Blossoms: Everything you need to know about Stockport's prodigal sons

They have now released their fifth album

Author: Emma Dodds and Georgie HollandPublished 13th Sep 2024

Blossoms show absolutely no signs of slowing down. Having been nominated for the much-coveted title of British Breakthrough Act at the 2017 BRIT Awards, as well as the hugely distinguished Mercury Music Prize the same year for their debut record, it was a pretty impressive start for the North West five-piece.

So it's no surprise that they're still going strong, having now released album number five - following their fourth record in 2022, 'Ribbon Around The Bomb'. As the band continue to tour, bringing a five-night Manchester residency our way in November, read on for more info about the Stockport-based virtuosos.

What are Blossoms doing now?

Blossoms released their fifth album, 'Gary' in September 2024. Produced by The Coral's James Skelly with Jungle’s Josh-Lloyd Watson helming two tracks, ‘Gary’ features 10 tracks and was released on Friday 20th September 2024.

Speaking about the title track, Tom Ogden said: "The song is based on a true story I heard on the radio last year - Gary the 8-foot fibreglass Gorilla was stolen from Reynard Garden in Carluke, Scotland.

"We’ve recreated the story on screen with Rick Astley playing Andrew Scott, the owner of the garden centre, and the band stealing Gary. This video was so much fun to make and was shot again on 16mm film, on location around Stockport, the Peak District, and Derbyshire."

In April 2024, Blossoms shared a clip on their Instagram profile of Tom explaining how Josh's dad Robin sat in on a session, and ended up writing a beautiful phrase that tied one of their upcoming tracks up perfectly - also confirming that the band were working on their fifth album.

Are Blossoms on tour?

Blossoms are heading on tour very soon! The band are set to tour the UK throughout October and November 2024. Performing at various venues across the country, their their loyal fanbase can purchase tickets from Absolute Radio Tickets. Check out the dates below.

As well as touring the UK, Blossoms will be performing a five-night residency in Manchester, with shows taking place at a different venue each night. Shows will run from 19th - 23rd November 2024, and you can check out all of the dates and locations right here.

Blossoms UK tour dates:

October 2024

Newcastle, O2 City Hall - Thur 17th

Leeds, O2 Academy - Fri 18th

Glasgow, O2 Academy - Sat 19th

Sheffield, Octagon - Mon 21st

Hull - City Hall - Tue 22nd

Nottingham, Rock City - Wed 23rd

Liverpool, Mountford Hall - Fri 25th

Halifax, Victoria Theatre - Sat 26th

Stoke-on-Trent, Victoria Hall - Mon 28th

Lincoln, Engine Shed - Tue 29th

Bristol, O2 Academy - Wed 30th

November 2024

Birmingham, O2 Academy - Fri 1st

London, Eventim Apollo - Sat 2nd

Norwich, UEA - Mon 4th

Brighton, Dome - Tue 5th

Portsmouth, Guildhall - Thur 7th

Bournemouth, O2 Academy - Fri 8th

Cardiff, Great Hall - Sat 9th

Belfast, Limelight 1 - Wed 13th

Buy tickets here

Blossoms at Glastonbury 2023

Blossoms performed at Glastonbury alongside 80s pop legend Rick Astley. The band took to the stage with the music icon to perform a secret set of The Smiths covers.

Blossoms the band: Who are the members?

Blossoms is made up of Tom Ogden (lead vocals and guitar), Charlie Salt (bass and backing vocals), Josh Dewhurst (guitars and percussion), Joe Donovan (drums) and Myles Kellock (keyboards, synths and backing vocals).

Lead vocalist Tom and drummer Joe later became brothers-in-law, with Tom marrying Joe's sister Katie Donovan in August 2021! In Joe's words: "There couldn't be a better guy to marry my sister."

WATCH: Blossoms: Fake beef, omnichords & soundtracking Stranger Things

Where are Blossoms from?

As you may have noticed above, the band are from Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK. Strangely, all five members of the band were born at the same hospital - Stepping Hill Hospital - and all lived within two miles of each other... But didn't meet til they were teenagers!

Tom and Joe met on a school trip to Alton Towers in 2005, and went to see bands live together, sharing a passionate interest in music - particularly those from the Manchester area, like Oasis and The Stone Roses. The band played their first gig together in April 2013 at the Night and Day Cafe on Oldham Street in Manchester.

Blossoms documentary

The band were the subject of a 2020 documentary entitled Back To Stockport, directed by their close friend Charlie Watts, which focuses on their homecoming gig at Stockport County FC's Edgeley Park in June 2019. The documentary was released on Amazon Prime on 8th November 2020.

How old are Blossoms?

Blossoms the band formed in 2013, with the group marking their 10th year together in 2023. The band members' birthdays are:

Charlie Salt, 25th June 1991, 33-years old.

