Oasis Fans
Maine Road, Manchester, 1996

Photographs by Jon Shard

Photographer Jon Shard made these photographs on his first assignment for the NME in the winter of 1995–96, documenting Oasis fans queueing outside Maine Road in Manchester for tickets to the band’s now legendary homecoming concerts. Long before online sales, securing a place meant turning up in person and waiting in the cold. Shard’s pictures capture that moment with clarity: the anticipation, the style and commitment of fans determined to be there.

Oasis played two sold-out shows at Maine Road on the 27th and 28th April 1996, at the height of their rise and just months before Knebworth. For many, the concerts marked a defining point in the story of Britpop.

Jon Shard:

“This was my first ever commission for the NME in the winter of 1995/96. I was asked to capture the dedication of fans waiting in the freezing cold for the hottest ticket in town. Those were the days before online ticket sales dominated, and queuing in person had its charm. People were willing to stay out and brave the cold; it was a bit of an event itself, almost a rite of passage for fans.”

Oasis fan Leah Walker remembers the Sunday gig:

"The anticipation was immense, and when the day came, it didn't disappoint. My friends and I walked to Maine Road from the city centre; the area around the stadium, Rusholme and Moss Side was buzzing. It was fairly chaotic, and there were a few muggings of tickets, though all in all, it was an amazing day and night out. The gig was predominately made up of working-class kids like myself. From a fan perspective, I don't think Oasis played a better gig after Maine Road; it was the best gig ever! That era felt like such a positive time. I'm in my mid-40s now, and we have never had anything like that in music since."