Jostling for position in Manchester’s Ritz on Friday night it is clear that Blossoms have come on leaps-and-bounds. This debonair five-piece have been making waves since the release of their first single last summer and have now secured their reputation as one of Manchester’s big new emerging names.
Dazzling crowds all over the country on their first UK-wide headline tour, they finally return to their home soil. Tonight is their big show, in a big venue, playing to a big crowd.
Rocking up a few minutes early they storm the stage to the sound of Dr Dre’s ‘What’s the Difference’ and cries of adoration from a crowd. Launching full throttle into their repertoire of catchy singles, the boys kick off with the wonderfully Doors-like ‘Cut me and I’ll Bleed’. Looking around, the entire crowd seems united in singing along intently.
With a local roar of approval, the surfing mosh pit plunges into mayhem, with spilt drinks on stage messing with the cables and sound quality momentarily. However, the band keep their cool and seem spurned on by the size of the screaming crowd. To add to the heartwarming poignancy of this homecoming gig, the lead guitarist’s dad, Dr Robin Dewhurst, a lecturer at Salford University, joins the band on stage.
Warm 60s psychedelic vibes infused by more recent, distinctly Mancunian indie tones and filtered through yearning romantic lyrics of songs like ‘Blown Rose’ draw the crowd in, and keep them coming back for more.
And tonight they look the part of true rock stars. Always stylishly clad in coordinated monochrome ensembles, they swagger about with a firm assurance that seems remarkable given their young age and relative lack of experience of playing large venues.
The band’s newest single ‘Charlemagne’ is belted out to cries of adoration. Fans of Blossoms are certainly a die-hard bunch, every lyric of this track is clearly memorised and sang along with total dedication.
Ending on an uproariously extended version of their first hit single ‘She Blows’, the chorus is joined in by a very tuneful Manc audience, much to the band’s delighted surprise.
Blossoms have a reputation for playing short-but-sweet sets and never pushing the boundaries of staying on past curfew. Ending succinctly at the respectable time of half past ten, the gig is an hour of great stagemanship without being too showy. They manage to work a packed-out gig with professionalism laced with a sultry sense of humour that sets them apart from many other Manc indie band contemporaries.
Reports suggest that the band are currently recording their debut album, so watch this space for more of that lovely Stockport indie rock. The future certainly looks bright for this darkly clad bunch.
For more live dates visit and music visit Blossoms site.
