Blossoms: Is it time to start the van up again yet?

Image: Blossoms

It's been an unforgettable year for Blossoms so far, an appearance at SXSW in Texas came in the midst of a nationwide tour that ended with a sold out homecoming at Manchester's Gorilla. Pretty incredible hey? 

They've been labelled as the best band to come from the Manchester circuit for a while, and quite rightly so. Sporting astute song writing and hazy guitar pop laced with acid, it's without doubt that there's a lot more to come from them and we're counting down every second till it does. 

It's only natural that with their tag as prodigal sons of the world famous Manchester scene, that they take up a slot at this year's The Great Escape Festival. If you're unfamiliar with the event, it's the biggest gathering in Europe for new music and unsurprisingly the band have already scaled it. 

In anticipation of the Brighton showcase we wanted to know more and find out from a band who's experienced it first hand; Blossoms were our ideal candidates...

We see you where at SXSW for BBC introducing (above), how was that, did you ever see yourselves heading there as a band? 

You can't really put the experience we had into words, it was five days we'll never forget and an absolute pleasure to be sent over by the messiah of radio himself, Mr Steve Lamacq.

There was nerves and excitement in equal measure, which were soon overcome by the more-than-positive reception we received at both shows. Upon starting the band, we always aimed to get overseas with our music, so to play our debut USA show at SXSW was electrifying. 

You've just finished a UK tour, tell us about your highlights?

To gig from the top to toe of the UK and see punters singing your words back into your eyes is priceless, not to mention the healthy flow of sold out shows there's been. Grateful isn't the word. In comparison to our previous tour, it's great to see some familiar faces and new fans jumping on board and backing us.

There's been a highlight in every nook and cranny of old Blighty, impossible to tell all, but one thing's for sure, we've had an absolute ball - is it time to start the van up again yet?

'Ethereal nostalgic sonance' (see for yourself below) is how you pin your sound, which could perhaps be thought of as psychedelic, would you agree with that? And if so why do you think there seems to be an increased demand for the genre right now?

There's nothing that really suggests psychedelic within those words. It's just an alternative way of describing what is conceived when we write our music, and it's almost always brought up as a talking point in every interview we have. If we had a pound for eve... Don't worry, we won't go there. The recent resurgence of psychedelic music will soon die down, but it'll never disappear.

It's a scene for a lot of folk at the minute, in which most use fashion as a way of saying 'I'm into my psych music' when really, they don't know the difference between Barry Manilow and The 13th Floor Elevators. Ooh the claws are out! 

You played one of the Great Escape Festival showcases in Camden and will play at the festival. What's it like to be invited back by a festival that offers so much to new music? 

It will be 'Great' to 'Escape' Stockport. Pun-ish us for that one...

We're privileged to have been added to the bill this year. There's a plethora of great new artists playing and what better way to celebrate the music than on the English Seaside. Sunshine please. 

Looking at this year's line up, who do you think is worth looking out for?

I think we'll be giving Gaz Coombes a watch as his new LP is a lovely journey through the detours of sound. Perhaps Gengahr and Boxed In, who we where on the BBC Introducing bill with back at SXSW.

It'll also be nice to get lost and stumble across someone/something we've not heard before, we're very receptive when it comes to new music. 

Will you be taking any new material to the festival, and is there perhaps an album on the way?

New material is constantly flowing within Blossoms, it's a healthy way to maintain a band. Creativity is the lifeline. We may have a couple of new tracks polished and ready for the festivals, but can't say just now, they have to be caressed and taken out for regular meals before we tie them down and say, "You're ready".

As far as an album goes, there's a couple more singles in the conduit yet. Definitely on the horizon though. 

Want to catch Blossoms in action? Head to their artist page here. Find The Great Escape Tickets here, or via the ticket box below. 

Tickets are no longer available for this event