A reminder that only 11 of the 34 grassroots music venues that Oasis played on their first tour are still open
Music Venues Trust (MVT) has today (August 27) reminded Oasis fans that only 11 of the 34 grassroots venues they performed on their first tour remain open today.
The news was shared after the band finally reunited today following a 15 year hiatus. The band will embark on a huge stadium tour of the UK that will see them perform in Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin.
Amid this news, the MVT has pointed out that only 11 of the 34 grassroots venues where Oasis had their early shows remain open today. The band’s first tour was key in helping the band to develop a big grassroots following as well as helping them to develop and hone their craft before the release of their debut album, ‘Definitely Maybe’, propelled the band into the spotlight.
In a post on Instagram that included a graphic crossing out the venues that no longer exist, MVT wrote: “The sobering reality that only 11 of the 34 grassroots music venues that Oasis played on their first tour still exist today.
“Gone are 23 spaces that took a punt on a new band from Manchester who would become one of the most iconic in British music history. That’s 23 communities that aren’t getting the chance to hear the chords of the next ‘Definitely Maybe’ for the first time.
“Let’s protect the sacred live music spaces we have in the UK, ensuring that both fans and the next generation of superstars have the same opportunities @Oasis had.”
Some of the venues lost include the Angel in Bedford, Oxford polytechnic, Lucifer’s Mill in Dundee and the Wherehouse in Derby.
Figures from the UK grassroots live music scene spoke to NME previously about how 2023 was the “worst year for venue closures” – calling upon the upper echelons of the industry to contribute and for the government to introduce a mandatory ticket levy on arena and stadium gigs or face “disaster”.
Last year, it was revealed that the UK was set to lose 10 per cent of its grassroots music venues in 2023. An MVT report warned that grassroots gig spaces in the UK were “going over a cliff” – shutting off the pipeline of future talent without urgent government action and investment from new large arenas.
MVT’s stats showed that 2023 saw 125 grassroots venues shut down – causing a loss of 4,000 jobs, with 14,500 events no longer possible and 193,230 opportunities lost to musicians.
Earlier this year, the Music Venue Trust delivered their full report into the state of the sector for 2023, showing the “disaster” facing live music with venues closing at a rate of around two per week. Presented at Westminster, the MVT echoed their calls for a levy on tickets on gigs at arena size and above and for major labels and such to pay back into the grassroots scene, arguing that “the big companies are now going to have to answer for this”.
MVT CEO Mark Davyd has now said the huge Oasis shows present an “opportunity” to contribute to the “grassroots sector” and understand where bands like Oasis begin.
‘OASIS LIVE 25’ is reportedly set to make a staggering £400million, and will follow the release of the expanded ‘Definitely Maybe’ 30th anniversary reissue this Friday (August 30).
Davyd said: “Oasis getting back together is great news. It creates jobs, boosts the economy and spreads joy. Let’s use the opportunity to finally get the music industry to understand where that all starts. These brilliant shows should be contributing to the grassroots sector. I hope they do.”
Oasis getting back together is great news. It creates jobs, boosts the economy and spreads joy.
Let's use the opportunity to finally get the music industry to understand where that all starts. These brilliant shows should be contributing to the grassroots sector. I hope they do https://t.co/KzgmfMsemK
— Mark Davyd (@markdavyd) August 27, 2024
The OASIS LIVE 25 world tour will see, currently, the band play 14 stadium dates set to take place between Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin next summer. These will be the band’s only shows in Europe in 2025, but a press release states that “plans are underway for OASIS LIVE 25 to go to other continents outside of Europe later next year”
See the full list of Oasis’ 2025 UK and Ireland tour dates so far below. Tickets go on sale from 9am BST (8am IST) on Saturday August 31 and will be available here for UK shows, and here for the Irish dates.
JULY 2025
4 – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
5 – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
11 – Manchester, Heaton Park
12 – Manchester, Heaton Park
19 – Manchester, Heaton Park
20 – Manchester, Heaton Park
25 – London, Wembley Stadium
26 – London, Wembley Stadium
AUGUST 2025
2 – London, Wembley Stadium
3 – London, Wembley Stadium
8 – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
9 – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
16 – Dublin, Croke Park
17 – Dublin, Croke Park
Oasis fans have been expressing their excitement over the band’s long-awaited return, and speculating over a potential headline set at Glastonbury – where the Gallaghers last topped the bill in 2004.
Meanwhile, plans are also currently “underway” for further Oasis live concerts outside of Europe.
It is not yet known who will join Liam and Noel in the reformed iteration of Oasis. However, recent reports claimed “no other original Oasis member is expected to join the reunion”, and that “the members of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds will step in for the concerts”.
Elsewhere, the conversation has turned to who could support Oasis on their 2025 tour – with the likes of Kasabian and Blossoms being among the acts mentioned. Additionally, fans have been revisiting the band’s final 2009 setlist to get an idea of what they might play next year.
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Elizabeth Aubrey
NME
