Across two continents, over the last two months, I’ve caught up with Tom Ogden, lead singer of UK rising superstars Blossoms. We first sat down at Coachella, where they played an early set, and spoke again while they were touring Europe in their own headline shows, fresh from touring the USA with Two Door Cinema Club. We talk about that tour, their “late” addition to the Glastonbury lineup, their time in Asia and Australia and we look ahead to their biggest show to date: supporting The Stone Roses at Wembley Stadium.
It’s been a while now, but what are your memories of your shows in Australia for Splendour (in the Grass) last year?
I remember us being very jetlagged. Probably the most jetlagged we’ve ever been. I remember having a burger for breakfast. We’d just gotten off a flight from South Korea. The worst flight we’d ever had. The festival was good though. Similar crowd to what it was like here at Coachella. We hadn’t done much in Australia, so you can’t expect to have a massive crowd. We like to earn our stripes and grow our audience the old fashioned way.
Well hopefully you come back and do just that…
We’ll need a year off just for that massive fucking flight!
At this point in the interview, the whole band start conjecturing about the idea of sailing over instead. “Can you imagine!?”, they posit.
…but until then you’ve got a LOT in store. Glastonbury is coming up. You were a late addition there. Do you know how that happened? Did they just forget to announce you?
Yes. Yes they did. They tried to bullshit, but we were like “you forgot, didn’t you?”. I think we were actually one of the first to get confirmed… you know, mistakes happen, we’re not bothered by it. And they made more of a fuss! We got our own piece in NME, and they announced we were playing the Pyramid Stage.
Yeah the Festival Director raved about you guys too!
It was better wasn’t it? She’s tops, Emily (Eavis).
Pyramid Stage, Glastonbury. That’s a pretty big deal.
Yeah. Bucket list stuff. It’s a similar time to when we played today, but I think it’ll be a lot busier.
Are you thinking about what you’re doing next for albums?
We’ve been demoing songs for the next album, we’re going to start recording soon and then go through to the end of the year. So we’re not rushing it, we’re going to do it slowly, but we’re going to work on it through the Summer. It’s going to be called “All Night Long”, heavily inspired by Lionel Richie.
*laughs* It’s just going to be an album of Lionel Richie covers isn’t it?
Yes. *laughs* I’m joking, it’s not going to be called “All Night Long”.
I would listen to that though. You’ve been gallivanting the USA with Two Door – what dirt can you dish on the guys and how have the shows gone since we sat down at Coachella?
No dirt to dish! They’re one of the loveliest bunch of lads we’ve toured with.
The shows were great, we’ve been hoping to support a big band in the US for a while as it’s the best way to expand your fanbase. Each venue was full to the brim for us!
You’re not far off from playing Wembley Stadium – how do you feel about playing such an iconic venue in what is relatively early in your career?
We’re buzzing to support one of our favourite bands THE STONE ROSES there, until it’s our own headline gig – we won’t be celebrating too quickly.
How are you going to step it up for that one? Any surprises planned?
We’ve never been ones for choreographed dancing. We approach each gig the same, there’ll be a few added butterflies I think.
Favourite Stone Roses song?
“Waterfall”, I’ve loved that song since as long as I can remember
You’ve ended up becoming quite big in Asia – that’s a long way from Stockport! – what have your experiences been so far in that region and what has that recognition meant to you?
They’re some of the most passionate fans we’ve ever come across and some of our favourite cities we’ve played in.
If you were asked to play Fyre Festival 2018, would you do it?
Never heard of it! Depends what the caterings like… do they do bolognese?
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Blossoms are currently touring Europe and will return to the USA next week. They play with The Stone Roses at Wembley Stadium on June 17th. For more on their upcoming shows and their music, head to their official facebook page.
Their latest track, “This Moment”, a collaboration with Chase & Status, was released earlier this month.
Photo by Larry Heath at Coachella 2017
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