Blossoms Light Up Wythenshawe Park with Electrifying Performance: A Night of Nostalgia and New Beginnings

Blossoms, 25th August 2024

Travelling through Manchester City Centre this weekend, it’s impossible to escape the excitement of a city dominated by culture. Pride weekend creates a joyous atmosphere throughout the streets, Oasis-reunion speculation can be heard on every corner, and we’re on our way to Wythenshawe Park for a Bank Holiday party. The second in a weekend bonanza of Manchester legends including New Order and Johnny Marr, it’s a particularly momentous day for Stockport natives, Blossoms. It’s chilly and overcast, but that’s not going to dampen our spirits, and we’re sure it won’t falter theirs, either. They’ve had a fruitful career spanning the last decade, and today sees them playing to 30,000 in a park just over from their hometown, an achievement that feels significant both to seasoned fans and the lads themselves.

The day starts with up-and-coming Altrincham-based band, The Guest List. They’re followed by TTRRUUCES, fronted by fellow Stockport native Natalie Findlay, who collaborated with the headliners on their 2023 single To Do List (After The Breakup). Adding to the melting pot of varied acts is Oldham-based activist star Seb Lowe—it’s truly a Manchester affair! It feels like an essential addition to the lineup—the best of indie music has come from working-class northerners, and Lowe’s set feels like an acknowledgement of that struggle in a day of triumphant northern musicians. Continuing this theme are Earlestown natives, The K’s. Their upbeat indie sound has gathered a cult-like following, and they work to win over non-fans with covers as the intros to their biggest hits.

Where The K’s end, the rain begins. Britpop legends Shed Seven take the stage, bringing with them heaps of energy and an impressively mustered coolness. The rain stops for their classic Going For Gold, and they invite guests Issy Ferris and Rowetta onstage. Then it’s time for comparative newbies (though still accomplished legends), Inhaler. By this point in the night, the excitement in the air is palpable, only boosted by the entrance of the mysterious, composed Irish four-piece. They play modern classics such as My Honest Face and These Are The Days, thoroughly absorbing the crowd.

It’s certainly been a day with something to please everyone in the crowd, but the wait is on for what we’re all here for. Down the front of the stage, chants of “Gary!” can be heard, an ode to Blossoms’ latest single and upcoming album. As Cigarettes and Alcohol fuels the audience, we muse on whether the band are nervous to greet their biggest ever crowd. If they are, though, there’s no sign of it. They blaze straight into hit single Your Girlfriend, and the audience is instantly hooked. Progressing into tracks from across their lengthy career, it’s surprising even to me, a long-time fan, just how many brilliant songs they have.

With their hits assured, the band play around with their performance style. Chemistry oozes as the set progresses—at various points, the five lads join together around the drum kit, and at one point even conga across the stage! You can feel how special this moment is for them, and, as singer Tom Ogden expresses, “it feels right”. They dive into some of their vintage classics, Cut Me And I’ll Bleed and Blow, for which they strip back to just the five members on stage, an ode to their first-ever gig in Manchester’s Night and Day Café. The sound is just as bright and full in this format, and it’s a great moment for fans to bask in how far the band have come.

As they continue an effortless journey through their discography, the songs need no introduction. Meanwhile, I’m struck by their great attention to detail! The stage is set in oranges and yellows, the shade of their upcoming album, and the lads are kitted out in brilliantly coordinated flares and blouses. Uber 70s, uber cool. In keeping with this theme, they seamlessly blend a cover of ABBA’s Dancing Queen with the outro to Ribbon Around The Bomb, propelling the buzz in the air. And the surprises don’t stop there; closing the bulk of the set is keyboardist Myles Kellock on the keytar during At Most A Kiss, while we stop to admire the poetic lyricism of the track, particularly “I’ll pocket the earth”.

It’s at this point in the set that I begin to wonder what we’ve stumbled into—in the best way. The encore begins with a police hunt for the giant plastic gorilla which the band have ‘stolen’. Gary perches onstage for the first song of the encore, and despite being a relatively new track in their set, the crowd lap it all up. Who wouldn’t when faced with a giant gorilla?! Then they head into an encore of more seasoned favourites, including My Favourite Room complete with snippets of both Babybird’s You’re Gorgeous and Oasis’ Half The World Away (a necessary hint, seeing as they’re rumoured to support the fellow Manc legends on their recently announced tour). The set closes with an explosive Charlemagne, and we’re high on serotonin as we join the crowd heading toward the Stockport shuttle buses.

After not seeing Blossoms for a couple of years, this jubilant night in the park was a grand reminder of their talent, style, and contagious energy. I can’t wait to check out their album Gary, which comes out on 20th September, and hopefully catch them on tour at some point in 2025. Pre-order here.

Setlist:

Your Girlfriend I Can’t Stand It Getaway (extended intro) Oh No (I Think I’m In Love) What Can I Say After I’m Sorry? The Keeper To Do List (After The Breakup) (with Findlay) Cut Me And I’ll Bleed Blow Perfect Me Care For Honey Sweet Ribbon Around The Bomb (with snippet of Dancing Queen at end) If You Think This Is Real Life My Swimming Brain Blown Rose At Most A Kiss

Encore:

Gary My Favourite Room (plus You’re Gorgeous and Half The World Away) There’s A Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls) Charlemagne