The summer of 2024 saw an array of exciting shows at Warwick Castle, featuring artists such as McFly, Ministry Of Sound Classical, and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. With support from The Waeve and The Smiths’ Johnny Marr, there was a sense of British rock nostalgia from start to finish. It was a great day for fans of Blur, The Smiths and Oasis.
Bringing a synth driven sound as they opened up the show was The Waeve, consisting of Blur’s Graham Cox and Rose Elino Dougall. With their atmospheric tracks including “Drowning” and “You Saw”, they gained the audience’s attention from the start. They played a set that showcased their newer material that went down well with the crowd.
Up next was Johnny Marr. With an impressive back catalogue and pure talent, it was hard for the audience not to enjoy his set. With a mixture of original tracks and music from The Smiths, it was a pretty diverse setlist for his fans.
Performing tracks including “Panic”, “How Soon Is Now?” and “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out”, the crowd sang along to every word. It was evident that Johnny and the rest of his band were enjoying every second on stage with such a receptive audience and the sun shining down on Warwick Castle.
The anticipation was over as it was finally time for Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds to make their way to the stage. As expected, the band were greeted with excited cheers and round of applause from everyone in the crowd. There were smiles in the faces of their fans as they saw Noel Gallagher up on stage.
On stage, there were flowers situated at the front which added to the aesthetic, especially with the sunny weather. As well as this there were graphics projected on the screens throughout the show. One figure that stood out on stage was a cardboard cut out of Manchester City’s Football Club Manager Pep Guardiola.
As expected, the setlist consisted of tracks from the album, Council Skies, including “Pretty Boy” which was definitely a fan favourite. As the crowd sang along to various songs, the excitement was still present just like it was initially.
Crowd interaction was a major part of the set at Warwick Castle. Speaking to members of the audience in between songs made the show a lot more intimate, especially considering the size of the venue. He also incorporated Oasis songs within the setlist which definitely went down well with the audience.
With songs such as , “The Masterplan”, “Whatever” and “Live Forever” mixed into the setlist, Noel was able to showcase his immense discography that also highlights how his songwriting continues to resonate with old and new fans.
The crowd sang back every word throughout the night, but it was when the opening note of “Don’t Look Back in Anger” began was when it was elevated to another level. Even after all these years, this is one of many that still holds its weight. He is still able to keep his music relevant and contemporary, with the ability to hold onto his signature sound.
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds at Warwick Castle showed exactly what Gallagher is all about, presented as a celebration of the songs that made him who he is today, as well as the artist he is becoming with his solo material. The evening was a testament to Noel as an artist and reminded everyone who was fortunate enough to witness this set how Gallagher still remains as an icon in British Rock history.
Words + photography by Sarah Akomanyi
