Oasis’ Video Director Opens Up About Live ’25 Planning, Saying It Took 14 Months And Held “Well Kept Secrets”

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Oasis’ video director has revealed that the group’s Live ’25 reunion tour had been in pre-production for 14 months, explaining that there were “lots of well-kept secrets”.

The Britpop icons finished the massive run of shows in São Paulo, Brazil, last Sunday (November 23), after performing 41 concerts across 142 days and five continents.

They announced the first set of dates in August 2024, which included their first performances together in 16 years across the UK and Ireland. Rehearsals started this May, and Liam Gallagher officially joined his bandmates the following month.

The screens used at their Manchester Heaton Park shows measured 84 metres by 12 metres, which made them 20 metres larger than the ones used at the first dates in Cardiff. They were the biggest screens ever used at a concert in the UK.

Now, live video director and designer Jon Shrimpton has shared some behind-the-scenes insight into his work on Live ’25, confirming that the tour had been in development for more than a year.

“And there it was…. gone!” he wrote alongside a set of videos and photos (see below). “After 14 months of pre-production, lots of well-kept secrets, and five months of some of the most incredible sights and sounds I’ve ever seen at a stadium show, here we are.”

He continued: “The last night of the … it would be fair to say; culturally and financially successful Oasis ‘Live ‘25’ world tour, tonight, in São Paulo.”

Shrimpton went on to call the comeback run “a genuine career high point”, reflecting on “being the video director on this momentous event”.

He said: “Travelling around the world, in the eye of the storm. I’ve been genuinely honoured to work with the most incredible, talented, ego-free, happy crew that has ever been assembled, and there’s been nothing but love from everything I’ve seen written about the show…. even in the British press.”

 

“Lots of love and respect to @paul_normandale for his beautiful show design, and to @universalpixelsvideo for providing the marvellous video toys, and putting up with my OCD nonsense, and unreasonable requests.”

Fans have pointed out that the 14-month pre-production timeline means Oasis’ return had been agreed and underway by around May or June last year. One Reddit user said Liam would have already known about the reunion when he headed out on his ‘Definitely Maybe’ 30th anniversary solo tour.

“Thinking about all those interviews where Rkids fooled me into thinking they still didn’t talk to each other… good actors,” one post reads.

Another fan suggested that “when Liam said Noel was playing hard to get, [the tour] was already signed off”. They also referenced a reported podcast appearance from May 2024 where Noel apparently “let it slip” about the upcoming shows.

Someone else guessed that “the actual timeline will be 2023 start, and contracts finalised in 2024”. In 2023, Noel asked Liam to “call me” about getting the band back together. “You’d have thought by now, he’d have some kind of plan,” he added at the time.

In another comment, a fan brought up a Liam interview from 2024 where he claimed he had not spoken to Noel “in about 10 years”. They said that Liam “might tease us on X, but he can keep a secret”, pointing back to Shrimpton’s recent post about the tour’s long planning period.

Oasis at Manchester's Heaton Park Oasis at Manchester’s Heaton Park. CREDIT: Big Brother Recordings

Noel praised Liam onstage during the summer of 2024, suggesting the brothers may have been on better terms by then. “No one quite sounds like ‘r kid,” he said at the time. A month later, Liam dedicated a solo performance of “Half The World Away” to his brother, adding to the speculation that Oasis were preparing to reunite.

In a glowing five-star review of the Live ’25 opening night in Cardiff, NME wrote: “Playing before a pop-art-meets-psychedelia visual spectacular that never distracts but will look sick on a phone, they seem the quintessential stadium band playing the greatest hits of greatest hits.”

Liam and Noel shared one last hug of the tour onstage in São Paulo last weekend. Oasis have now announced that there will be “a pause for a period of reflection” as fans wait to see what they will do next.

On X/Twitter, LG has been teasing ideas for Oasis’ possible next tour, writing: “There’s loads more classics we need to play.” He said he wants the band to take on “a European tour”, and he listed some songs he hopes to bring back.

Oasis perform in Mexico in 2025 Oasis perform in Mexico in 2025. CREDIT: Joshua Halling/Big Brother Recordings

Gallagher hinted at more dates earlier this month, writing: “I know things you don’t know.” This came after a fan asked whether he was sad about the tour coming to an end. He also hinted at another run of shows last month, saying: “It’s not even half time yet.”

At the group’s Wembley Stadium dates in September, he told the crowd: “See you next year”, before playfully slapping his own wrist. However, Gallagher later said Oasis would need to “sit down and discuss” their next steps. “Next year might be a little enthusiastic,” he explained.

During the final show last weekend, Liam told the audience: “We love you, thanks for all your energy. Take care of yourselves, and we’ll see you again sometime.”

Noel’s daughter Anaïs Gallagher later looked back on the experience, calling it the “greatest year of my life, spent with the greatest people, soundtracked by the greatest band”. She said: “What was once thought impossible became possible. 41 shows. 142 days. A lifetime of memories.”

Current rumours about Oasis’ next live plans include a potential return to Knebworth, a homecoming residency at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, and more shows at London’s Wembley Stadium.

A British peer in the House of Lords appeared to accidentally reveal that Oasis would play Knebworth next summer before stepping back from those comments.

Oasis have released official live versions of songs from several cities on the Live ’25 tour. The releases so far include “Slide Away” from Cardiff, “Cigarettes and Alcohol” from Manchester, “Little By Little” from London, “Bring It On Down” from Edinburgh, and “Wonderwall” from Dublin.

