Manchester music legends Oasis have donated a signed guitar to help launch a major summer of live music in their hometown. The guitar, an Epiphone Riviera signed by Liam and Noel Gallagher, will be auctioned off in September to raise money for grassroots music projects and venues across the city.
Centrepiece of the ‘Music for the Senses’ Art Trail The guitar will go on display at Selfridges Manchester Exchange Square from early July, forming the centrepiece of the Music for the Senses art trail, a city-wide celebration of Manchester’s musical heritage. The trail will feature up to 50 guitars transformed into unique artworks by local artists, alongside other instruments donated by famous musicians.
A spokesperson for Oasis 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.”
A Summer of Music in Manchester The auction comes as Manchester prepares for a huge influx of music fans, with 1.3 million expected to visit the city over the summer as part of the Manchester Live 25 series. This includes the long-awaited Oasis homecoming gigs at Heaton Park, which are set to be the highlight of a packed summer lineup featuring artists like Charli XCX, 50 Cent, Elbow, Sam Fender, and Hacienda Classical.
Support for Local Talent The auction, part of the Music for the Senses project, is being organised by global art producer Wild in Art in collaboration with the charity Forever Manchester. The initiative aims to support the city’s grassroots music scene, with funds raised going directly to local music venues and aspiring young musicians.
Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, praised the band’s contribution, saying, “To have the legends that are Oasis back in town for a supersonic string of homecoming gigs is going to be epic. A huge thank you 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.”
Guitar Donations Welcome The public is also being encouraged to contribute to the art trail, with a call for new, old, broken, or well-loved guitars to be transformed into artworks. Up to 100 broken guitars will be used in a large-scale installation, Guitar Street, by Manchester artist Liam Hopkins (aka Lazarian), which will be unveiled on a city centre street later this summer. Guitars still in playable condition will be donated to local music charities, giving them a second life in the hands of aspiring young artists.
A Boost for the Local Economy The music-filled summer is expected to provide a significant boost to Manchester’s economy, with the city’s smaller music venues, hotels, bars, restaurants, and shops set to benefit from the influx of visitors. According to Councillor Craig, Manchester’s music and culture scene generated an economic impact of over £342 million last year, supporting more than 4,800 jobs.
For more information on how to donate guitars for the art trail or to get involved in the Music for the Senses project, visit musicforthesenses.co.uk.
