Stockport’s finest Blossoms puzzled everyone when they decided to skip out on any shows in Greater Manchester on their recent tour announcement – turns out they were just waiting to announce not one but FIVE massive gigs right here in the city centre.
With the fifth studio album Gary out this week, their utterly incredible gig in front of 30,000 at Wythenshawe Park still very fresh in our minds, not to mention talk of them supporting Oasis on their reunion trail also in the air, the high-flying indie five-piece are… well, doing just that.
That being said, we did double-take when Blossoms announced their brand-new UK tour last month and we couldn’t spot a single SK or even 0161-based date; safe to say we were very relieved when we realised they were just teasing us ahead of a historic Manchester residency.
August’s outdoor all-dayer might have been the biggest single show of their career so far, but revisiting some of the most iconic Manc stages they’ve played before in less than a week is something special.
Yes, while their popularity might mean they’re not able to squeeze their hordes of adoring fans into the likes of Night and Day Cafe any more, Blossoms’ will not only be playing multiple Manchester gigs, they’ll be retracing their steps and going back to the much-loved venues that put them on the map.
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We’ve seen them at The Plaza and Edgeley Park on their home turf, Castlefield Bowl here in town and even at festivals such as Kendal Calling, Leeds, Glasto and more – seeing a bunch of blokes from around our way in the big leagues warms our heart – but the band and the fans never forget those early gigs.
That being said, the local lads will be playing Manchester Academy, the O2 Ritz, Albert Hall, Victoria Warehouse and O2 Apollo over the course of just five nights. Some feat – only the ones bound for greatness get to line up those kinds of billings.
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With some of the support acts already announced, including Leigh’s very own The Lottery Winners, you can find the full list of additional shows down below:
Tuesday, 19 Nov 2024 — Manchester Academy 1 – Special guests TBA
Wednesday, 20 Nov 2024 — Manchester O2 Ritz – Plus special guests Neon Waltz
Thursday, 21 Nov 2024 — Manchester Albert Hall – Special guests TBA
Friday, 22 Nov 2024 — Manchester O2 Victoria Warehouse – Plus special guests The Ks
Saturday, 23 Nov 2024 — Manchester O2 Apollo – Plus special guests Lottery Winners
Speaking on the five residency gigs, Blossoms said: “We wanted to do something special with the Manchester shows for this run of gigs. We played each one of these venues on our way up, so it’s great after our Wythenshawe Park show to go and do these venues and remember where everything started for us. It’s a love letter of shows to the city! We can’t wait x.”
Tickets for Blossoms’ Manchester shows will be released just hours after Gary is finally dropped, with general sale going live at 9:30am this Friday, 20 September.
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It won’t surprise any of you to learn that tickets for the other dates on the rest of their UK tour this October and November are almost sold out, so if you’re looking to see them anywhere else other in the country you best be quick about it.
You can grab yours HERE and we’ll see you at one of the five venues we hopefully get tickets for – at least we all get five chances!
Liam Gallagher says Oasis reunion rehearsals have begun after blatant hints at tour support acts
Danny Jones
Liam Gallagher has confirmed that rehearsals for the Oasis reunion are now underway and has been teasing the acts that could be supporting them on the tour.
The incomparable frontman has been very vocal on social media (more so than usual) ever since the talk of their comeback was actually confirmed to be real, though we’ll admit we’re still having to pinch ourselves every few days.
Nevertheless, the Oasis reunion IS happening, the tickets have gone and even a slate of North American dates have now sold out along with an Australian tour set to do exactly the same – though there has been some furore over price differences.
Although the gigs are still a little ways away, practice for summer 2025 has to start sometime and after a fan asked Gallagher a point-blank question online, he had a simple but exciting answer.
The idea of the two actually being back in the same room still feels so surreal but we’re SO glad they are.
After the pair were first snapped posing for the reunion press shots by photographer Simon Emmett, it sounds like the two are not just in each other company but now practising those songs they first played together some 20-30 years ago.
The Britpop icons and legendary rock band also announced a new special collection of the seven-inch Definitely Maybe single pressings to celebrate the 30th anniversary of ‘Cigarettes and Alcohol’; there are only 4000 up for grabs and they come in the actual 1996 cigarette-style CD (vinyl) box.
After rehearsals are all said and done, one thing that we still don’t know for sure is who will be supporting Oasis on their reunion tour, but that hasn’t stopped the 52-year-old from having fun with some rather heavy hints.
We don’t know how blatant or serious any of these names are, or if this is just a clever red herring or two, but let’s just say we’d be happy with any of them.
Liam is very much enjoying the usual wind-up and toying with Oasis fans.
As well as Manic Street Preachers and Cast – the lattermost having already supported Liam on his Definitely Maybe anniversary tour – there seems to be a lot of debate around whether a potential Richard Ashcroft support would include the rest of The Verve, who haven’t played together since 2017.
That being said, Blossoms have been heavily linked with the tour since they were the band to break the first reunion teaser at their massive Wythenshawe Park gig; there have also been rumblings of Kasabian, The K’s, New Order, Gene Gallagher’s band Villanelle and many more.
Again, we’ve got nothing concrete yet so you’ll just have to take LG at his word – just do so with a big fistful of salt.
Right, we’ll give you three support slots: who would be your dream warm-up acts for the Oasis reunion?
McFly and Busted announce massive joint head-to-head tour – with Manchester arena gig
Daisy Jackson
Two of the world’s greatest pop-punk bands, Busted and McFly, have just announced details of an unmissable head-to-head tour.
Busted last night stormed the stage at McFly’s 21st birthday show to announce Busted Vs McFly, which will include huge arena shows in Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield.
The two groups, which are collectively behind some of the biggest pop-rock hits of the last two decades, will be visiting some of the biggest venues around the UK.
The shows announced (so far) on the Busted vs McFly tour include the AO Arena in Manchester, the Utilita Arena in Sheffield and the First Direct Arena in Leeds.
It’s all set to take place next autumn, with both groups challenging each other to a live battle on stage.
Speaking of the tour, McFly threw down the gauntlet and commented: “Busted gatecrashed our show tonight (not cool), and challenged us to a VS tour next year. They’re old men now, and we are gonna blow them and their carers off the stage next year.
“We’ve had a great time celebrating our 21st birthday this week and next year is going to be even better. P.S. Busted Suck.”
Busted fought back and added: “There’s been a lot of talk recently…. This is where the talking ends….! We are ready to show who is the better band once and for all. McFly suck and Busted Rock!”
Busted. Credit: Publicity pictureMcFly. Credit: Publicity pictureMcFly and Busted announce massive joint head-to-head tour – with Manchester arena gig
Busted’s biggest hits over the years have included Year 3000, Crashed The Wedding, and Air Hostess, while McFly have been responsible for hits like All About You, Five Colours In Her Hair, and Star Boy.
Just last year Busted scored a number one album position with Greatest Hits 2.0, and sold out 26 UK arena gigs.
Meanwhile McFly’s seventh album Power To Play hit the number two spot on the UK Albums Chart last year, joined by a run of massive shows, including two sold-out gigs at the O2 Arena to mark 21 years since the release of their debut.
Tickets for the unmissable Busted vs McFly tour go on sale via artist pre-sale HERE from 9am on 16 October, and general tickets are on sale on 18 October at 9am HERE.
Danny Jones -
16th September 2024 
