Blossoms

Blossoms formed in Stockport in 2013, five school friends who grew up steeped in the music of The Smiths, The Stone Roses, and Oasis. Their self-titled debut album arrived in 2016 and went straight to number one in the UK, a remarkable achievement for a band barely out of their teens. The record announced them as natural heirs to a very specific strain of northern English indie — melodic, hook-driven, and rooted in a sense of place.

The band refined their sound across subsequent albums, with Cool Like You (2018) and Foolish Loving Spaces (2020) both reaching the UK top five. Their music has a warmth and accessibility that sets them apart from the more abrasive end of the post-punk revival, drawing instead on the psychedelic pop tradition of their hometown. Stockport looms large in their identity — they have spoken often about the town's musical heritage and their pride in representing it.

By the time of Ribbon Around the Bomb (2022) and Gary (2023), Blossoms had established themselves as one of the most consistently successful British indie acts of their generation. Their live shows are joyful, communal affairs, and they have built a devoted fanbase that spans multiple generations of indie listeners. They represent a thread of continuity in British guitar music that stretches back to the Haçienda era.