From Oasis's final V Fest gig to their Wembley reunion concert

It’s been 16 years, almost to the day, since I last saw Liam and Noel Gallagher on stage together.

Back then, obviously, I didn’t know it would be the final time, and as a result I probably took it a little for granted.

I mean, it says a lot that my abiding (haunting) memory of that fateful V Fest set in August 2009 was a woman walking back through a mobbed crowd and relieving herself inches from my feet before standing up and disappearing into a melee of fans, leaving only a sad puddle behind.

If ever there as an omen for things to come, that was it; a week later, the band broke up.

So despite being much older and fairly skeptical when the news broke last year that the warring Gallaghers were calling a truce and finally getting the band back together, it felt like an opportunity I couldn’t miss - as it did for almost half the planet, with tickets selling out in a matter of minutes, while others tried to storm their way into the Manchester gig.

Though despite the fever among fans, according to Viagogo figures, while Oasis could have filled Wembley 16 times over, it was still some way off the 25 nights Taylor Swift could have done during her last tour.

But I’m no Swifty, so that meant nothing to either me or the 90,000 other fans who packed into the stadium last night (30 July) to tick one off the bucket (hat) list.

Supported once again by 90s icons Cast and Richard Ashcroft - both of whom are headliners in their own right and blew the crowd away - Liam and Noel took to the stage for the third night of their London run.

And just as they’ve done at every gig so far on the reunion, they came out with hit after hit after hit, a veritable smorgasbord of all killer and absolutely zero filler.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past month, you’ll probably know the score by now; coming out onto the stage arms raised, Liam and Noel announced their return with the aptly titled ‘Hello’, followed up by ‘Acquiesce’, which set the tone for a night full of much-needed nostalgia.

It was then onto ‘Morning Glory’, 'Some Might Say’ and ‘Bring it On Down’, which Liam dedicated to ‘all the glue sniffers’, before 'Cigarettes and Alcohol'.

Liam then dedicated 'Roll With It' to the 'actual Lionesses' following England's victory at the Women's Euros over the weekend.

About halfway through, Liam disappeared and left older brother Noel to take centre stage and flex his vocal cords, taking things down a notch with ’Talk Tonight’ - a personal favourite - that had the crowd swaying, though that could have been beers, hard to tell by that point.

Noel also dedicated ‘Half the World Away’ to ‘the Royle family, not your Royal Family, our Royle family’, having previously devoted the iconic tune to the show's creator Caroline Aherene, who died in 2016.

When Liam returned to the stage, it was time for a victory lap, with the brothers tearing through yet more anthems - 'Stand By Me' (dedicated to R Kid), 'Cast No Shadow', before 'Slide Away'.

At times, despite the best efforts of the placard wielding preacher on Wembley Way, the gig felt like a true religious experience that saw thousands brought together at the alter of Britpop.

And as the empty pint pots stacked up, each passing song gained added poignancy; crowds belting out 'Rock 'n' Roll Star' in unison with Liam and holding each other for the hymnal 'Don't Look Back in Anger', before the night was rounded off by a euphoric rendition of ‘Champagne Supernova’ as fireworks illuminated the sky above.

The brothers left the stage and thousands made the long journey home not fully comprehending what they'd just witnessed.

But I think it’s safe to say I’ve finally exorcised my soul of those V Fest demons.

As you were x

Full set list:

Hello

Acquiesce

Morning Glory

Some Might Say

Bring It On Down

Cigarettes & Alcohol

Fade Away

Supersonic

Roll With It

Talk Tonight

Half the World Away

Little by Little

D'You Know What I Mean?

Stand by Me

Cast No Shadow

Slide Away

Whatever

Live Forever

Rock 'n' Roll Star

Encore:

The Masterplan

Don't Look Back in Anger

Wonderwall

Champagne Supernova