19TH JULY 2024

After a year and a half on the road in support of his critically acclaimed album Council Skies, you could
expect Noel Gallagher to lose momentum. With it being nearly 14 months since the albums release, you wouldn’t blame the 57 year old Britpop Icon for dropping his drive. Thankfully, for the fans at the sold out Alexandra Palace Park gig, Noel and his High Flying Birds delivered a phenomenal performance.

The former Oasis legend did not disappoint against the backdrop of the venue’s stunning panoramic views of London. Beginning with a storming performance of album opener Pretty Boy, it was evident from the first note that the fans weren’t just there for the 90s classics, as they joined Noel in hitting the high notes for the single’s bouncy chorus.

The band wasted no time in performing the best of the latest album as crowd pleasers such as Council
Skies and We’re Gunna Get There in the End were met with a rapturous response from the fans.

The Chief continued to entertain with his impressive back-catalogue which included High Flying Bird favourites If I had a Gun and What a life. He showcased how his solo tracks stood alongside the iconic Oasis songs in his setlist, delivering a staggering rendition of Dead in the Water. The performance was a serious gig highlight and allowed Noel to effortlessly glide into his Britpop cannon of work.

The band began the second half of proceedings with Going Nowhere, a staple of Noel Gallagher to open
a run of Oasis songs with a B-side. The rarely performed track had Noel’s every word matched by the ecstatic fans. From here on in, it was nothing but classic after classic with Talk Tonight, Whatever, Half the World Away and The Masterplan.

The gig concluded with a trio of Oasis gems. Stand By Me being performed acoustically with stunning
results, followed by the crowd taking command of the vocals for Live Forever and Don’t look back in
Anger.

If 2024 is Liam Gallagher’s year of nostalgic indulgence from his Definitely Maybe tour, looking back at a musical landscape that he helped shape, then this is Noel’s year of looking forward. Striding ahead into new horizons, armed with the talent and the tunes to match any of the former glory of Oasis.

Review, photo and video by Sarah Stanley