Following shortly after a large UK tour, Blossoms settled into the second night of their Manchester leg, performing to a sold-out show of 1.5k gig-goers at the O2 Ritz. With a cardboard ‘Gary the Gorilla’ brought in by an eager fan, the atmosphere was beaming with excitement.
Opening up the night, ‘Delights’ kicked off the night just 20 minutes after the doors were opened, easing the early-appearing crowd into a night of enticing live music. Tracks such as ‘1989’ and ‘Tender’ are happily sung along to by knowing fans on the front row. Based in Manchester, the talented band (Adam Maxwell, Ben Kirkland, Ben Squires and Leo Willis) proved just why they deserved their slot.
Continuing the event, Glasgow-based ‘Neon Waltz’ sang tunes new and old, with even some unreleased songs sneaking their way onto the setlist. The members (Jordan Shearer, Darren Coghill, Kevin Swanson, Jamie Swanson, Calvin Wilson and Liam Whittles) played their 30-minute slot with no difficulty, their lead singer putting his all into ensuring the crowd was entertained during their set.
Strutting onto the stage with strobe lighting and compelling instrumentals, the greatly anticipated ‘Blossoms’ finally took to the stage. Beginning the evening with a fan favourite ‘Your Girlfriend’, lead singer Tom Ogden hit his signature cowbell and the crowd came alive. With their well-known songs secured in the setlist, anyone who went to the gig as a casual listener or fan alike was comfortably able to sing along to the ones they knew. Songs such as ‘Honey Sweet’, ‘I Like Your Look’, ‘Charlemagne’ and ‘Gary’ were all well received by the audience, cheers and lyrics were chanted loudly as Ogden often turned the microphone towards the crowd in some form of a ‘finish the lyric’ sense. Spotting someone in the front with a sign specifically asking for a drumstick, nearing the end of ‘Nightclub’, Joe Donovan tossed his set of drumsticks towards the enthusiastic young girl, showcasing the love and appreciation these artists have towards their fans.
Stomping in harmony, Charlie Salt, Josh Dewhurst and Tom Ogden ventured from the left to the right of the stage during the instrumental portion of ‘What Can I Say After I’m Sorry?’ from their new album ‘Gary’ (Released in 2024), demonstrating their creative musicality. Adding onto the setlist, halfway through the performance, older songs ‘My Swimming Brain’ and ‘Blown Rose’ were sung, knowing fans gasping with a mixture of surprise and thrill. Just before the encore, the band and their touring percussion (John Simm, Ryan Ellis and Colette Williams) all gathered around the drum kit to end out ‘If You Think This Is Real Life’ as Ogden shone a spotlight on the scene.
Closing out the evening of entertainment, Tom Ogden introduces the band. This gains whoops of appreciation for each performing individual, allowing admiration to pour in from the large audience, before powering back into a final chorus of ‘Gary’. Throwing setlists, guitar plectrums and drumsticks, the band leave the stage with wide smiles, happy to be back playing some close-to-home shows before ending their 2024 tour.
All in all, it’s clear that ‘Blossoms’ know how to put on an amazing performance, with five albums under their belt they undoubtedly belong on stage. Anyone who hasn’t seen them before should definitely look out for them and check out their new album ‘Gary’. Several shows have been announced for the following year across the country, so if you haven’t seen them before reading this, I’d certainly recommend booking tickets if you want to have a fun-filled evening with inspirationally brilliant live music.
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