An extremely rare Oasis gig contract that requests “sober-speaking” staff members is to be auctioned off this month.
The Primary Talent International contract was drawn up on 18th April 1994.
This was just a few weeks ahead the iconic Manchester band’s show at The Old Trout in Berkshire on 7th May, and three months before they released their debut album Definitely Maybe.
The venue had played host to other Britpop names of the era including Oasis’ chart-rivals Blur, as well as performances from groups such as Everything But The Girl, fellow Manchester band Inspiral Carpets, Spiritualized and Pop Will Eat Itself.
If “sober-speaking” staff wasn’t a bizarre enough request for a contract as it is though, that’s not all it specifies either, as a two-course meal that’s “not fast food”, water, fruit juice and soft drinks are also among the catering requests that feature, as well as a comprehensive snack list of “crisps, nuts, biscuits, fresh fruit (minimum of eight pieces)”, which is seen scribbled out.
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And of course, as most Oasis fans would expect, “24 large cans of quality lager” was the main request.
If you’re wondering what the “sober-speaking” staff are for, it was requested that the venue management should provide them to “assist the band’s road crew” in moving equipment and setting up the stage.
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Hansons AuctioneersHansons Auctioneers
The paperwork is expected to sell for up to £1,500 at Hansons Auctioneers in Derbyshire later this month.
Hansons said the seller is a woman who worked in the music industry and bought it directly from a man who organised gigs at The Old Trout at the time, and she is looking to sell the contract, along with a flyer advertising the gig, ahead of her retirement.
A music memorabilia specialist at Hansons said items like this were “extremely rare”.
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Claire Howell – Music Memorabilia Specialist at Hansons – said: “Items like this are extremely rare and this lot comes with great provenance. It also includes a flyer advertising the gig.
“It’s valued at £1,000-£1,500 but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it sell for more.
“It could easily whip up a bidding frenzy among fans at auction, such is the enduring popularity and nostalgia for Oasis. The seller is a lady who worked in the music industry and amassed an interesting collection over the years [and] she is now looking to sell some specialist pieces ahead of retirement”.
Hansons Auctioneers
Claire continued: “The contract was purchased directly from a man who organised gigs at the time.
“Memorabilia linked to Britpop bands from the 1990s is gaining in value and UK groups don’t come much bigger than Oasis.
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“This 27-year-old find has certainly brought memories of the band’s early days flooding back.”
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The paperwork is set to go for auction at Hansons Auctioneers’ music memorabilia sale on 23rd March, and you can find more information ahead of the sale here.
Music
Peter Hook announces special career-spanning city centre show, with a veteran Manc band supporting
Danny Jones
Local music legend Peter Hook and his live touring partners, ‘The Light’, have announced a special career-spanning anniversary gig right here in Manchester, chronicling his incredible music career.
The former Joy Division member and subsequent New Order co-founder is celebrating 50 years in the business next year, and is marking the occasion with a comprehensive and retrospective live show come the summer.
Arguably one of the most influential musicians to have ever come out of the region, the Salford-born bassist and now lead singer of his own solo outfit (still playing countless hits from his extremely lengthy discography, of course) is now 69 years old and still going strong.
In fact, that’s exactly what they’ll be doing for the landmark live show: playing some of the biggest and best tunes from his various projects over the decades he’s spent in the studio and on the stage.
Suitably shared in Haçienda/Sex Pistol-coloured announcement poster, not only will Hook be revisiting Joy Division’s seminal debut album, Unknown Pleasures, but he’ll be going back through everything from Power Corruption & Lies by New Order to his lesser-known works.
Be it his 1995 side project, Monaco, or the recently unearthed Freebass collab with the likes of Andy Rourke, Tim Burgess, and the late, great ‘Mani’ from the Stone Roses, fans of the avid audiophile and prolific live performer are in for a real treat.
Having toured this storied material extensively, Peter Hook and the Light have now amassed over 800 concerts as a band. For the Greater Manchester native himself, it’s an incredible feat to make in the music industry, full stop, let alone reach half a century in it.
As for the Pistols connection, ‘Hooky‘ just happened to be one of several future Manc icons like half of The Smiths and The Fall, Factory Records’ own Tony Wilson, John Cooper Clarke, and even his then-soon-to-be Joy Division bandmate turned New Order lead singer, Bernard Sumner.
It’s a fairly safe bet you’ll find the post-punk veteran and plenty more of his peers in the crowd for another major music milestone in 2026.
It’s this particular date the group are toasting that motivated Hook to go out and buy a guitar.
Even more fittingly, this 50th anniversary gig will also see the group joined by another veteran rock band from the region, as fellow local punk sons, The Buzzocks from Bolton, who also formed after THAT very same gig at Lesser Free Trade Hall in ’76.
Early access tickets for the exclusive show at Manchester Academy next June go on pre-sale this Wednesday, 3 December; general admission will be available from Friday, 5 December.
We had the honour of chatting with the man, the myth, the legend, once again back in February 2024, when our Audio North arm was still known as ‘The Manc Audio’.
Rising Manchester band M60 announce biggest UK headline tour to date
Danny Jones
Local lads M60 have announced their biggest UK headline tour yet, and are now only set to play their lengthiest run of live dates, but the largest Manchester gig they’ve played so far.
There’s nothing quite like a hometown crowd, is there?
For those who may not have yet come across them before, the Manc indie band have had a good couple of years, releasing some of their best-produced music to date and growing an even bigger following up and down the country.
If you’ve been to see M60 live here in Manchester, you’ll know they already bring a die-hard crowd of deeply loyal and passionate fans. They’re also the band that famously and successfully pestered Gary Neville every day to give them a shout-out for the best part of a year…
Revealing the latest series of shows to start off December, M60 have confirmed nearly a dozen gig dates in the new year.
Scheduled to get underway next spring, they’ll be playing throughout the month of April and into May 2026; official support act(s) are yet to be signed up, but you can expect more native talent to share in the spotlight.
You can see the full list of gigs announced down below.
M60 live tour dates – 2026
Oh, and we’ve also kindly highlighted the other Northern dates for you, just in case you can’t make it to the Manc one.
Thursday, 9 April – Liverpool District
Friday, 10 April – Sheffield Foundry
Saturday, 11 April – Leeds Key Club
Thursday, 16 April – Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
Friday, 17 April – London Oslo
Saturday, 18 April – Bristol Thekla
Thursday, 23 April – Birmingham Mama Roux’s
Friday, 24 April – Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Saturday, 25 April – Manchester O2 Ritz
Friday, 1 May – Glasgow Nice N Sleazy
Saturday, 2 May – Newcastle The Grove
Music video budget be damned, it’s still a good tune.
Having released their latest single ‘Lemonade’, along with a rather fitting new brand logo, the group are looking to kick on in 2026.
With new lead guitarist, Owen Baldwin, joining the quartet earlier this year, not to mention having played big festival slots at the likes of Kendal Calling, Neighbourhood and more this past summer, we have every faith they will.
Tickets for their huge homecoming performance at O2 Ritz in Manchester on Saturday, 25 April 2026, go on general sale this Friday, 5 December at 10am.
Emily Sergeant -
9th March 2021 
