A Greater Manchester covers band is in a state of disbelief after being selected to perform for Oasis fans at Wembley Stadium, which is hosting a string of concerts as part of the iconic band’s Live ’25 tour. The MiddleTones have the unique distinction of being the only act booked to play at the fan zone located at the London stadium.
This highly anticipated tour marks the first time in nearly 16 years that Oasis frontmen Liam and Noel Gallagher have shared a stage, captivating audiences since its announcement last summer. Following performances in Cardiff, the tour made its way to Heaton Park in Manchester before landing in the capital, where excitement is palpable.
For fans eager to experience the atmosphere ahead of the concerts, the Middleton-based quartet has been playing covers of legendary artists including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and of course, Oasis. Band leader Andy Callaghan shared that they performed to enthusiastic crowds on Friday and Saturday nights before the first two Wembley shows. They are scheduled to return for three additional performances as Oasis continues its run at the venue.
“It’s all just been unbelievable,” Andy said when speaking to the Manchester Evening News. “We’ve all been big Oasis fans all our lives – we were brought up on them – so to be able to get a gig like this has just been incredible.”
The band, which features Andy’s brother Danny on bass alongside Mike Carty on drums and Danny Yates on guitar, credits their rise to this moment to prior successes, including a sold-out gig at Middleton Arena celebrating their tenth anniversary last year.
Andy explained how their journey unfolded: “It all came about because we did a gig at Middleton Arena to celebrate our ten-year anniversary last year and we sold it out. People started sharing our videos around and then a company who were working on the F1 asked us if we wanted to go and perform at Silverstone, and of course we did. It worked brilliantly and then someone involved in Wembley was there at the show and just reached out to us asking if we wanted to play at the Oasis fan zone.” He added, “It was a no-brainer and we’ve ended up being booked for all seven shows.”
Having attended an Oasis show at Heaton Park earlier this month, Andy remarked on the spirit of the fan zones. He noted the joy and camaraderie reminiscent of the vibrant atmosphere experienced in Greater Manchester and surrounding areas during the iconic band’s heyday.
“The atmosphere has just been incredible,” he said. “Everybody is full of nostalgia and the music that we play just fits so well with the crowd. It’s been electric; the fan zone has been rammed, and we’ve heard that they’ve been at capacity each day so far. Like in Manchester, people have just been coming together and enjoying each other’s company.”
In addition to Oasis, the band features a mix of widely-loved tracks from artists such as The Verve, Arctic Monkeys, and The Courteeners. “They’re all just big anthems that get the crowd moving,” Andy explained. “The fan zone is open from about 2pm so those who want to head out early and aren’t quite ready to head inside the stadium can get all warmed up.” He portrayed a scene of unity as fans joined in singing along.
When asked if this experience qualifies as playing at Wembley, Andy humorously responded, “Well, I’m going to say I have. It’s not bad for a short, fat, baldy bloke and his mates who have come all the way from Middleton, is it?”
Reflecting on this surreal chapter, he concluded, “The whole experience just doesn’t seem real. And we love that there’s another Manchester connection there with us. They are the reason we got into music in the first place, so it’s a dream come true for us.”
The MiddleTones will be performing at Middleton Arena again on November 8, with tickets available for fans eager to continue the celebration.
