube screenshot)
Audio
Has Liam Gallagher just casually confirmed that a new Oasis album is coming?
Danny Jones
Liam Gallagher is playing his usual social media mind games to perfection as it looks like he might have just revealed that a new Oasis album is on the way.
Keeping close watch on his social media needs to be someone’s full-time job, honestly.
The younger Gallagher sibling and his older brother Noel have finally patched things up after a decade and a half and barring a big bust-up on the first day of their upcoming reunion shows, the world will soon be able to see them back touring again next summer.
A comeback on its own was something we never thought we’d actually live to see come to fruition but now it looks like not only will be once again seeing the Burnage boys performing their many hits but they may or may not have been working on a new Oasis album. It all started back in September, actually.
Liam, 52, has been enjoying some playful back-and-forth with Oasis fans ever since the comeback was confirmed in August and the talk of new/unreleased music has been rumbling for a while.
Responding to a fan on 7 September, who asked point blank if it was true that a new album was on the way, “Yep it’s already finished.”
Then, as the days rolled into November, LG began swapping out the usual ‘RASTAS’ and ‘BUMBALCART’ tweets with two very random on-brand and what we presumed were merely innocuous words: “SPIRITUAL” and, most recently, “CELESTIAL”.
For a man who’s said the word ‘biblical’ more times than he’s had hot dinners, we didn’t make too much of it initially, but it was in his response to other fans on Saturday, 2 November and earlier this week that’s started to grab attention, even responding to a so-called leak about the number of the track listing.
As always, take this stuff with a big ol’ pinch of salt.
All that being said, the last time he did this sort of stuff it was about the support acts for the Oasis reunion tour and he wasn’t lying then, so who knows? Maybe we really are going to get the long-awaited eighth album from Oasis for the first time since 2008.
Elsewhere, the frontman has been joking that he and Noel are practically the best of friends nowadays and almost pretending that there was never any bad blood, adding that he’ll be on his “best behaviour” when they head out on the road for their first tour date at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff in July.
Liam has also made it clear he’d much rather keep the Oasis reunion train rolling after the ‘Live ’25 World Tour’ ends than return to a solo career – as for Noel, he could always go back to his High Flying Birds project or maybe even switch industries…
Emily Sergeant -
11th June 2023 
