By Lola Bailey
A few days before the 30th anniversary of their debut album, Definitely Maybe, Oasis announced their first live tour since they split in 2009. This announcement was not missed as 14 million people tried getting the 1.4 million tickets available.
But what did this mean for Oasis tribute bands?
There are many of them including Supernova, Standing On The Shoulder Of Oasis and Definitely Maybeez that since the announcement have been very busy. “I think this year, it’s just been absolutely colossal. I don’t even think I’ve got a weekend free where I’m not gigging between now and probably October,” says Colin Douglas from Definitely Maybeez.
Following the return of Oasis, many were excited: “It’s brought us some enjoyment in that sense but also some excitement as well, because we’re all looking forward to go to see them,” says Nick Johnson from Standing On The Shoulder Of Oasis. Others were surprised: “Initially, before they made the announcement, I was very much one of the people that said they should just leave it. They did what they did, things are different now,” says Colin.
Nick says: “There’s been quite a remarkable amount of interest this year in the band.” Standing On The Shoulder of Oasis formed in 2012 but took a break and reformed in 2017 and are from Manchester and York. “I think we felt that it [Oasis doing a reunion tour] would happen one day. And initially we felt, people might not want to come and see a tribute band now that Oasis have reformed,” he says.
Definitely Maybeez formed in 2019. It took them 12 months to get established but COVID hit and that did not stop them from continuing. They are from North Yorkshire and do gigs across the country. “It was a drunken conversation actually. We were having a few drinks and I think I mentioned something, just joking around and then they were like, ‘oh yeah, why don’t we do it?’ And then we did. And it’s taken off really well, better than I anticipated,” says Colin.
Supernova is a tribute band that formed at the end of 2020. They are from Newport in Shropshire which could cause problems but not for this band. Joe Birchley says: “We take on the persona to a certain extent of Liam and Noel because ultimately people that go and see an Oasis tribute band want that atmosphere and that vibe really. They’re not looking for just a band playing Oasis songs.
“We’re not from Manchester. But I don’t think that matters. I know a lot of tribute bands and very few of them are from Manchester. It’s more about reading the crowd and giving them what they want,” he continues.
Supernova has had such success that they will be performing at the Wembley Stadium fan zone in the Box Park and in Manchester before Oasis hits the stage. Joe says: “When Oasis play Wembley Stadium, we’re actually supporting that event, playing at the Wembley Stadium fan zone in the Box Park, which is probably our biggest gig today. We’re also doing a similar thing in Manchester for the Heaton Park shows where just before Oasis go to stage, we play a set probably in the afternoon for people that are in Manchester City Centre before they go out to Heaton Park.”
They are not the only ones who will be performing in the same area as Oasis. Standing On The Shoulder Of Oasis will be performing at Heaton Park. “It’s going to be really exciting for us, playing at Heaton Park just two weeks after Oasis had played there so that’ll be quite interesting, quite a good booking for us,” Colin says.
When Oasis first announced their comeback tour, the Music Venue Trust jumped in to show that out of 34 grassroot venues, only 11 of them still exist 30 years after Oasis’ first tour. They shared in an Instagram post, “Gone are 23 spaces that took a punt on a new band from Manchester who would become one of the most iconic in British music history. That’s 23 communities that aren’t getting the chance to hear the chords of the next ‘Definitely Maybe’ for the first time.”
To this Nick says: “It’s two sides of a coin because the live music scene still exists and there is still a thirst for it. Particularly covers and tribute bands, because I think people like to go out and recognise the music that people are playing straight away. In terms of an original band, it’s what I call the grassroots scene.”
Joe adds: “The live music industry has been dying for years and the cost of everything is going up. It was almost as if they were crying out for something which they could get on the way for. And that’s what’s happened. You’ve got pubs and music venues who are bringing in a lot of money purely based on the fact of Oasis Tribute Band.”
To finish, Colin says in disbelief: “What I’ve found is, which is quite sad, a lot of original bands are getting snubbed out really over tribute bands because the sad reality of it is people would rather listen to a tribute band or a covers band than give the time of day to a set of young kids that are talented and playing their own music and singing their own songs, which is, like I said, quite sad.”
