Blossoms will be back on home turf tonight with a massive show at Castlefield Bowl.
It’s part of the Sounds of the City summer gig series and will see the Stockport indie-rockers perform on the canal-side outdoor stage.
The group announced the 6 July gig last December, hot off the back of four huge gigs at the O2 Apollo. They’ve also recently torn up the Glastonbury stage with a blistering set with Rick Astley.
Since forming in 2013, Blossoms have gone from strength to strength and quickly asserted themselves as one of the UK’s most recognisable artists- especially here in the north.
Blossoms have four chart-topping albums, from their self-titled debut to last year’s Ribbon Around the Bomb.
Still to come at Castlefield Bowl after Blossoms will be Two Door Cinema Club, Bastille and Hacienda Classical, with shows from Pulp and The Lathums already finished.
Here’s everything you need to know about Blossoms at Castlefield Bowl.
Stage times for Blossoms at Castlefield Bowl
Doors – 5.30pm
DJ – 5.30pm
Seb Lowe – 6.45pm
Inspiral Carpets – 7.45pm
Blossoms – 9pm
Who’s supporting Blossoms at Castlefield Bowl?
When they head over to Leeds later this week, Blossoms will be welcoming friend and fellow musician Miles Kane onto the stage with them.
But here, they’re looking much more local, bringing in a legendary Manchester name.
It’ll be Inspiral Carpets supporting the five-piece at Sounds of the City.
The Oldham-formed band were an instrumental part of the Madchester movement in the late 80s and early 90s, made up of Clint Boon, Graham Lambert, Stephen Holt, Kev Clark and Oscar Boon.
19-year-old rising star Seb Lowe, who started his music career on TikTok but is now dominating much bigger stages, will open the show tonight.
Tickets for Blossoms at Castlefield Bowl
Oh dear, it’s another Sounds of the City gig that’s totally sold out.
Blossoms tickets were initially priced at £44.45 but, as often happens with their homecoming gigs, sold out quickly.
If you’re desperate to go, keep an eye on resale sites but make sure you’re buying from a trustworthy seller so you don’t get ripped off.
Blossoms love to pull out surprises at their shows, from special guests to unexpected covers, so you never know exactly what you’re going to get.
But this is their most recent setlist from their gig at HMV Empire in Coventry.
Your Girlfriend Honey Sweet Oh No (I Think I’m in Love) The Keeper Cool Like You Ribbon Around the Bomb How Long Will This Last? Getaway Ode to NYC The Sulking Poet Blown Rose I Can’t Stand It If You Think This Is Real Life Care For Blow At Most a Kiss My Swimming Brain My Favourite Room Encore: There’s a Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls) Charlemagne
Weather forecast at Castlefield Bowl, Manchester
Sounds of the City at Castlefield Bowl. Credit: Sam Neill
Castlefield Bowl is an outdoor venue, with only a very small amount of cover by the amphitheatre seating.
It looks like the Manchester rain will hold off tonight, though it’s not exactly screaming summer weather.
Temperatures are set to peak at 21 degrees, with a low of 15 degrees, according to the Met Office.
It will be cloudy all night, too.
About Castlefield Bowl
Castlefield Bowl is an amphitheatre-style outdoor venue in the city centre.
Although all tickets are billed as unreserved standing, if you’re quick you can take a seat on the large concrete steps that curve around the stage.
Many people also take a perch up on the grassy banks at the back of the venue too.
Castlefield Bowl is located at 101 Liverpool Road in the city centre.
The closest tram stop is Deansgate-Castlefield, which is only a six-minute walk away.
You can also walk it from the major train stations, or use the 101, 197, 255, 256, 41, 50 or X50 buses.
Beloved British boy band Five are BACK in FULL for the first time in 25 years
Danny Jones
No, your eyes don’t deceive you: all five members of the beloved British boy band Five are set to reunite for the first time in a quarter of a century.
Formed way back in 1997 and dominating the charts throughout the period in and around the millennium, the iconic pop group was the UK’s answer to the Backstreet Boys and NSNYC, as well as a much-needed replacement for Take That just after their split.
And they did exactly that for a number of years, with hit tracks like ‘We Will Rock You’, ‘Keep On Movin”, ‘Everybody Get Up’, ‘If Ya Gettin’ Down’ and more still firmly stuck in our memories.
It doesn’t matter how long it’s been, we still remember all the words and the dance moves to go along with them – and we’ll be able to prove it when the Five UK reunion tour comes to Manchester.
Although the London-formed group has reformed every now and again in different configurations over the years for special occasions, anniversary events, etc., this is the first time that the original lineup has been together for 25 whole years.
