Blossoms have always been a popular band in Sheffield, and they’ll be returning to the Steel City to play the University of Sheffield’s Octagon Centre on Monday 21 October as part of a 20-date UK tour.
The Stockport band will also be playing shows in London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow, and beyond as part of their tour to coincide with the release of their fifth studio album Gary on 20th September.
"Gary" was also the title of the album’s second single. So who is Gary? The answer is unexpected. Blossoms tell the story: "Gary was written after hearing on the radio that an 8 foot fibreglass gorilla called Gary was stolen from a garden centre in Scotland. After toying with different album titles, we kept going back to Gary, in the end it could only be Gary. We’re super proud of this record, it’s our best yet (everyone says that but it actually is), we can’t wait for you to hear it.” And it’s not long until Sheffielders will get a chance to hear it.
Blossoms have played many gigs in Sheffield over the last decade at venues such as The Great Gatsby, The Harley, The Plug, The Leadmill, the O2 Academy, and they have played Tramlines festival four times (most recently in the downpours of 2023). This will be their first gig at the Octagon Centre, one of the University of Sheffield’s Performance Venues. On stage they’ve always spoken very highly of Sheffield, and this is sure to be another triumph.
Speaking about their upcoming tour, Blossoms say: “We’ve been waiting to announce this tour for a while! This album was recorded live so we can’t wait to play the new tunes and all your favourites at these great venues in a couple of months. Gary might even be at some (depending on venue stage heights)! X”.
Blossoms consist of Tom Ogden on lead vocals and rhythm guitar; Josh Dewhurst on lead guitar; Charlie Salt on bass; Joe Donovan on drums, and Myles Kellock on keyboards. Since forming in 2013, Blossoms have enjoyed widespread success and acclaim. They are well known for their upbeat indie rock songs such as “Charlemagne” (a guaranteed dancefloor filler!), “I Can’t Stand It”, “There’s A Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls)” and “Your Girlfriend”.
Their 2016 debut “Blossoms” topped the UK album chart and went on to earn the band well-deserved BRIT Award and Mercury Prize nominations, while 2018’s “Cool Like You” charted at Number 4. Their third and fourth studio albums, 2020’s “Foolish Loving Spaces” and “Ribbon Around The Bomb”, also topped the UK album chart. In addition, their October 2020 lockdown album “In Isolation/Live From The Plaza Theatre, Stockport” (a compilation of cover versions and reworkings of their own songs) charted at Number 5. “Gary” will almost certainly be another hit record.
Blossoms will be supported by the brilliant Red Rum Club in Sheffield (and for all dates except Liverpool, Belfast and Dublin), an alternative rock band from Merseyside. They released their debut album, “Matador” in 2019 and it reached the Top 50 in the UK album chart. Their fourth album, “Western Approaches”, was released in February this year and charted at Number 8.
Red Rum Club are another band who have played Sheffield many times, and have spoken about Sheffield feeling like a second home for them. In the last year they’ve played Tramlines, the Octagon Centre (supporting Jamie Webster), a headline show at the Leadmill, an album launch show at HMV, and in June they supported The Sherlocks at Don Valley Bowl.
Led by Fran Doran on vocals and featuring the distinctive sound of Joe "the Blow" Corby on trumpet, they’re well known, like Blossoms, as being a great live band. Songs such as “Ballerino”, “Vanilla”, “Vibrate”, “Eleanor”, “Black Cat”, “Godless” and “Would You Rather Be Lonely?” are guaranteed to get you dancing in the Octagon!
Basically, Blossoms at the Octagon Centre supported by Red Rum Club is one show you will definitely not want to miss this autumn! Tickets are sold out but keep your eyes out on reputable resellers like Twickets, you never know what luck you might have.
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