Blossoms have just announced a huge outdoor summer show for 2024, performing at Wythenshawe Park in Manchester.
Set to be the Stockport lads’ biggest headline show of their career to date, the all-day gig follows on from this summer’s debut event headlined by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
Blossoms have pulled together a huge list of names to support them at their Wythenshawe Park gig next August, with Inhaler, Shed Seven, The K’s and Seb Lowe all taking to the stage.
The massive announcement follows the release of Blossoms’ brand-new single, To Do List (After The Breakup), inspired and named after the viral poetry book ‘Milk And Honey’ by Rupi Kaur.
The song has already been named Radio X’s Record Of The Week and been premiered by Radio 1’s Future Sounds.
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Blossoms formed in Stockport by school friends Tom Ogden, Joe Donovan, Charlie Salt, Joshua Dewhurst and Myles Kellock.
The indie rockers have, to date, released four chart-topping albums – their self-titled debut, Cool Like You, Foolish Loving Spaces, and last year’s Ribbon Around the Bomb.
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They’ve earned BRIT Award and Mercury Prize nominations and huge success with singles including I Can’t Stand It, There’s a Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Call), and Charlemagne.
Last summer, Blossoms took the headline slot at Kendal Calling as well as their own headline outdoor shows at Castlefield Bowl in Manchester, Millennium Square in Leeds, and a surprise set at Glastonbury where they were joined by Rick Astley to perform a set full of their favourite Smiths songs.
Support at the August bank holiday event will come from internationally acclaimed acts including Dublin’s Inhaler – who sold out Victoria Warehouse back in May – and the legendary Shed Seven with their biggest Manchester date yet celebrating the 30th anniversary of their incredible back catalogue.
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Other acts joining Blossoms at Wythenshawe Park include The K’s, Seb Lowe and recent To Do List (After The Breakup) collaborator, Findlay, who will kick things off at Wythenshawe Park with her band TTRRUUCES.
Tom Ogden, lead vocalist of Blossoms, said: “Headlining our biggest show yet at Wythenshawe Park is going to be THE moment of our career so far for us.
“It makes me think of me and Joe going to watch Oasis and The Stone Roses at Heaton Park back when we were teenagers, and how important these big summer Manchester shows are to people.
“It made us want to be in a band, affected what we wore and changed our lives forever. To misquote Dorothy, ‘Lads, I’ve a feeling we’re not on Oldham Street anymore!'”
Blossoms will perform at Wythenshawe Park on Sunday 25 August 2024.
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You can pre-order Blossoms’ forthcoming album (due for release Summer 2024) here to gain access to presale tickets, available from Thursday 9 November at 10am. General sale tickets go on sale on Friday 10 November at 10am via seetickets.com.
Full line-up for Blossoms’ Wythenshawe Park gig
Blossoms
Inhaler
Shed Seven
The K’s
Seb Lowe
TTRRUUCES
Featured image: Ewan Ogden
Audio
Unknown Mortal Orchestra at the Albert Hall Manchester – groovy, hazy and effortlessly cool
Clementine Hall
Unknown Mortal Orchestra at the Albert Hall proved exactly why they’ve built such a cult following over the past decade.
Formed in 2010 by frontman Ruban Nielson, the band first broke through with their scrappy, lo-fi self-titled debut and since then, they’ve become known for their signature blend of psychedelic rock, funk, and warped pop.
I first saw the band back in 2023 at Glastonbury, and yes sorry I am one of those annoying people that bring it up all the time.
They’re the perfect band to close your eyes, sway your head and tap your foot to – and that’s exactly what the crowd were doing in unison last night at the Albert Hall.
Image: The Manc Group
From the second they stepped on stage, there was no rush – just that signature hazy groove met with enough stage lights to sink a ship.
You could barely see them on stage, but that made it even cooler. And you can only imagine how gorgeous the Albert Hall looked with hundreds of spotlights in different colours whizzing all over it.
Early tracks simmered and pulled us in before the band stretched out into crowd pleasers like ‘Multi-Love’ and ‘Hunnybee’. What an absolute tune by the way.
Image: The Manc Group
There wasn’t much crowd interaction but, again, there didn’t need to be. They let the music do the talking and by treating us to some of the most epic guitar solos we’ve ever heard (no, seriously), we’ll forgive them for not talking to us.
Each song melted into each other as the band oozed effortless charm and talent throughout the almost two hour set, which is no mean feat.
Of course, a sea of phones shot up for ‘So Good at Being in Trouble‘, their most popular track which prompted a harmonious audience singalong. Not very harmonious by me, admittedly.
It was a fantastic ending that left the audience feeling united by the laidback brilliance of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and I hope they don’t leave it too long to come back this time.
Review | Leon Thomas at Manchester Academy – ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’ but this gig healed me
Thomas Melia
American singer-songwriter Leon Thomas visited Manchester Academy last night, performing hits from his deluxe album to a sold-out crowd of more than 2,600.
One year after an exclusive London MUTT Live date, Mr Thomas returns to the UK with the ‘MUTTS DON’T HEEL’ Tour, venturing to five cities, including the music capital of the North: Manchester.
The night started off just how it should’ve done with ‘HEEL’, as the audience were welcomed by the drum-loop and a chill atmosphere from the start.
Now, it wouldn’t be a Leon Thomas gig without at least one Ty Dolla $ign collaboration making the setlist, and there’s plenty to choose from with a new one dropping just over a month ago, ‘miss u 2’.
Leon Thomas performing hits at Manchester Academy (Credit: Audio North)
The funk-influenced musician opted for ‘FAR FETCHED’, and the audience was in the palm of his hand. No matter which of the four link-ups he chose, it was always going to go down well – Manchester never disappoints.
Leon didn’t even have to ask the crowd to bring more energy; they already matched him. When he sings, “For someone who don’t ask for favours, I’ve done way too many favours”, on ‘PARTY FAVORS’, he really meant it.
Last year, Leon Thomas dropped PHOLKS, a project which saw him exploring old-school funk and soul sounds even further and ‘Just How You Are’ had even the shyest dancer pulling out a little two step.
This isn’t the only hit that sent the crowd into a frenzy; ‘Baccarat’ and its impressive psychedelic guitar solo had jaws literally falling to the floor at Manchester Academy.
His songs might not be dramatic or extravagant, but they don’t need to be. Leon’s artistry prevails when he’s softly singing, and you’re still able to detect each instrument.
Leon Thomas brought the MUTTS DON’T HEEL Tour to Manchester Academy (Credit: The Manc)
‘Breaking Point’ is an easy-listening soul track that had all 2,600 Leon Thomas fans in our feelings as we realised we were coming to the end of a phenomenal concert.
And of course, ‘Mutt’ – his biggest single to date: a bouncy and swag-filled number that sticks in your head for weeks on end – sounded even better when backed by a live band as I discovered last night.
There was some insane musicality, distinct bangers and impeccable live arrangements that elevated the original studio recordings. Maybe ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’, but Leon Thomas definitely healed me.
He wasn’t the only cool cat playing last night either:
Daisy Jackson -
2nd November 2023 
