Oasis star Noel Gallagher announces massive new gig in support of the Manchester Memorial Fund – and tickets go on sale tomorrow
The city's MEN Arena has been closed ever since suicide bomber kill Salman Abedi killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert in May
NOEL Gallagher will headline an all-star gig to re-open Manchester's MEN Arena following May's tragic terror attack which killed 22 people.
The Oasis singer's High Flying Birds top the bill of the We Are Manchester gig, with rockers The Courteeners, Blossoms and 80's legend Rick Astley also announced.
Britpop icon Noel didn't perform at the One Love charity concert organised by Ariana Grande just two weeks after the attack at her concert, but he did donate royalties from the Oasis smash Don't Look Back In Anger to the Manchester Fund.
Tickets for the gig go on sale tomorrow at 9am through Ticketmaster and Eventim, with the concert taking place on Saturday, September 9. All profits will go to the Manchester Memorial Fund.
Deputy leader of Manchester City Council, Sue Murphy told the : "No one will ever forget the terrible events of 22 May but Manchester has reacted with love, solidarity and a determination to continue doing the things which make this such a vibrant city.
“We welcome the re-opening of the Arena, a major venue which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors, as a powerful symbol of this defiant and resilient spirit. It is entirely fitting that the re-opening event should be a memorial fundraiser.
"Plans for the form and location of any permanent commemorations will be determined in liaison with the families of victims and others affected by the attack.”
Noel was criticised by his brother Liam following his no show at the One Love concert, however, it was later revealed Noel was never asked to perform.
Fans had hoped the warring brothers would bury the hatchet and perform together as Oasis at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground gig, but it didn't happen.
The announcement of this latest concert will no doubt have fans hoping once more for a reconciliation, however, Liam recently distanced himself from the band in an interview with Chris Moyles on Radio X.
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Discussing Noel, Liam said: “He seems very, he’s living in a world of, he’s living over there in that world, you know what I mean, and there’s no f**king room for Oasis in that world as far as I’m concerned.
“I’d rather f**king work in McDonald’s mate or get hit by a f**king 18-wheeler at 100 miles an hour, than bring my band and put it in that world.”
However, he conceded he does long for the good old days with his older sibling by his side.
He continued: “I miss the old Noel, who was a bit of a f**king lad and that and we had a laugh and all that.
“But he seems very, he doesn’t seem like, you know, I’m not saying we should be the same person but he seems like he’s after something else in life, man, and I don’t know what it is.”
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