Spotify is bringing some very exciting live performances and DJ sets to an upcoming Manchester event and hometown heroes Blossoms are top of the billing – and it’s free.
Teaming up with global beer brand, Budweiser, the streaming giants are bringing their ‘Music Depot’ show to the city centre for an exclusive and crucially free event which we’re hoping could be the start of a very cool regular music series here in 0161.
Popping up in the massive Diecast warehouse over on Ducie Street, there’ll be plenty of space to dance your pants off into the next day.
Better yet, Blossoms aren’t the only name you can expect to rock up on the night – though we’d be quite happy just getting another chance to see this moment live:
Although the high-flying Stopfordians are set to headline the event, London-based group Good Neighbours – made up of duo Scott Verrill, Oli Fox and their touring band – are also set to perform on the night too.
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Having not only seen Blossoms live on a number of occasions this year and caught Good Neighbours at Neighbourhood Festival earlier this year, we can only vouch for how good a time you’ll have watching them if you secure a ticket.
The organisers at the venue, working in tandem with both Budweiser and Spotify are promising an “extraordinary night where music and culture meet like never before.”
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DJ sets will also be delivered by festival circuit regular Rowena Alice, Manchester-based old-school R’n’B DJ and host, Chaise, as well as regular BBC Radio 1 Dance Anthems presenter, Tinea Taylor.
As well as the tunes themselves, there will also be exclusive merch giveaways, flash tattoos from Debut Studios, and bars stocked with Budweiser to keep the energy high.
Blossoms at the O2 RitzGood Neighbours at NBHD 2024Whether you’re a big Blossoms head or just love live music, you don’t want to miss this Spotify event (Credit: The Manc Group/Supplied)
Taking place on Wednesday, 11 December, things kick off from 7pm onwards and the party won’t stop until gone 12:30am. As for the set times, it’s all still a mystery to us – all we can tell you is that this is a strictly 18+ night.
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It goes without saying that this free Spotify Presents event is fairly exclusive, meaning tickets are very limited, so you’ll have to be quick about securing a spot in the crowd.
General admission can be accessed via DICE, the app that protects people from touts, with digital passes going live around an hour before the gig is due to start. There is a max limit of two tickets per person and tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
RVSP doesn’t guarantee you a ticket but it’s well worth throwing your name in the hat. Don’t lose all hope either, because even if you miss out you join the waiting list for any more tickets that are released/returned. You can try and grab yours HERE.
Blossoms to play special ‘intimate’ 10th anniversary gig at The Deaf Institute, Manchester
Danny Jones
Local indie and alternative lads Blossoms have announced a special one-off anniversary show at none other than The Deaf Institute right here in Manchester.
Coming to the iconic small-cap venue this summer, the Stockport band will be marking the 10th birthday of their self-titled debut album by playing one of the smallest gig spaces in the centre, but one that was a massive milestone for them back in the day.
Now a full decade on from the breakout LP, released on 5 August 2026, Blossoms will be rolling back the years by playing the biggest hits from the record, along with a selection from the many other bangers that they’ve gone on to release since.
This is going to be one very special night for the SK natives.
We’re playing an intimate gig at The Deaf Institute on Weds 5th August to celebrate 10 years of our debut album! We’re going to record the show & release it as a special edition double CD of our new album. Pre-order it now for exclusive pre-sale access. https://t.co/ztAkh95RWspic.twitter.com/kuZNnJJBok
Blossoms have never shied away from championing their Stopfordian roots, but neither have they forgotten the city that helped establish them as one of the biggest bands in Britain.
For instance, this upcoming Deaf Institute show – which promises to be a much more intimate show than they’re used to doing these days – comes not even two years on from the mini Manc residency, when they played five nights here in Manchester over the course of a single week.
As we come up to the sixth studio project, Songs From The Wedding Cake, and already have two singles from the next release, we have no shame in admitting we still listen to those first tracks as much as ever.
With that in mind, it’ll be a surreal full circle for everyone, we’re sure, when Tom, Chaz, Myles, Josh and Joe take the stage in that hallowed hometown room with a capacity of just 250 next month; they’re even playing it EXACTLY 10 years on the precise date that maiden outing dropped: 5 August 2026.
Combine this with them pulling stunts like playing people’s weddings and popping up with a surprise set from inside a van outside 42s nightclub on Deansgate, and it’s hard to think of an artist nailing it as well as Blossoms are right now.
Fans can enjoy exclusive early access by pre-ordering the new Blossoms album on their website, and those who have already done so qualify for presale automatically – just keep an eye out for the code in your email inbox.
This limited window will open from 9:30am this Thursday, 30 July, with general admission tickets for their return to Deaf Institute going live at the same time the following Friday (31 July).
Oh, and in case you somehow missed it, they’re also set to play their biggest ever arena shows across the UK later this year, including a huge gig at Co-op Live. Find out all the info down below.
Keo play Projekts: garage and grunge revivalists crush Manchester skatepark for new music video
Danny Jones
This past Thursday evening, fast-rising rock band Keo took over Projekts MCR skatepark for a special pop-up gig and to film a brand-new music video for their latest single, ‘Pistol’, starring some of their biggest fans here in Manchester.
In fact, it didn’t take long for us to suss out that plenty of them had flocked from far and wide to be there, and let’s say we’re sure they’ll say it was worth the journey.
We caught Keo’s well-attended festival set inside the Woodlands at Kendal Calling 2025, not to mention their completely sold-out show at the O2 Ritz back in March – their biggest headline date up to that point – and we’re more certain than ever that they’re going to be absolutely massive.
And if they keep up doing more memorable stuff like this, it’s just a matter of how soon…
Packing out Projekts to the point that people were literally hanging off fences and standing on electrical boxes at the side of the street to try and get a peek at the post-punk, grunge and garage rockers, some of their most enthusiastic young fans had been waiting outside the location as early as noon.
For context, doors opened six hours later, and the boys didn’t come on until 7:30pm.
Those who signed up to Keo‘s mailing list were sent information regarding securing a spot at the one-off performance earlier this month.
While you would have seen the place fill up even if they were just standard concert tickets, the fact that the band were taping the whole thing to use as the visuals for their newest single, as mentioned, meant that Keo’s avid followers were literally clamouring AND clambering to get the best view position possible.
Turning the popular skaters’ hub’s central bowl into a makeshift stage, with lights, camera, booms and various crew surrounding the entire venue, it was a surreal experience to say the least.
And, of course, they were absolutely brilliant – just as they were at the Ritz at the start of the year and Kendal before that, playing a short but sweet set that left everyone wanting more and choruses of punters chanting Keo long after the final song.
We can’t wait to see how the video itself turns out, especially seeing how much the people who wrapped around them and the skatepark were lost in the moment, and we’re also looking forward to them headlining Neighbourhood Fest in Manchester city centre this October.
You can grab a ticket to see them and the rest of the NBHD lineup right HERE, but until then, give the full studio version of ‘Pistol’ a play and get ready for their debut album.
Danny Jones -
29th November 2024 
