A Special Moment
I’ve been to a fair number of gigs over the years, from small, intimate warm-up shows to massive stadium concerts. I’ve even traveled overseas to see one of my favourite bands perform. Each one has been special in its own way: brilliant setlists, surprise guest appearances, amazing support acts, and unforgettable moments shared with incredible people.
But there’s one gig that stands out above the rest. One that felt extra special.It happened on June 12th, 2022. Just a stone’s throw from my house.
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds came to town.
I’ve said it many times before on this page: Oasis have played a massive role in my musical journey. They’ve introduced me to countless other amazing bands and artists. Their songs have soundtracked some of my best memories with friends and family, and they’re one of the main reasons I started this blog.
So when it was announced that Noel Gallagher would be playing Cannock Chase in 2022, getting tickets was a no-brainer. We’d seen him live before, in Birmingham and in his hometown of Manchester—but this time was different. This time, he was performing on my doorstep, in a unique venue: an open-air stage nestled in the heart of the forest, shaped like a natural amphitheatre, as part of Forest England’s Forest Live concert series.
The show itself felt like a momentous one personally though. I travelled with a family member and a couple of friends, who are all massive Noel fans loving his work with Oasis and the High Flying Birds. We all bumped into people that we knew though, old school friends, work colleauges. This was a special moment for us all. These things don't happen around here. ForestLive shows happen every year but it's a rare occassion for someone like Noel Gallagher to turn up. Last year for example Cannock Chase had Olly Murs, Anne Marie and The Charlatans, admitedly it was The Charlatans and Johnny Marr but you get my point. Other than perhaps Johnny Marr none of those have had the cultural impact that Noel Gallagher has had.
The set was a real mixture of songs from both his Oasis and his High Flying Birds days. 19 in total including 7 Oasis songs. Ending of course with 'Don't Look Back in Anger'. He also played 'Talk Tonight', 'Half the World Away' and 'Stop Crying Your Heart Out'.
His solo classics 'If I Had a Gun' and 'AKA What a Life' slotted in alongside the heavy hitters perfectly. The first part of the set was dedicated entirely to his ecletic solo career, from the 70s inspired 'Blackstar Dancing' through to the glam like 'Holy Mountain' and the New Order meets Blondie banger 'She Taught Me How to Fly.'
It was the perfect encapsulation of Noel's career to that point, and one of the best gigs I have ever been to.
Outdoor gigs can often feel massive, and disconnected. I remember seeing the Courteeners at Heaton Park in 2019, and feeling a million miles away from the band on stage, Noel's Cannock Chase gig, felt intimate and it sounded incredible.
The whole day, the concert itself, where it was and who I was with all combined to make it one of the best and most unique concert experiences I've ever had.
I've done more intimate, I have definitely done much bigger, I have had one off moments at gigs but this one had everything. Watching Noel and band sing 'Don't Look Back in Anger' in the middle of a forest we used to go to as kids, a place we went on school trips, near where I learnt to ride a bike, a place already associated with so many memories was definitely the most special moment I've had at a gig.
It may get beaten on July 20th though, where I'll be watching Noel in his hometown, something I've done before in 2017, this time though. His younger brother will be standing next to him.
Thank you for reading.
Jack