Blossoms, The Coral, Cabbage, The Blinders, Fuzzy Sun: Edgeley Park, Stockport

Blossoms

Stockport County FC played host to Blossoms on Saturday for a special pre-season fixture, Getintothis’ Lewis Ridley called an emphatic home win.

Blossoms and Stockport, somewhat synonymous in conversation since the band’s rise in 2015.

It is, in fact, difficult to talk about Blossoms without mentioning their hometown. They are proud to be from Stockport, so this gig was always going to be special.

Indeed, the build up to it was the same of a festival – five bands would step onto the turf (well, plastic sheeting) at Edgeley Park.

Fuzzy Sun supported Blossoms on their tour last winter, and as fans made their way from nearby Manchester and filtered into Edgeley Park, the sun shone.

The headliners weren’t the only hometown band playing, Fuzzy Sun are also Stockport natives, and as they aim to follow in the footsteps of Blossoms, opening the day is a good way to work on that.

Doncaster born, Manchester bred The Blinders unleashed their debut album Columbia last year, they are more used to smaller venues, such as Phase One where they launched said album in September.

Makeup clad, lead singer and guitarist Thomas Hayward is a thrilling front man, striking fear into crowds as he stares back towards Edgeley Park, there are few bands that are more encapsulating than The Blinders.

Cabbage returned with a new single earlier this year, and like the previous act they frequent Manchester’s dungeon venues – but this gig was about doing their thing on a larger scale.

Setlist stalwart Uber Capitalist Death Trade came in contrast to the blue skies and indie pop to come, but Cabbage are heading into different territory themselves with their new material and it will be interesting to keep tabs on them throughout the rest of 2019.

The Coral

The final support came from Liverpool legends The Coral, their relationship with the headline act is one that includes Blossoms tracks being produced by James Skelly at Parr St Studios.

But when they are not mastering in Liverpool, they are providing many a support slot in these circles. Their reputation and legacy alone shows they are far better than this, or their recent announcement that they’ll be supporting Gerry Cinnamon in the winter, but from a fan perspective its a real treat.

Final track Dreaming of You will have been one of the best responded to songs, it’s fair to say The Coral prepared Edgeley Park for their hometown heroes well.

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When Kanye West‘s Black Skinhead comes on the PA, it is not that a fan of West has got their hands on the playlist, but instead that Blossoms are about to enter.

Flares on stage, donned by Tom Ogden, and off stage for any fans that had them left over from last week’s Courteeners gig at Heaton Park, opener At Most A Kiss is one of their bouncier efforts and Edgeley Park gets the memo.

Single How Long Will This Last? dominated radio airwaves a few months back, and the crowd sing it back to the band before things slow down with romantic Love Talk.

My Favourite Room, for anyone who has seen Blossoms before, comes with verses from Babybird‘s You’re Gorgeous and Oasis’ Half The World Away as tradition, and fans almost can’t wait to belt them both out.

What wasn’t usual though, was that a David Bowie favourite would make it on the setlist. During an encore which kicked off with the sonic Unfaithful, a cover of Let’s Dance had Bowie fans doing exactly that.

All that was left after that was for There’s A Reason Why and Charlemagne to close the show – and as confetti fell from the Stockport sky, you knew this was a special night for the band and their fans.

Images by Getintothis’ Gary Lambert