On 25 August, the grey skies in Manchester temporarily cleared in preparation for the six acts supporting Blossoms on the second day of Blossoms Big Bank Holiday Weekend at Wythenshawe Park.
After being gifted with VIP access immediately after walking through the gates, I found myself marching towards the barricade with a perfect view of the acts about to grace the stage.
The Guest List
Manchester-based band The Guest List were the first (and youngest) to take the stage.
Notably, the touching lyrics and melodic guitar in their song 161 – an ode to the volunteers from Chapel Street in Altrincham during the war – had the crowd hooked on every word.
With just a 20 minute set, the band left an impression on the audience, who listened intently to their powerful indie-rock ballads.
TTRRUUCES
Second to entertain were TTRRUUCCES, a five-piece band whose funky bass lines had the crowd dancing, their faces a clear depiction of the joy incited.
Functioning as a kind of operatic-funk-pop-rock band, the voices of singers Natalie Findlay and Jules Apollinaire blend perfectly with the unique violin arrangements of Violeta Vicci.
Combining hits Funky Town and Rasputin into their own song The Disco it was hard to contain my smile. Mixing multiple genres, there is sure to be something for everyone.
Seb Lowe
Sporting a shirt which read “Northern Scum”, Seb Lowe’s set felt like a 30 minute political rant filled with contempt for the Tories.
With all the elements of a classic band, Lowe’s music was further heightened by the violin work of Kate Couriel, who joined him on the mic for Mr & Mrs Human Race.
The K’s
The most surprising act of the night came for me when The K’s walked onto the stage. Though the subject matter of their songs is nothing too profound, the energy that the band brought to the stage created a whole new atmosphere.
Keeping the crowd entertained in more than one way, the band joked with each other throughout the set.
Despite their bubbly personalities, they remained humbled by the enthusiasm of the crowd, taking time to appreciate the echoing sounds of their lyrics being chanted by dedicated fans.
Coming off the back of their performances at Reading and Leeds Festival, the K’s performed on a level that could potentially put them on the same level as some of the indie gods in the near future.
Shed Seven
Straight from the 90s, Shed Seven’s set was most popular with the older audience members, though this didn’t stop people from joining in with the refrains of their most popular songs.
Accompanied by a brass section and backup singers, Shed Seven successfully kept the growing audience captivated with their fun and energetic set.
Finishing with their hit Chasing Rainbows, the band left arm hairs standing as they existed the stage.
Inhaler
The last band to make an appearance before Blossoms were Dublin indie group Inhaler. .
As they entered the stage, the park exploded into screams, a likely release of all the anticipation leading up to this, the band’s first gig in the UK since the end of their Cuts and Bruises tour last November. Thanking their friends Blossoms for the opportunity, they begin their set.
Performing hits such as It Won’t Always Be Like This and the band encouraged the crowd to jump to their heart’s content and willingly, they oblige.
After 45 minutes of anthemic guitar riffs and catchy song lyrics, My Honest Face, marked a thoroughly enjoyable end to their set.
Blossoms
To match the dark night sky, the stage lights dim just past nine o’clock and an eruption of roars signals the band’s entrance on stage.
Amongst the strobe lighting, frontman tom Ogden’s suit becomes visible against the band’s orange backdrop.
Starting with Your Girlfriend, Blossoms’ set seemed effortless, seamlessly weaving between songs. Filled with synth beats, the band’s setlist included songs spanning the entirety of their ten year long career.
This, of course, is the last stretch before the release of their next album GARY, in September, the titular track of which was released earlier this year.
If anything, the Wythenshawe gig proved that Blossoms are brilliant event runners, but most importantly worthy headliners, ready to join the great acts the UK has to offer to the rest of the world.
Feature image credit: Sophia Carey via blossomsband on Instagram.
