BBC Music Introducing in Manchester chart the rise of Blossoms
Michelle Hussey & Natalie-Eve Williams
BBC Introducing in Manchester
In early 2014 we played a song called 'Madeleine' which was one of those discoveries on the Uploader when we know that what we're listening to has that unexplainable element about it. One of those where you know you're witnessing the start of something really special.
Our gut instincts were cemented when we invited Blossoms down to Media City for their first ever radio interview and session. It was not only in their music - these 5 young lads from Stockport had all the right things: attitude, wit, determination and undeniable humour. All that mixed with their acoustic performance made myself and Michelle do this weird thing we do when we look at each other as if to scream "this lot are really going to do something massive".
We were so impressed with the quality of their new tracks and live performances, it was a no brainer that they would be our (successful) submission for the SXSW showcase in Texas.
Since signing to Virgin/EMI, selling out headline gigs, coming 4th in the BBC’s Sound Of Poll 2016, topping the chart with a Number One album and landing an MTV EMA nomination, Tom, Myles, Josh, Chaz and Joe are still the polite, determined and hilarious people they always were. It's an absolute pleasure to be able to stand and watch them achieve all of these accolades and this is still only the beginning.
We've always maintained a close relationship with the band and they are the first ones to say it 'feels like coming home' when they come back to BBC Music Introducing in Manchester. We have a running joke that every time they come in there is something else they can't announce yet! I once joked that they would be on the Grammys next and the way things are going...
Newsbeat has followed the band across the summer with backstage access at major events including Radio 1's Big Weekend, Reading & Leeds and Great Escape to find out what it's like to tour the world on their first summer on the festival circuit, one which they say has been a "life changer".