Oasis donate signed guitar to Manchester grassroots music art trail and auction

With their long-awaited Heaton Park gigs just around the corner, Oasis are giving something back to the city that shaped them by donating a signed guitar to raise funds for grassroots music projects across Manchester.

The Epiphone Riviera, signed by both Liam and Noel Gallagher, will go on display at Selfridges Manchester Exchange Square from July, before being auctioned off in September. Proceeds will support local venues and up-and-coming artists, helping sustain the spaces that launched so many of Manchester’s musical greats.

“We’re delighted to donate this guitar signed by Liam and Noel to help support Manchester’s grassroots music projects and kickstart the series of celebrations,” said a spokesperson for Oasis.

The guitar will be part of Music for the Senses, a summer-long citywide celebration of sound, featuring a public art trail, impromptu performances, pop-up markets, and live events. Commissioned by Manchester City Council and produced by Wild in Art in collaboration with Forever Manchester, the project invites the public to donate new or used guitars to be transformed into artwork and displayed in shop windows and venues throughout July and August.

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council and local councillor for Burnage - where the Gallagher brothers grew up - said: “To have the legends that are Oasis back in town for a supersonic string of homecoming gigs front and centre of Manchester this summer is going to be epic.

"A huge thank you also to Liam and Noel for getting behind our end-of-summer guitar auction to help up-and-coming young artists and raise money for our fantastic grassroots music projects and venues across the city. Music for the Senses will be one of Manchester's iconic attractions this summer.”

There’s also an open call for Mancunians and music lovers everywhere to get involved by donating guitars for the same Music for the Senses art trail and auction.

Old, new, broken, battered or beloved - all guitars are welcome, no matter their condition. Plus, all donors will be named and credited as part of the trail and will be able to seek out their own contributions and discover the works of art they have become. 

Up to 50 non-playable guitars will be handed over to professional artists, who’ll turn them into one-off pieces displayed in shop windows and venues across Manchester, right alongside the signed Oasis guitar and those donated by other artists.

Another 100+ broken guitars will form part of Guitar Street, an interactive installation on a soon-to-be-revealed city centre street created by Manchester artist Liam Hopkins (aka Lazarian), who will repurpose the instruments into something completely new.

Notably, any donated guitars still in good, playable condition will be passed to Rigby Music MCR and given a second life in the hands of young musicians and local music charities.

Plus, at the end of the trail, all artworks - including the Oasis centrepiece - will be auctioned off to raise money for Manchester’s grassroots music venues and future talent.

Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.

Header image credit: Oasis on Facebook