'I saw Oasis in 1994 but one man stole Noel and Liam's thunder'

The summer of 1994, when festival pints were 89p and smart phones hadn't been invented.

It was also the summer when a little known band called Oasis played a free music festival on Avenham Park in Preston. As the first year of sixth form drew to a close, the buzz around college was who would be at the Heineken Festival this year.

Outfits were planned, fake ID procured and the meeting place arranged by the willow tree, half way up the hill. For four nights in June, the park was the place to be.

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No-one really cared about the line up, although the Inspiral Carpets headlining the opening night was one to look forward to. Saturday, June 11 was 'indie and alternative night', sponsored by Melody Maker and every self respecting indie kid, mosher or shoegazer was going to be there.

Topping the bill were The Boo Radleys. It was a year later when they released their biggest hit, Wake Up Boo, catapulting them from college corridors and sticky dancefloors to prime time radio shows.

From 5pm the park filled up with groups of friends, all there for one reason - to listen to some music and have a great time. A giant inflatable Heineken can bobbed in the breeze on the bank of the River Ribble, and a Heineken branded marquee - later to become the scene of the festival's most memorable events - was set up in front of the band stand.

As the evening wore on there were sets from Furburger and Back To The Planet, before Oasis took the main supporting slot. They had been billed in NME and Melody Maker as a band to look out for but no-one there that night really realised they were watching history in the making.

As the lads from Manchester performed Shakermaker, Live Forever and Cigarettes and Alcohol, there were approving nods, and comments like 'these guys are alright, aren't they?'.

Towards the end of Oasis' set the real drama unfolded when a man, clearly feeling the effect of the 89p cans, climbed on top of the marquee. As security climbed up after him a Benny Hill style chase carried on atop the canvas, to cheers from the watching crowd.

The band stopped playing and Liam told the guy he nicknamed 'Elvis' to 'get down' but this runaway joker was having too much fun. And so it is, that from this legendary concert of 1994, most people's main memory is the nutter on top of the tent.

It's probably a good job these were the days before smart phones. I asked around to see if anyone had taken any photos but was met largely with a blank. The heady combination of 89p cider, teenage hormones and the early days of freedom mean this concert lives as a distant and hazy memory in the minds of a generation of Prestonians.

As Oasis fans dig deep into their wallets for tickets for the much awaited reunion tour, you'll always know who was in Avenham Park in 1994. Mention Oasis and they will all say the same thing.

'Remember the guy on the top of the tent?'

Were you at the Heineken Festival in 1994? Did you climb on top of the tent? Let us know in the comments section.