That’s right, Abz Love, J Brown, Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson and Sean Conlon will all be reuniting on stage for a limited UK arena tour – because anything less simply wouldn’t be enough to mark this throwback celebration.
More importantly, if you don’t think every single one of these massive rooms is going to sell out in a flash, then you clearly can’t count to five.
As for the Manchester crowd, fans will be welcomed inside the equally legendary AO Arena for the ‘KEEP ON MOVIN’ 2025’ Tour later this year and we can’t wait.
Fellow domestic DJ and producer Naughty Boy will also be joining them as the main support act. We’re rolling back all the memories this autumn.
You can see the rest of the tour dates below, including equally massive shows at The O2 in London, the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, a First Direct Arena date in Leeds and more.
We really can't wait to get back on stage together and see you all in person, it's gonna go OFF!! Let's goooooo! International fans, make sure to sign up there so we know where in the world you are too 👀
Scott says: “This has been a long time coming and it really does feel right for all of us now – 25 years on and we’re so ready for it. Reconnecting as a 5 over the last year has been special and I know I speak for all the boys when I say we can’t wait to do this all over again. Hope you’re ready!”
Another fifth of the throwback boy band, Abz, added: “We really can’t wait to get back on stage together & see the fans, it’s gonna go OFF! Buzzing to have Naughty Boy on tour with us too… 5 bad boys and a naughty boy, that sounds like a lot of fun. Let’s gooooo!”
General admission for Five’s 2025 UK reunion tour goes live on Friday, 7 March from 10am but die-hards can access the exclusive pre-sale window on Wednesday, 5 March by signing up for the mailing list.
2000s indie rock icons The Enemy continue comeback trail with must-not-miss UK tour
Danny Jones
For fans of old-school indie and noughties contemporary rock, you do not want to miss the one because The Enemy are not just back making music but they’re heading out on a pretty big UK tour and, of course, they’ll be stopping right here in Manchester.
The Enemy first reformed back in 2022 for a limited run of shows, but it turns out the Coventry-formed trio were satisfied with a one-off reunion and a fifth studio album officially being worked on, the fierce Brit rock throwbacks have announced a series of pretty large UK tour dates.
Following on from some hugely successful comeback performances at TRNSMT, Isle Of Wightand a headline slot at Godiva Festival 2023, not to mention the instantly hit ‘Indie Til I Die’ shows last year – including an absolute stormer at Victoria Warehouse – they returning for more.
One of the few bands to make their way back to the live music circuit fully intact, with all three members still performing together, nothing has changed other than a few more grey hairs.
If you weren’t there at the outset, The Enemy’s debut LP We’ll Live And Die In These Towns (2007) was one of the most seminal domestic releases of its time, with songs like ‘You’re Not Alone’ going on to become indie anthems of the era.
To be honest, we’d argue their sophomore outing Music For The People just two years later is the better album, with tracks such as ‘Be Somebody’, ‘Elephant Song’ and ‘No Time for Tears’ still in plenty of our playlists to this day – but, you know, each to their own.
The point is, we’re very glad these lads are back and having played with everyone from Oasis and The Killers to even The Rolling Stones, we’d wager lots of other music lovers are too.
Set to play New Century Hall in Manchester as well as the legendary Leadmill in Sheffield, Beckett Students’ Union in Leeds, Rock City in Nottingham and more, it’s going to be a big tour.
We're absolutely buzzing to be back on tour & in some of our all time favourite venues.
We'll be trying out new material for the first time in years ahead of the new album we're making, we're all really excited to try some new tunes and see what you think whilst we finish it!
Frontman Tom Clarke, who has put out two solo records of his own in past years, said of the announcement: “We’ve been working long days in the studio recording new material, so we’re really excited to get out on the road again.
“The plan is to experiment with some of the new tunes, maybe different ones on different shows to see how the crowds react and which ones connect with fans, and let that guide the track listing on the record which is nearing completion.”
Co-songwriter and bass player, Andy Hopkins, added: talking about the upcoming tour: “My favourite part of being in a band is having those nights with the fans where the atmosphere is electric – I think this tour is going to be really special for the 3 of us.
“It’ll be the first time we’ve been back to some of these cities in a long time, in venues we absolutely love and have been really important to us on the way up – Electric Ballroom was the first venue we ever played in London supporting The Fratellis, I drove us there with all the amps & guitars in my Fiesta!”
The Enemy come to New Century, one of our favourite live music venues in all of Greater Manchester, on Saturday, 1 November.
Pre-sale has already been snapped up in the blink of an eye, which is no surprise whatsoever, but general admission will go live from 10am this Friday, 28 February.
Daisy Jackson -
6th July 2023 
