Stockport indie band Blossoms are set to be recognised for putting their home town on the map.
The five-piece were touted for an accolade in honour of their musical achievements by former mayor Linda Holt at a town hall meeting.
Council leader Alex Ganotis agreed official recognition would be well deserved for the band, who never stopped flying the flag for Stockport during their rise to fame.
The group – all born at Stepping Hill Hospital – scored a number one hit with their self-titled debut album in 2016, and will play a huge homecoming show at Stockport County’s Edgeley Park this summer.
A favourite of the critics, they have also been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and a Brit Award – as well as making the BBC’s ‘Sound of 2016’ list after bursting onto the scene.
More recently they won Best Indie Band at The Global Awards.
Coun Holt said the successful band had ‘started off right at the bottom with no money, but ploughed through’.
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She told a full council meeting they were great ambassadors for their home town.
She said: “They are constantly promoting Stockport wherever they go, whenever they appear on TV, they do all their videos in Stockport, they’ve been in the market hall, they’ve been back to their old school and they’ve been to the Plaza for the midnight launch for their albums.
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“They’ve done such a lot, I think they are a shining example to the youth in Stockport these days and I think they need recognition.”
Town hall chief Coun Ganotis joined Coun Holt in congratulating Blossoms on their achievements – and agreed some form of recognition from the town hall would be fitting.
He said: “They have done a great deal to put Stockport on the map; they are a group I don’t think will ever lose sight of their roots – and let’s think about what we can do as a council to formally recognise their achievements”
And Coun Ganotis said the council could go further and promote Blossoms to inspire young people in the borough to achieve their own ambitions.
“Let’s not only recognise their achievements but, more importantly, look to what we can do as a council to use Blossoms as an inspiration to our younger people about what they can achieve.
“Especially in terms of creativity and positivity – because it’s also their positivity that shines through.”