A new film documenting Oasis’ reunion and comeback tour is also underway, produced by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight. Reports say the project will include “phenomenal” footage of Liam and Noel’s first meeting before the shows.

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Everywhere At Once Adds Fatboy Slim, Lucy Spraggan, Gene, D Double E, And More To Massive Festival Bill

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Fatboy Slim, Lucy Spraggan, Gene, D Double E and Westside Cowboy are among the latest artists added to the line up for Everywhere At Once, the new nationwide festival being described as a “Glastonbury replacement” during the festival’s fallow year.

The event is being organised by Music Venue Trust in partnership with The National Lottery and is scheduled to take place from June 26 to June 28. The dates coincide with what would normally have been Glastonbury weekend before the festival announced a break for 2026.

Rather than taking place at a single site, Everywhere At Once will spread across hundreds of grassroots music venues throughout the UK.

Across the three day event, venues from Inverness to Penzance will host performances from both major artists and rising acts. The goal of the festival is to reconnect fans with local independent venues while encouraging community support and music discovery.

Becky Hill, Tinie Tempah, The Lathums, Rizzle Kicks, The Divine Comedy and Master Peace had already been confirmed for the event. Now, Music Venue Trust has revealed another wave of performers joining the line up.

Fatboy Slim, Glenn Tilbrook, Lucy Spraggan, Gene, D Double E, P Money and Westside Cowboy are among the newest additions. Tilbrook is set to appear at Theatreship in Canary Wharf, East London, while Spraggan will perform at The Sub Rooms in Stroud.

Gene will also play shows in Southampton, Newport and Lancaster. D Double E is heading to The Brickworks in Nottingham, P Money will perform at Suki10c in Birmingham, and Westside Cowboy are scheduled for a hometown performance at Manchester’s Low Four.

The Lathums have additionally confirmed another date at Preston venue The Ferret after their two previously announced shows sold out within minutes.

Details surrounding Fatboy Slim’s appearance and ticket information are expected to be announced closer to the festival weekend.

Everywhere At Once line-up. CREDIT: PRESS

Speaking about the initiative, Fatboy Slim reflected on the importance of small venues in shaping artists and music culture.

“I’ve been lucky enough to play huge stages all over the world, but grassroots venues are where it all started for me and where music scenes really begin, where artists learn their craft, where communities form, and where people come together purely for the love of it. Without grassroots venues, independent promoters and local crowds taking a chance on something new, none of this exists,” he said.

“These spaces are vital for culture and for local communities, so if there’s anything I can do to help shine a light on them and help keep that spirit alive, I’m more than happy to be involved. And if you care about music, go out and support your local venues, buy a ticket, discover somebody new, and be part of keeping those scenes alive.”

Glenn Tilbrook also shared his thoughts on the value of grassroots venues, reflecting on how important they were during the early years of Squeeze.

“50 years ago Squeeze started out in the small venues of South East London. Later this year we will be playing our biggest UK tour, including at the O2 Arena across the Thames from the Theatreship. I still go out and play solo shows at grassroots venues and some of the best nights I’ve ever had playing music have been in tiny rooms packed with people who just love live music,” he explained.

“These venues don’t just support musicians, they become part of the fabric of local communities,” he added. “They give people a place to meet, connect and discover something new. We need to cherish them, if we lose them, we lose far more than somewhere to see a band. So show your support for your local venue, you never know where the next great artist, or the next great night, might come from.”

 

Lucy Spraggan also spoke about the wider impact grassroots venues have on the music industry, calling live music an “ecosystem”.

“Each night a venue supplies a stage for an artist, that artist is supported by their crew, just as the venue is supported by their staff. You can see the network of livelihoods that entwine through the umbrella that is ‘live music’, it’s pretty endless,” she said.

“There is a career for musicians, crew, artists, tour managers from smaller projects all the way to Taylor Swift sized projects, but only if we have the venues to support them,” she continued. “Grassroots venues give opportunities to a plethora of people and we, as artists and gig goers, breathe life back into the venues. We are all an important part of the ecosystem.”

The festival is being led by Music Venue Trust, Save Our Scene and the Association of Independent Promoters, while The National Lottery continues its support for the grassroots music sector. Their partnership first began in 2021 to help revive live music following the pandemic shutdowns.

During the three day event, fans will also have opportunities to support charities including War Child, Nordoff and Robbins, Help Musicians UK and Teenage Cancer Trust.

The launch of Everywhere At Once comes during a difficult period for the UK live music industry. Recent reports revealed that 30 grassroots venues permanently closed between July 2024 and July 2025, while more than half of the remaining venues operated without profit last year and over 6,000 jobs disappeared from the sector.

 

To help support smaller venues and developing artists, industry leaders have continued pushing for a ticket levy system. Under the proposal, a portion of ticket sales from arena and stadium shows would go toward helping grassroots venues survive and supporting touring artists.

The industry has until June 2026 to ensure that at least 50 per cent of major live events voluntarily contribute to the levy before the UK government considers making it mandatory through legislation. Live Nation has faced criticism for not moving as aggressively as some other companies.

Live Nation, which previously supported Harry Styles donating £1 from every ticket sold for his upcoming Wembley Stadium residency to the LIVE Trust, responded by saying it “supports artists’ choices on charitable donations, and has worked with numerous artists who have contributed to the voluntary levy, from Coldplay to Biffy Clyro, and will continue to do so.”

The levy proposal has often been compared to the financial structure used in Premier League football and received backing from the UK government in 2024.

Earlier this year, grassroots venues also received some relief after the government reversed a planned increase in business rates and introduced additional support measures for pubs and live music venues.

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