News, Manchester
A guitar signed by Noel and Liam Gallagher is to go on display in Manchester ahead of the band’s return to their home city this summer.
The Epiphone Riviera guitar will be on show in Selfridges before it is auctioned in September to raise money for grassroots music projects and venues across the city.
News of the donation came as Manchester City Council predicted that 1.3 million tourists would flock to the city in “the summer of all summers” for live music, with Oasis’s homecoming gigs the centrepiece.
An Oasis spokesperson said: “We’re delighted to donate this guitar signed by Liam and Noel to help support Manchester’s grassroots music projects and kickstart the series of celebrations.”
Oasis are to play Heaton Park in Manchester on 11, 12, 16, 19 and 20 July as part of their world tour.
Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council and local councillor for the Burnage ward where the Gallagher brothers grew up, said: “This promises to be the summer of all summers in Manchester as we get set to welcome music fans from every part of the globe for a massive three months of non-stop live music.
“To have the legends that are Oasis back in town for a supersonic string of homecoming gigs front and centre of Manchester this summer is going to be epic.
“A huge thank you also to Liam and Noel for getting behind our end-of-summer guitar auction to help up-and-coming young artists and raise money for our fantastic grassroots music projects and venues across the city.”
Guitars donated by other musicians will also go on display in shop windows around the city, and other venues, in July and August.
Guitar-themed artworks, exhibitions and other installations will appear throughout the city’s streets and squares, along with pop-up shops, impromptu performances, music-themed markets and a festival bar.
