While tens of thousands of die-hard Oasis fans roared every lyric from inside Heaton Park, not everyone was lucky enough to snag a ticket. But for hundreds gathered just outside the gates, that didn’t matter one bit.
Word spread quickly of a secret spot where you could still catch the action: a grassy slope now proudly dubbed ‘Gallagher Hill’ by fans online. From there, the giant screens were perfectly visible and the sound surprisingly clear — all without spending a penny.
Soon, Gallagher Hill transformed into its own festival. Families, friends, couples and even a few dogs lounged on picnic blankets, tins in hand. There were maracas, tambourines, and of course a sea of bucket hats bobbing to the beat. It was part gig, part boozy picnic, and fully Mancunian.
Despite a few determined (and daft) attempts to sneak into the concert area, the atmosphere on Gallagher Hill stayed warm, witty, and full of togetherness. As Noel strummed Half the World Away, strangers linked arms, phones lit up the dusk, and the hillside swayed in a giant, unofficial sing-along.
In the end, ticket or no ticket, everyone got a taste of that Oasis magic.
And thanks to some clever thinking and a well-placed patch of grass, hundreds became part of something truly special — proving once again that in Manchester, music always finds a way.
Image: Paul Jacobs
