Oasis have now officially confirmed the next support act for their massive UK and Ireland reunion tour next year– and it’s a familiar name.
The news that the Gallagher brothers were finally reuniting over a decade and a half on from their sudden split shook the world earlier this year and ever since people have been wondering who they’ll be taking along with them on their first shows together since V Festival back in 2009.
After fellow Greater Manchester native and Wigan legend, Richard Ashcroft was unveiled as the first support act, the official Oasis social media accounts have now revealed that Liverpool band Cast are set to be their second warm-up act.
It’s going to be an all-North West affair – now that’s something we can get behind.
Announced on Monday morning, 28 October, both Oasis and their soon-to-be Scouse tour-mates shared respective announcements on their pages, confirming that Cast will be the opening act for each domestic date with the former Verve frontman set to serve as the main support artist.
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Writing on their socials, the indie rock veterans said: “We are delighted to confirm that we will be supporting Oasis as part of their worldwide tour, in the UK and Ireland performances in 2025, with Richard Ashcroft. Tickets are sold out, and we can’t wait to see you all for these BIBLICAL shows.”
The news didn’t come as too much of a surprise, to be honest; not only did Cast support Liam on his solo 30th-anniversary tour of Definitely Maybe earlier this year, but the iconic singer also did plenty of teasing on X (formerly Twitter) as per usual.
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However, while plenty of people are understandably buzzing to see the big regional names all out on the road together, others are a little surprised and even disappointed by it, mainly because of the dream the Oasis reunion lineup they’d conjured in their heads.
Really surprised blossoms aren't, considering they announced it at Wythenshawe
Understandably many fans did think that the likes of Blossoms might be tagging along for the tour given they helped announce the comeback at their massive Wythenshawe Park gig, Cast and Richard Ashcroft look to be the only artists joining them for the reunion shows.
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That being said, there’s still time for a late surprise and Liam has already taken his son’s band Villanelle on the road with him recently. Watch this space.
Plus, the pair were only confirmed for the UK and Ireland gigs so maybe we’ll see a different duo selected for the North American, Australian and seemingly ever-unfolding world tour.
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Press Image (supplied)
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One giant house party – Ne-Yo and Akon at Co-op Live, Manchester
Hollie Wells
‘So Sick’ of seeing pilates and matcha; when all you need is a messy naughties night out? Iconic duo Ne-Yo and Akon can, apparently, take you there.
Imagine the best house party of the 2010s with 20,000 of your favourite guests on perfect form, and you know what Co-op Live has been like for the last two nights for R&B royalty Ne-Yo and Akon.
Hosting a collaborative catalogue of bangers from both the stars, the atmosphere was buzzing with nostalgia and a readiness to have the ‘Time of Our Lives.’
Not only were we treated to two icons, they shared the stage with amazingly talented dancers, performing on the ground and in the sky, and perfectly embodying the showmanship of Ne-Yo and AKON and amplifying the party atmosphere.
It feels like there are endless group numbers, and if that wasn’t enough, these dancers start hanging on aerial silks from the rafters of Co-op Live by one foot and dropping into the splits on Ne-Yo’s lap. Casual.
This is a night for screaming timeless heartbreak anthems like ‘Angel’ and ‘Lonely’, throwing some ‘Dangerous’ dance moves, and throwing your arms around your best pal while copious amounts of confetti fall over you.
Not only did we get the classics, the packed audience of party people were presented with a dance-battle style compilation of tunes that the singer-songwriters were involved with.
And of course, they had a plethora of perfect numbers, including Rhianna’s ‘Hate that I Love You’, Gwen Stefani’s ‘The Sweet Escape’ and Beyoncé’s ‘Irreplaceable.’ A triad of divas, and these songs never get old.
With a running time of two hours and forty minutes, it is clear that these two are not short on hits.
Needing an interval at a gig is a flex and I would confidently say this Manchester crowd would have parted all night long, particularly the three lucky ladies who were called on stage to two-step with Ne-Yo. The office wont believe that on Monday.
If you’re craving a time-hop to 2010 and a setlist with zero flops, you’re in safe hands with Ne-Yo and Akon.
Rare picture of David Bowie’s legendary one-off gig in Stockport unearthed
Danny Jones
A rare picture taken from the night of the late, great David Bowie’s legendary one-off gig in Stockport has been unearthed by a local whilst digging through his loft.
Imagine having that kind of history just squirrelled away in an attic…
As revealed by Stockport Music Story, after being supplied with the image by David Maynard, the snap was shared more than half a century on from the much-mythologised moment in Greater Manchester music history.
In fact, it was put on display and posted on social media quite literally 56 years to the day since Bowie played his only Stopfordian set on 27 April, 1970.
Maynard himself is featured in the newly discovered photograph (second from the left) and was one of the select and lucky few who were in the room for that very special show.
Organised by a group of teens on behalf of the Stockport Schools’ Students’ Union, the performance took place at the long-gone Poco a Poco music venue and club over in Heaton Chapel.
The storied space hosted many big names over the years – Gerry Marsden, Freddie Starr, Hank Marvin and more – but sadly closed in May of 1987 following a fire.
It went on to become the popular Hinds Head pub, which still serves punters to this day, but once had the honour of hosting a true artistic great and British icon.
For anyone wondering, this is indeed the same night on which David Robert Jones (yes, that’s Bowie‘s full birth name) missed his train home and had to sleep on the railway platform.
Here’s a BBC segment covering the tale back on its 55th anniversary in April 2025.
It may be a small and somewhat curious claim to fame, but native love the legend of it all nonetheless.
As for the other individuals pictured alongside him, Stockport Music Story (SMS) said: “The names of the people we know are David Maynard (2nd left), Roz Wood (3rd left), David Bowie, Bill Frost (2nd right), Stewart Rigby (right).”
They go on to add: “It would be amazing to find out who the other people in the photograph are and what they remember from that night.” We sincerely hope they do.
You can now see the plaque up close and personal at Stockport Station for yourselves and as for SMS’s growing archive of the region’s creative culture, you can find out tonnes more about other pieces of SK heritage right HERE.
Danny Jones -
28th October 2024 
