Remembering when Oasis played Loch Lomond at Balloch Park 25 years ago

English rockers Oasis, arguably the biggest band of the decade, visited Balloch Castle Country Park for an epic two-dayer on August 3 and 4, 1996.

Box office records were broken as tickets for the Mancunian duo’s concert dates sold out in just six hours.

Music lovers from across the country flocked to their nearest ticket office in a bid to see one of the most defining gigs of the nineties take place on Scottish soil.

Heather Wilson, 40, queued outside in the cold from 4am as a young teen to secure tickets.

She said: "I was an Oasis fan from about age 13 to 16 and I was desperate to go see them live. 

"When they announced tickets, I remember queuing down Union St, round Gordon St and down into Mitchell St to the back door of Virgin Music on Argyle St. 

"I remember Liam coming on with his swagger and everyone just going wild. I’d been too young for T in the Park, so this gave me a taster of what somewhere like that could be."

READ MORE: From Oasis to Blur: Remember the line-up of the first ever T in the Park at Strathclyde Park

(What’s The Story) Morning Glory had already catapulted the band into superstardom. 

Despite the brothers battling Blur for the Britpop crown the previous year, it was clear that after a spate of legendary outdoor gigs, 1996 belonged to Oasis.

The pair always revelled performing in front of a Scottish crowd – after being discovered in Glasgow’s iconic music venue King Tuts – which promised fans two nights of music on the bonnie banks that would go down in history.

Thousands of fans packed onto trains from Glasgow and headed north to Balloch with their carry outs clinking.

The small Scottish town saw its population of just 5,000 increase 17-fold as more than 80,000 fans descended on the beauty spot.

Residents were even forced to carry passports in order to be identified by police officers on-site as genuine locals.

Barry McCormack, 45, said: “I remember the whole weekend fondly. It’s up there with the greatest gigs of my life – and I’ve been to a lot of gigs.

“You felt as if you were riding the zeitgeist. Oasis were a youth culture phenomenon. You were seeing a band at the peak of their powers and felt lucky to be involved.”

Oasis fans waiting for the bus to Balloch at Motherwell Cross on August 4, 1996. Picture: Barry McCormack

The support acts over the two-night run included Black Grape, Cast, Ocean Colour Scene, The Bootleg Beatles and Heavy Stereo.

Meanwhile the setlist for the gig boasted some of the band’s greatest hits, from Supersonic to Roll With It, Wonderwall to Slide Away, and Don't Look Back in Anger to Live Forever.

As Oasis appeared on stage, concert-goers recall fans climbing trees to get a better view as Liam sang the lyrics, "Hey you / Up in a tree / You wanna be me / But that couldn't be" during Up In The Sky.

Damian Glancy, 53, and pal Des Cummings, 53, who were both at the Saturday date, said: "Not going wasn't an option. The music was great and the band were at their swaggering best. 

"Black Grape jolted the crowd and turned it up a notch, and Oasis delivered a cracking set with the pick of Definitely Maybe and What's The Story? – with some classic B-sides thrown in for good measure.

"It doesn't seem like 25 years."

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Lauren Glancy, 49, who went along with brother Duncan, said: "You had to go to this gig. To see the band in that setting with that backdrop felt like a big moment – and it was on our doorstep.

"The sun shone, the midges bit and the drinks flowed. We loved it.

"The gig was epic and stands up in comparison with hundreds of gigs since, whether it's festivals or band tours."

A euphoric encore rounded off the two dates, consisting of Champagne Supernova, taken from the iconic (What's the Story) Morning Glory? record, and a cover of The Beatles’ I Am the Walrus.

When the party wound-up and the crowds cleared, the park was littered with empty bottles and cans, leaving Balloch locals to offer a helping hand with the huge clean-up operation ahead.

Stephen Watt, centre left, then 16 years old, travelled from Dumbarton to see Oasis with friends

Reflecting on the gig, Stephen Watt, 41, said: "It launched my love for crowds, live music, anticipation and being part of a contemporary scene which shook the system up. 

"Britpop was nearing its end so to be able to be at one of its final parties was a privilege. 

"Oasis weren't just a band; they were a haircut, a colour, a change in your gait, infected our language, adjusted our attitude and gave us something to believe in.”