Joe Donovan, 1st November 1992, 31-years-old.

Tom Ogden, birthday 28th April 1993, 31-years-old.

Myles Kellock, 14th August 1994, 30-years-old.

Josh Dewhurst, 7th March 1997, 27-years-old.

Blossoms' 10th anniversary

The boys shared a sweet throwback to mark their 10th year together in January 2023, posting a photo of themselves on the night of their first ever gig at the Night and Day Café in Manchester, along with a sweet statement.

It read: 'Ten years.. Ten years of friendship, creativity and laughter. That's all you start a band for really isn't it? Anything else arrives as a bonus. We'll keep it short and sweet and say, with earnest and heartfelt gratitude - thank you to every person (namely Conrad Murray, Dave Salmon & The SJM family) who has, and continues to believe in us on our trajectory, you never cease to make the five boys from Stockport very happy. Here's to another decade of melody, love & brotherhood. Tom, Charlie, Joe, Myles & Josh x.'

How they got together

For anyone wondering how the group actually joined, Blossoms have narrated a handy video explaining all. They'd been playing separately in different bands and after a jam session together one night in 2013, they realised they could make great music together... And the rest is history! Sort of.

Blossoms' band name: The story behind it

The band decided to name themselves after The Blossoms pub in Stockport, after Joe heard Tom and Charlie each say on separate occasions that Blossoms would be a great name for a band. In a nice full-circle sort of way, the band have now played gigs at The Blossoms.

WATCH: Blossoms - 'Johnny Marr thinks we're cool!'

Blossoms at Isle of Wight Festival 2022

Blossoms performed live on the main stage at Isle Of Wight Festival 2022 and Absolute Radio were there to watch!

And we also broadcast their set on air too!

Blossoms: Albums discography so far

The Stockport lads have been making music together for quite a few years now, and have put out five albums during their time together: 'Blossoms' (2016), 'Cool Like You' (2018), 'Foolish Loving Spaces' (2020), 'Ribbon Around the Bomb' (2022) and 'Gary' (2024).

They've also released four EPs - 'Bloom' in 2014, 'Blown Rose' and 'Charlemagne' in 2015 and 'At Most A Kiss' in 2016.

Debut album 'Blossoms'

Their self-titled debut album was released on 5th August 2016, and hit the top spot in the UK charts as well as being certified Gold. They told us all about their first album before it dropped at the Isle of Wight Festival 2016...

Track listing for the album is: 1) 'Charlemagne', 2) 'At Most a Kiss', 3) 'Getaway', 4) 'Honey Sweet', 5) 'Onto Her Bed', 6) 'Texia', 7) 'Blown Rose', 8) 'Smashed Pianos', 9) 'Cut Me and I’ll Bleed', 10) 'My Favourite Room', 11) 'Blow', 12) 'Deep Grass'

Second album 'Cool Like You'

Follow-up 'Cool Like You' dropped on 27th April 2018, peaking at Number 4 and being certified Silver in the UK. Track listing for the album is: 1) 'There's a Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls)', 2) 'I Can't Stand It', 3) 'Cool Like You', 4) 'Unfaithful', 5) 'Stranger Still', 6) 'How Long Will This Last?', 7) 'Between the Eyes', 8) 'I Just Imagined You', 9) 'Giving Up the Ghost', 10) 'Lying Again', 11) 'Love Talk'

Third album 'Foolish Loving Spaces'

Blossoms' third album 'Foolish Loving Spaces' was released on 31st January 2020, debuting at Number 1 on the UK Albums Chart and being certified Silver in the UK. The track listing is as follows: 1) 'If You Think This Is Real Life', 2) 'Your Girlfriend', 3) 'The Keeper', 4) 'My Swimming Brain', 5) 'Sunday Was A Friend Of Mine', 6) 'Oh No (I Think I’m In Love)', 7) 'Romance, Eh?', 8) 'My Vacant Days', 9) 'Falling For Someone', 10) 'Like Gravity'

Of the album, Blossoms said: "The album is a pure celebration of love in all of its splendid and baffling guises, toying with the so-called sins of lust and forbidden infatuation. It’s inspired by a summer spent listening to 'Stop Making Sense', 'The Joshua Tree' & 'Screamadelica'."

'Blossoms In Isolation'

The band put the UK lockdown to use, working in their respective homes - creating a brand new album titled 'Blossoms In Isolation' while working on their fourth album.

The band posted a series of snaps to their social media pages with a hashtag explaining that a new record would be coming soon, before releasing double album 'In Isolation/Live From The Plaza Theatre, Stockport' on 23rd October.

Fourth album 'Ribbon Around The Bomb'

Blossoms announced the release date for their fourth album on 25th January 2022 along with the track of the same name and a music video. The album, titled 'Ribbon Around the Bomb', was then released three months later on Friday 29th April.

