8ft Tall

So in a weekend that was filled with news about a Manchester band. On Sunday (25th August 2024) I alongside a couple of friends headed up to Manchester to watch, a band from just down the road. 

Blossoms from Stockport. The band were playing there biggest gig to date, in front of 30,000 people in Wythenshawe Park. 

It was an all day event with some stellar supports. Indie upstarts The K’s did not disappoint. After a weekend playing both Reading & Leeds. The band did not looked jaded. In fact they were anything but. Giving fans a 9 song set. Featuring some of the bands best loved tunes.  The crowd lapped it up, with fans singing the words like their lives depended on it.

Shed Seven followed The K’s. Bringing some 90s Britpop to drizzly Manchester. I'd seen Shed Seven before, and left feeling a little disappointed. However I can say that they were a lot better. Playing the hits and getting the crowd involved. It made for a good watch. The sizable crowd seemed to enjoy them to. 

Before Blossoms were Inhaler. Now two albums in, they've become one of Britain's best live acts. Playing tracks from both records and getting a rapturous reception. 

After Inhaler, it was time for the main event. Blossoms walked onto a rather unique stage set. It had been designed to match the album cover for their upcoming album. ‘Gary’ 

Opening the set was a brilliant version of ‘Your Girlfriend’ it had been given a new lease of life, and fans were hooked. Blossoms were going to play a series of hits tonight, and they'd won the crowd over by the second verse of the first song.

The band then looked to their second album with ‘I Can’t Stand It’ another fan favourite. Which sounds even better live. 

Then came one of the band's oldest tracks ‘Getaway’ one of my favourite Blossoms tunes and one that will never not make the setlist. ‘Oh No I Think I’m in Love’ got one of the best receptions of the night, and one of the loudest crowd moments.

New music came next ‘What Can I Say After I’m Sorry’ fitted into the setlist effortlessly and fans lapped it up. It didn't feel like a new song because the crowd already knew the words, it worked brilliantly and didn't feel out of place. 

‘The Keeper’ provided a moment for the crowd again, with people on shoulders and the band letting the Manchester faithful take vocal duties. 

One of the nights highlights was a version of ‘To Do List After the Breakup’ where the band brought Findlay out on stage to share the vocal duties.

Some classics came next with two off the bands self-titled debut album. ‘Cut Me and I’ll Bleed’ followed by ‘Blow’ which saw the band play as just a five piece. With Tom talking about the bands journey from Night & Day Cafe to Wythenshawe Park. 

From the bands first single, to the bands latest single. ‘Perfect Me’ was given a runout, and again it fitted into the setlist perfectly. It’s a classic Blossoms song and fans already knew the words. So nothing to worry about there. 

‘Care For’ saw the band get into a soulful mood and brought things to a slower pace. Just in time for ‘Honey Sweet’ another classic from the bands debut record and one of my favourite Blossoms songs.

‘Ribbon Around the Bomb’ was followed by a version of ‘Dancing Queen’ a little nod to one of the bands favourite bands ABBA. Which gave the crowd another chance to showcase their singing and dancing skills. 

‘If You Think this is Real Life’ got a brilliant response. Its still one of the best live moments of a Blossoms gig. ‘My Swimming Brain’ and ‘Blown Rose’ set things up for a big ending. 

First the pummeling ‘At Most a Kiss’ 

Then to introduce ‘Gary’ one of Blossoms newer songs, two police officers walked on stage with torches. ‘Gary’ is about a 8ft fibreglass gorilla that had been stolen from a garden centre in Scotland. Tom heard the story and wrote a song about it. As the police searched for Gary. A roadie wheeled a guerilla onto the stage. And well…

It was a moment that for me really sums Blossoms up, they are a band that doesn't take themselves too seriously. They're having fun and enjoying themselves. It made for a really funny moment and set up the song perfectly. 

After that, the band took another turn, giving us a beautiful and intimate version of ‘My Favourite Room as a full band. 

Two more songs remained. A synth heavy version of ‘There’s A Reason Why’ and of course ‘Charlemagne’ which blew the metaphorical roof off. Its still one of Blossoms best songs, and the crowd will always lap it up. 

It made for one of the best Blossoms gigs I'd been to. Wythenshawe Park hosted two gigs that weekend. I went to both. New Order and Blossoms. 

Blossoms were unbelievable, New Order well lets not talk about that. 

Thank you for reading x