In a powerful and heart-wrenching moment that brought every single goosebump to the surface, Oasis paused the chaos of their massive Cardiff reunion show tonight to honour the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing π.
As the iconic chords of Don’t Look Back In Anger rang out across the Principality Stadium, the giant screens behind Liam, Noel, and the band slowly faded into a swarm of Manchester bees β the unbreakable symbol of the cityβs resilience. π
The crowd? Silent for a split second… then a tidal wave of emotion. Arms around shoulders. Phones in the air (for once, forgivable). Thousands of voices belting out the anthem that became a symbol of defiance and healing after the attack.
“So Sally can wait, she knows it’s too late…”
…and not a dry eye in the house.
This wasnβt just a singalong. It was a moment. A callback to Liamβs solo appearance at the Manchester One Love concert. A reminder of the scars, the strength, and the city theyβll always call home ποΈβ€οΈ.
And aye, Cardiff felt it. Proper lump-in-the-throat stuff, butt.
π΄ Oasis might be back on the road, but theyβve never left Manchester behind. And tonight in the heart of Wales, they proved exactly why music still matters. Why it heals. Why a 3-minute tune can mean the world.
Tidy tribute, lads.
Diolch. π
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene specialβfrom legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether heβs battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, heβs always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When heβs not writing or interviewing artists, youβll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than musicβtheyβre about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. Thatβs exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. π€
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