Oasis bring a crowd to Cardiff like nothing anyone expected or the city has ever seen

North Wales Live

3 days ago

The first thing that stood out about Cardiff in the sunshine on the afternoon of July 4, 2025, were the languages. This is a city used to international crowds for sporting fixtures. It has often played host to tourists visiting to see the sights or attend a concert.
Yet this was different, the people strolling along the paved area of St Mary Street were from all over the world. Scores of different nationalities all in the city at the same time and all united by their branded Oasis T-shirts and their love of the band.
The river of people headed between the stadium and the Oasis mural were threading their way through the outdoor seating areas of bars and restaurants packed with people eating and drinking in the warm weather.
The familiar strains of Don't Look Back in Anger drift from the nearby pubs. It is sea of people - bags of Oasis merch in hand, bucket hats perched on heads. The stadium has been vibrating from the soundchecks. Yet few seem to be from Manchester. They are from everywhere.
If you needed reminding that Oasis were far more than just a 90s sensation on these islands, the proof is here in the dedication of those who have flown from around the world to hear Noel and Liam together again. This is a music that transcends language and culture. The likes of Wonderwall and Live Forever connect people all over the world and today, Cardiff is proof.
Among those who've made the journey are Kellie Evans and Mark Thompson, who have come from Melbourne in Australia. For this pair, being here isn't just about seeing a band that they have loved for decades but reconnecting with their youth.
"In the nineties, I was actually living in London which was at the height of Britpop. It was a whole new genre of music! Team Blur and Team Oasis - I liked Blur but I did lean more to Oasis."
Mark remembers how the Britpop movement stood out against what was dominating the charts back home.
"There was a lot of house and dance music at the time," he says. "But all these great bands started coming together: James, The Charlatans... It was different to what we were hearing from America, which was a whole lot grunge and Nirvana."
"Oasis and Britpop definitely made an impact in Australia," he adds.
Despite the following the band for decades, they never imagined they'd see them live - let alone reuniting. "We never thought they'd be getting back together," they say. "But the first show was was always on our radar. We thought it was the safest - just in case there were any arguments!"
Hiro Iwane, a 36-year-old fan from Japan arrived in Cardiff last night for the gig. He says the band changed his life.
He's been a fan since he was 14, when his father's second-hand CD of (What's the Story) Morning Glory? first introduced him to the band. "It was a shock when I heard it for the first time," he recalled. "I didn't understand English at the time but after that thought I should learn it.
"I learned English from them. They changed my life."
Hiro's story is one that resonates with many people here today - fans brought together by not just music but what it represents: nostalgia and memories.
Another fan here is Alex Schüt, who has come from Germany. Alex has been following Oasis since 1995, and this evening marks the eighth time he has seen them live.
"I never thought they'd get back together," he admitted. "I can only hope that it isn't because of the money!"
Regardless, there was no way Alex was going to miss Oasis's opening show - telling WalesOnline that this was an "unmissable" event. "My wife is at home looking after our twin sons who are one-years-old, they are a bit ill at the moment. I said though - there was no way I was missing this! This is more than just a gig to me. It's so hard to describe, but Oasis changed my life."
Alex said that it's the setting that has made the experience all the more special. "Really it's the overall atmosphere surrounding the gig that I'm most excited for. You could feel it here last night.
"Last night I went to Tiny Rebel and a couple of other bars in Cardiff. In the end there was a group of us Oasis fans from Germany, Argentine and Norway, coming together for the band - it's just really special.
"I think that it's very good they started the tour here - because you can feel the vibe. I think if it had been in London, the vibe would have been swallowed by the city."
Max Ahlstedt from Stockholm in Sweden is another International fan to make the trek, which he described as a bit of a nightmare. "I hate flying," he says. "I have been nervous for it all week! But I'm here. I haven't been in the UK since 2007, it's great to be back."
Despite the travel stress, Max couldn't be more thrilled to be in Cardiff. "I love it here. My dream is to get a Bluebirds shirt - I hope I get to see the football stadium while I'm here."
Max's connection to Oasis goes way back. He was 14-years-old when he first saw them perform Wonderwall on MTV and soon after, attended his first Stockholm show. "My little brother actually made the paper for carrying these massive Oasis posters - I was so jealous at the time, I was like 'I'm the real number one fan! Being interviewed now is so cool."
Over the years, Max has seen Oasis 19 times - but this is the most important event to date. "This is the biggest it has ever been. Coming to this first gig was a priority."
In saying that, he has no concerns that the band will break up during the tour. "They'll carry on through to the end," Max predicts. "I am surprised that they've gotten back together though. I thought they'd be like the Fab Four - not the Stones.'
"It's amazing... but strange at the same time. In a weird way it still feels like my little band.
"Lots of people don't know this but Definitely Maybe released in Sweden three days before any other country. It's crazy to see how far they've come."
If you didn't manage to get your hands on the hard to get tickets you can enter our competition here to be in with a chance of winning tickets to see Oasis at Wembley.
Tickets for the Oasis reunion sold out across all venues due to huge demand when they went online earlier in the year. However, there are still several options available for fans trying to snag a last-minute spot.
Viagogo and resale tickets
Sites such as viagogo, Stubhub, and Vivid Seats allow fans to buy resale tickets from other fans. However, it is important to note that ticket conditions often prohibit resale after initial purchase. Those tickets may not be valid for admittance to gigs.
Fans intending to buy tickets for live events through resale websites should check the ticket terms and conditions, to confirm whether resale is prohibited, before they buy. Ticket terms and conditions can be checked with the original seller, such as Ticketmaster or Live Nation. If resale is prohibited, tickets bought second-hand could be voided and admission to the event refused.
Limited last-minute tickets can be bought from the official Ticketmaster resale site, where fans who can no longer go sell their seats, although these tend to go into and out of stock quickly. Elsewhere, resale sites like Viagogo, Vivid Seats, StubHub and Twickets are selling tickets for various dates with prices from £121, although fans should always bear in mind that many official sites, such as Ticketmaster and Live Nation, discourage the purchase of resale tickets.