It’s a Saturday night and Cardiff Great Hall is absolutely RAMMED for Stockport’s finest musical export since 10cc: the mighty Blossoms. First up tonight, though, is Brooke Combe, whose brand of indie mixed with soul/funk goes down nicely as she yells in her broad Glaswegian accent, “Cardiff! What is fuckin’ happening!” It’s an interesting contrast to her silky-smooth vocals but it works regardless.

Building up the atmosphere before the band comes on stage, the playlist includes the likes of Not Nineteen Forever by the Cribs, Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline (which gets some boos), and Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up which all get hearty singalongs before culminating in a mass singsong of The Human League’s Don’t You Want Me as the band come on stage and break into At Most A Kiss. 

“Good evening Cardiff! We are Blossoms from Stockport, are you ready to enjoy yourselves?” frontman Tom Ogden shouts before breaking into Honey Sweet. It’s followed by Oh No (I Think I’m In Love), a highlight of third Blossoms album Foolish Loving Spaces. Interestingly, there are more songs from the band’s self-titled debut tonight than from their most recent record, Ribbon Around The Bomb – but it doesn’t matter, it’s still bangers nonetheless. 

The sickeningly sweet Ode To NYC is preceded by a shout of “fuck Netflix”: Ogden explains its origins, written during lockdown for a Netflix Original film only to be rejected. There’s also a bit of awkwardness after If You Think This Is Real Life, the vocalist calling security’s attention to “two drunk lads killing the vibe a bit” down the front. “Get out or get to the back,” Ogden suggests, less maliciously than in the service of a good time.

Finishing the main set with Ogden playing My Favourite Room on his own, Blossoms return to the stage a few moments later for the modern-day heartbreak anthem There’s A Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls). Followed swiftly by Charlemagne, here we end a great night of solid indie bangers. 

Blossoms / Brooke Combe, Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union, Sat 26 Nov

words JOSHUA WILLIAMS photos HANNAH NICOLSON-TOTTLE