Manchester

  As Oasis took to the stage earlier this month, I was busy doing radio interviews exploring the differences in the live music experience from the time when the Gallagher brothers first formed the band over thirty years ago. In a succession of calls with Radio 5 Live, Times Radio, Bauer Radio and a string

I had a lot of fun during the Oasis Manchester shows, leaving copies of Be Here Now around the city centre for people to find and claim.  Dozens of copies of the book were spotted and snatched up by an eagle-eyed public. I viewed it as dynamic pricing in reverse.  A full festival experience in

I dug out my ticket from the first time I saw Oasis – Lancashire County Cricket Club, 15th September 2002 (yes, I know, late to the party!). How much?  A mere £28.50, which compares favourably with this year’s prices (an average of £150 a pop, assuming you could get one). A quick inflation guide is

  The first independent reviews for Be Here Now are unanimous – it’s fun, perfectly timed, and it doesn’t matter if you’re an Oasis fan or not – get it on your To Be Read pile now! ‘Great for anyone who’s looking forward to the big Oasis reunion this summer.’ Hilary Moritz, Netgalley  ‘More than

When it came to finding a name for the Oasis blogger character in Be Here Now, I knew straightaway what it should be – the man famously name-checked in the song ‘Shakermaker’: Sifter. Sifters Record Store is still going well in Burnage, Manchester, years after the Gallagher brothers frequented the place and sought his permission

He’s a rock n’ roll star…or is he? A bit of fun promotion for Be Here Now saw a Liam Gallagher lookalike discovering the book on sale and then seeking out the author to ‘have a word’. The story, as tongue-in-cheek as the novel, went down well, although some observers were heard to comment: ‘It

Be Here Now. The new novel from Paul Carroll  – available from 29th May 2025. Perfectly timed for this summer’s Oasis comeback tour, Be Here Now is a wicked send-up of today’s over-hyped music festivals Corporate rock, fan rip-offs, festival sponsorship and greenwashing all get their comeuppance in this entertaining page turner Despite it all,

The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester celebrates its 45th anniversary this month, making me realise how central it’s been to my theatre going experience over the years.  I first stepped inside the iconic in-the-round auditorium in 1977, a year after its opening, and have been a regular attendee since.   My first visit was to see