In August, local tribute band O’eh’sis, together with The Devotees and an as-yet unnamed under-18 band, will play the first concert at Victoria Park – and this might be the first of many.
‘With the stadium, it was always planned to be a community facility that extended beyond football,’ said head of the GFA, Gary Roberts. ‘So having O’eh’sis play is a nice first. We saw how popular they were when they played last year at Guernsey Together, so it’s high profile.’
‘Victoria Park has a capacity of 2,500 and we’ve the last couple of hundred tickets left to sell,’ said Tyler Edmonds, O’eh’sis’s Noel Gallagher (to Callum Aitken’s Liam). ‘People underestimate how hard it is to sell tickets. We’re lucky, Oasis are huge, so all the stars are aligned.’
A lot of work has gone into the forthcoming concert.
‘We pulled together a plan for Environment, but they did make us graft for it,’ admitted Gary. ‘But I get where they’re coming from, we’ve got to be mindful of our neighbours. Not many places in Guernsey can facilitate such an event and the impact on our neighbours has to be the first thing considered.
‘A letter drop to the neighbours and businesses has just been signed off.’
Such hard work does have its rewards.
‘When you see the first surge of tickets going, it’s amazing,’ said Gary. ‘You look forward to seeing who is going to come – and it won’t all be football fans. We’ve spent a lot on making Victoria Park a place for the family, the community.’
Gary said that, Environment-willing, he would love to see Victoria Park host an annual music event.
‘Whether there’s an appetite for it, especially with Belsfest and Guernsey Together happening in the same area, we’ll have to see.’
Tyler is currently running a competition for under-18s bands to support O’eh’sis, asking them to send him a demo and a set list.
‘This is a great opportunity for a young group to play to such a big crowd,’ said Gary. ‘It’s the same with football as it is with music here in Guernsey, how supportive people are of young players and young musicians.’
Both are looking forward to the concert.
‘It’s going to be exciting,’ said Tyler.
‘It’s going to be pretty special,’ Gary agreed. ‘For football, for Tyler and the bands and, more importantly, for the community.’
If you are an under-18 band and would like to be considered to play at the concert, send in a demo and a set list to Tyler at tyler@sopm.gg.
WIN
O’eh’sis, The Devotees and an under-18 band will play Victoria Park on Saturday 22 August from 5 to 11pm. Tickets are available at tickets.victoriapark.gg.
But courtesy of the organisers, we’re giving away two tickets to readers.
To be in with a chance of winning them, answer this question correctly: What was Oasis’ first number one hit?
1. Wonderwall.
2. Roll With It.
3. Some Might Say.
Email competitions@guernseypress.com and tell us your answer, name and contact details. The deadline for entries is 5pm on Monday 29 June. No prize or cash alternative is offered.