The track listing for the album is: 1) 'The Writer's Theme', 2) 'Ode to NYC', 3) 'Ribbon Around the Bomb', 4) 'The Sulking Poet', 5) 'Born Wild', 6) 'The Writer', 7) 'Everything About You', 8) 'Care For', 9) 'Cinerama Holy Days', 10) 'Edith Machinist', 11) 'Visions', 12) 'The Last Chapter'

Watch Blossoms’ video for ‘Ribbon Around the Bomb’:

The album also includes their track 'Care For', released on 17th August 2021. Blossoms premiered the 70s inspired track with a particularly stylish video to accompany it, directed by Arctic Monkeys' former creative director.

Speaking about the single, Tom explained how he took inspiration from all of the music he listened to during lockdown, saying: "In my head, they all come together on this tune, to help create the ultimate end of the evening, wedding disco dance."

Fifth album 'Gary'

Blossoms released their fifth album, titled 'Gary', on 20th September 2024. Produced by James Skelly of The Coral, and with Jungle’s Josh-Lloyd Watson helming two tracks, the record boasts 10 songs, including the upbeat lead single and title track.

The ‘Gary’ music video was directed by frontman Tom Ogden and his brother Ewan, and it features cameos from Blossoms’ close pal Rick Astley and Everton manager Sean Dyche.

WATCH' Blossoms 'Gary' official music video

How did Blossoms make the album artwork for 'Ribbon Around The Bomb'?

Lead singer Tom actually detailed this in a Twitter video. Here's what he had to say: "On all our previous albums, we've always been on the cover; this time we wanted to do something different.

"The brief was: 'We don't want to be on the cover, but make something classic yet visually striking. We were put in contact with artist Edwin Burdis, who worked as a creative director on Arctic Monkeys' 'Tranquility Base' album.

"We then sent Edwin our album to see how it inspired him visually. He came back saying he imagined wood engravings for the album art, and then sent us some references of what he had in mind. We loved the idea, so we found a renowned wood engraver called Hilary Paynter based in the UK.

"Hilary meticulously engraved everything by hand into a block of wood, basically creating the equivalent of a photographic negative. It's then covered in ink and printed onto paper. We sent Hilary some references for the songs - for example, a lyric in 'The Sulking Poet': 'Love is rain upon the roof at night' was interpreted into a wood engraving.

"Edwin had suggested each song should have its own engraving and to also make an alphabet. We could then use this across the whole campaign and throughout the album artwork."

What awards have Blossoms won?

Although they haven't won any awards yet, they were nominated for two pretty huge gongs in 2017 - British Breakthrough Act at the BRIT Awards, and the prestigious Mercury Music Prize for their self-titled debut album.

WATCH: Blossoms on the BRIT Awards 2017 red carpet

Who writes Blossoms' songs?

Singer Tom is the band's main songwriter. Speaking to Dork magazine in April 2018, Tom opened up about the writing process and how he prefers to take inspiration from more melancholy experiences.

"A couple of songs on there are still drawing upon a failing relationship," he explained, adding: "But I wasn't directly feeling like that at the time of writing, I just channelled it, I guess. I think it's easier to write honest lyrics about that subject, whereas if I wanna say I think someone's great, or ‘I really love ya', it's harder to put that into words without it sounding cringey."

Talking about second album 'Cool Like You' track 'Between The Eyes', Tom related that the meaning was about the "exciting" beginnings of a relationship with someone, adding that he "tried to be a bit more clever with that one."

Reciting the line: 'You crept into my heart / There must've been a side door left unlocked', Tom likened his work to that of Arctic Monkeys' frontman: "I guess it's more the sort of thing Alex Turner would write, but that one did come out quite honest.

"On the whole, though, it's easier to write lyrics about things that are unfortunate, but I try to do both on this album. It's about a 60:40 split."

Why do Blossoms wear keys?

It's a slight mystery among fans of the band, who have often noticed them wearing keys around their necks. Thankfully, the mystery was solved in 2016 when they were asked what the deal was.

Apparently, they were passed on from a friend of Joe's mum, and noticed that things were taking off with the band since they started wearing them. It's almost like a good luck charm.

Were Blossoms on Pointless?

As surprised as we are to type this... Yes, yes they were. After lead singer Tom Ogden put in a stellar performance paired up with Ray Blk for the special Music Day episode on 28th September 2019, the band performed 'Your Girlfriend' at the end of the show.

The pair made it all the way to the head to head, where they went up against Pop Idol winner Will Young and Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson, who pipped them to the post at the penultimate round on the subject of Nile Rodgers.

WATCH: Tom Ogden on Pointless Celebrities

Blossoms' podcast

The Blossoms boys have been keeping themselves busy with their podcast, called Blossoms Pubcast. The fun project hears the band talk about various topics, including some of their favourite songs, with the podcast now being on its third season.