Oasis gig money to help grassroots venues in Manchester

The band’s homecoming gigs have helped contribute to a £250,000 fund, with grassroots venues in the city able to bid for cash.

Last updated: 1st Aug 2025

Originally published: 31st Jul 2025

Oasis’s homecoming gigs will help to give back to their native city and fund grassroots venues in Manchester, the City Council has announced. 

The Mancunian band, fronted by the Burnage-born Gallagher brothers, recently completed five sold-out shows in the city’s Heaton Park as part of their Live ‘25 reunion tour. With support for the city’s nightlife drummed up by the combined crowds of over 320,000 people, as well as recent gigs from the likes of Charli XCX, Fontaines D.C., and Olivia Rodrigo at venues like Co-Op Live and Factory International, a fund of £250,000 has been raised to help fund Manchester’s grassroots venues. 

The fund was established from the city council's earnings from local parks and business rates paid by larger venues. Smaller venues in the city, such as Night And Day Cafe, will be able to bid for grants in a scheme expected to be run by the Music Venues Trust. 

Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig said that these larger events “are only possible because they are part of a wider ecosystem with smaller, grassroots venues providing the launchpads for acts to develop and grow”.  

Jay Taylor, Music Venues Trust’s national co-ordinator, called the scheme “inspiring”, adding that, “the fantastic grassroots music venue network in the city is an essential cornerstone of the amazing music being produced by Manchester artists.” 

Alongside the recent support for a proposed £1 ticket levy designed to channel funding from stadium or arena tickets to grassroots music venues, this news marks a step forward in the fight for smaller venues. 

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