Malahide Castle Preview: The Enduring Success of Noel Gallagher

Coming a year after Liam rocked the same stage, Noel Gallagher’s Malahide outing is set to be something very special. It’s a decade since Oasis split up in pretty catastrophic fashion, but the ensuing years of drama and bickering have left Noel’s sound unscathed. In fact, the first tasters from his highly anticipated Black Star Dancing EP have demonstrated that his voice, and his direction, are as fresh as ever.

The title track, produced by Noel himself, shows a brand new side to the Britpop legend, with strong disco and pop influences that pay homage to the likes of David Bowie, INXS, Queen and U2. The single – which quickly earned Nile Rodgers’ seal of approval – has already received its very own irresistible remix from French producer Nicolas Laugier, aka The Reflex. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – a band whose revolving roster basically consists of whoever Noel feels like jamming with at any given time – are no strangers to Irish audiences, having played Dublin’s 3Arena last May as part of the tour for their chart-topping 2017 album, Who Built The Moon? (Gallagher’s 10th No.1 album overall).

And while it’s been 10 years since Oasis parted ways, the Gallagher sibling rivalry hasn’t shown any signs of letting up. Noel recently blocked a request from an Irish documentary maker to use Oasis’ music in an upcoming film about Liam, while Liam continues to use Twitter to swing below-the-belt digs at his brother.

Given Man City’s treble triumph, diehard fan Noel is sure to be in top form this summer. He arrives in Dublin fresh from a headlining slot at the Isle of Wight Festival, and will later make a few stops in Europe before joining the Smashing Pumpkins for a North American summer tour. His new EP will be released two days before his Malahide date, so expect exciting new material alongside the classics.