Oasis announce first CONFIRMED support act for UK tour in official statement

It has been rumoured for a while, but Oasis have now made their first support act official for the eagerly-anticipated comeback tour dates in the UK. Richard Ashcroft has today been confirmed as the special guest for the UK and Ireland leg of the huge Oasis Live '25 tour.

Reunited brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher have set the world of music alight since announcing in the summer they were back with a raft of gigs. The Oasis tour has become the hottest ticket of the year, with all 19 UK and Ireland shows selling out.

In an official announcement from the band on Monday, they have now confirmed that Wigan's finest Richard Ashcroft will be their special guest for the UK and Ireland dates. They also detailed the "long connection and strong mutual respect" with The Verve star Richard.

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The statement from the band said: "A huge favourite amongst Oasis fans, Richard Ashcroft is a crowd-pleasing choice who is guaranteed to bring the atmosphere to fever pitch before Oasis hit the stage. Just look at the phenomenal strength of his back catalogue for evidence, from classic Verve anthems like ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’, ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’, ‘Lucky Man’ and ‘Sonnet’ through to solo highlights such as ‘A Song For The Lovers’, ‘Break The Night With Colour’, ‘C’Mon People (We’re Making It Now)’ and ‘Music Is Power’."

It went on to add: "It’s also a fitting choice given the long connection and strong mutual respect between them both. One of Oasis’s first national tours was as support to The Verve back in 1993, often playing to just a few hundred people several months before their debut single ‘Supersonic’ was released.

"They were due to be reunited the following year in Amsterdam but a drunken incident on a ferry resulted in most of the band being sent back to the UK, except for Noel Gallagher who went on to play a solo set instead. The Gallagher brothers famously recounted the tale on the ‘Wibbling Rivalry’ 7” single.

"But they were back together again in 1995, with The Verve supporting Oasis at The Bataclan in Paris before featuring as special guests at the giant tent show at Scotland’s Irving Beach. Their friendship extended to recordings too, with Noel dedicating ‘Cast No Shadow’ from ‘(What's the Story) Morning Glory?’ to Richard, before Richard later provided backing vocals on ‘All Around The World’ from 1997’s ‘Be Here Now’.

"Richard, Liam and Noel have been firm friends ever since, and in 2021 Liam featured on a reworked version of C'mon People (We're Making It Now)’ from Richard’s reworks album ‘Acoustic Hymns Vol 1’."

His involvement in the tour had been teased over the past couple of weeks, including from Liam himself, who wrote on X: “Richard Ashcroft or Manic street preachers as support”. He then added: "Only kidding we never set sail without the 1 and only RICARDO he’s our boy from day DOT come aboard Rkid.”

Confirming the news today, Richard Ashcroft said: "As a fan from day one I was buzzing for many reasons when the news of Oasis’s return was announced. I can say with no exaggeration that the songwriting talent of Noel and Liam’s pure spirit as a lead singer helped to inspire me to create some of my best work.

"It was the perfection of ‘Live Forever’ that forced me to try and write my own. They dared to be great, made the dreams we had real and I will always remember those days with joy. Now it’s time to create more memories and I’m ready to bring it. See you next summer. Music is power.”

Names also being rumoured to joing the UK tour include Stockport's own Blossoms, as well as Liverpool's finest Cast, who recently supported Liam on his solo tour to celebrate Oasis' seminal album Definitely Maybe.

The band's spokespeople say: "Details regarding the rest of the support line-up for Oasis’s UK and Ireland shows - their only European shows in 2025 - will be revealed in due course".

Full list of Oasis Live '25 UK and Ireland Tour Dates

JULY 2025

4th - Cardiff, Principality Stadium (SOLD OUT)

5th - Cardiff, Principality Stadium (SOLD OUT)

11th - Manchester, Heaton Park (SOLD OUT)

12th - Manchester, Heaton Park (SOLD OUT)

16th - Manchester, Heaton Park (SOLD OUT)

19th - Manchester, Heaton Park (SOLD OUT)

20th - Manchester, Heaton Park (SOLD OUT)

25th - London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)

26th - London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)

30th - London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)

AUGUST 2025

2nd - London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)

3rd - London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)

8th - Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium (SOLD OUT)

9th - Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium (SOLD OUT)

12th - Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium (SOLD OUT)

16th - Dublin, Croke Park (SOLD OUT)

17th - Dublin, Croke Park (SOLD OUT)

SEPTEMBER 2025

27th - London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)

28th - London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)