Iconic Band Oasis Returns After Nearly Two Decades for Electrifying Australian Tour

Published 6 months ago• 4 minute read

Precious Eseaye

Iconic Band Oasis Returns After Nearly Two Decades for Electrifying Australian Tour

The highly anticipated reunion of the iconic British rock band Oasis, featuring the long-feuding Gallagher brothers, has been heralded as a true "rock ‘n’ roll miracle." After a proper split in 2009 following a backstage row and subsequent legal acrimony, fans had long given up hope of seeing them perform together again. Their Live ’25 world tour, marking their first shows on Australian shores in 19 years, commenced on Friday, October 31, with an electrifying performance at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.

Melbourne was abuzz with excitement for the opening night of the Australian leg of the tour. Oasis t-shirts were the unofficial dress code across the CBD, with excitable punters in branded Adidas jackets and bucket hats seen everywhere. A pop-up Oasis store in central Melbourne had been booked out for months, indicating the immense demand. Marvel Stadium, with its superhero gatekeepers, proved to be an appropriate venue for the return of these rock ‘n’ roll legends.

The band members took the stage at 8:45 p.m., making their entrance to the pounding beats of the instrumental track “F—ing’ In The Bushes.” The retractable roof of the stadium was closed, a sensible decision given the uncertain weather. Oasis launched into a powerful opening combination with “Hello,” into which frontman Liam Gallagher inserted the fitting lyric “it’s good to be back,” followed by “Acquiesce” and “Morning Glory.” Addressing the 58,000 gathered fans, Liam, now aged 53, showed a more mature and chattier persona than in previous years, engaging in banter and expressing gratitude, saying, “Did you miss us? Because we missed you.”

The hits continued to flow throughout the two-hour set, including fan favorites such as “Cigarettes & Alcohol,” “Fade Away,” “Supersonic,” and “Roll With It.” A special segment saw Noel Gallagher take the mic and the spotlight for his own mini-set, featuring acoustic renditions of “Talk Tonight,” “Half the World Away,” and “Little by Little.” Noel’s guitar work throughout the show was noted as “note perfect,” with each solo delivered with precision and completeness. Later, during a rendition of “Whatever,” Liam paid homage to The Beatles by inserting a lyric from “Octopus’s Garden.” The brothers, despite their history, demonstrated full commitment and generosity on stage, with Liam telling the faithful Melbourne crowd, “Nice one for putting up with us for so many years. We f***ing love ya.”

Oasis’s illustrious career boasts seven studio albums and a 2010 hits compilation that all hit No. 1 on the Official U.K. Chart, totaling eight chart-toppers. They have also accumulated six BRIT Awards, including the Outstanding Contribution to British Music, two Ivor Novellos, and 17 NME Awards. The immense popularity of this reunion tour was evident, with 18 million people applying for tickets globally and 2.6 million fans securing entry.

The Australian tour dates coincided with the 30th anniversary of the release of their iconic song “Wonderwall” on October 30, 1995. This song holds deep significance in Australian culture, having logged 11 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the ARIA Chart and topping triple j’s Hottest 100 songs of the past 20 years in 2013. Liam acknowledged this milestone during the encore, remarking, “Wish this baby happy birthday. Thirty years Wonderwall,” as Oasis delivered their signature song. The encore was bookended by “Don’t Look Back In Anger” and the final number, “Champagne Supernova,” showcasing the band’s ability to close with three high-caliber anthems.

The concert had a minor disruption when a fan lit a flare, eliciting a reprimand from Liam, who hissed “naughty naughty naughty.” However, the enduring image of the night was a brief, heartwarming glimpse of brotherly love as the Gallaghers briefly hugged before leaving the stage. Earlier in the evening, Brisbane’s Ball Park Music had warmed up the crowd with songs from their catalog, including “Please Don’t Move To Melbourne,” with frontman Sam Cromack expressing that supporting Oasis was “a dream come true.” For thousands in attendance, being in the room with an active Oasis was equally a dream realized, cementing their status as potentially “the last great rock ‘n’ roll band” with their swagger, attitude, style, and timeless songs.

The tour, produced by Live Nation Australia, continued with additional dates at Marvel Stadium and moved to Sydney’s Accor Stadium for back-to-back shows.

Oasis Setlist at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, Friday, 31st October: