< p >Rick Astley joined Blossoms for a surprise performance of “Joke About Divorce” during the band’s set at the Tramlines Festival on July 25, according to festival reports. The singer made his appearance on the Sarah Nulty Main Stage at Sheffield’s Hillsborough Park to support the track, which serves as the lead single from the group’s sixth studio album, Songs From The Wedding Cake.
Beyond his live appearance at Hillsborough Park, Astley provides backing vocals on the studio version of “Joke About Divorce” and makes a cameo appearance in the official music video.
Tramlines Festival Setlist and Collaborations
During the same Sheffield performance, Blossoms delivered the live debut of their single “Meet Me In Love” in front of an audience. That track features backing vocals from Declan McKenna, while its accompanying video stars actors Maya Jama and Callum Scott Howells. McKenna is also credited as a contributor on another upcoming album track titled “Additional Driver.”
The festival setlist spanned multiple eras of the band’s catalog:
- “Gary”
- “Getaway”
- “Oh No (I Think I’m In Love)”
- “Honey Sweet”
- “Nightclub”
- “Perfect Me”
- “The Keeper”
- “Joke About Divorce” (with Rick Astley)
- “I Can’t Stand It”
- “Meet Me In Love”
- “I Like Your Look”
- “Your Girlfriend”
- “There’s A Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls)”
- “Charlemagne”
History of Collaboration With Rick Astley
The partnership between Blossoms and Astley dates back to September 2021, when Astley joined the band on stage during a London show to cover The Smiths tracks “This Charming Man” and “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.” That initial collaboration went viral online and prompted the artists to mount dedicated tribute concerts celebrating the music of The Smiths in London and Manchester.
Reviewing the first of those tribute dates, NME praised Astley as a capable vocalist for the material, describing the show favorably alongside historic performances by Morrissey and Johnny Marr. The collaborators subsequently reunited for a secret set of Smiths covers at the Glastonbury Festival in 2023.
Ahead of the Glastonbury performance, Astley spoke to NME about taking on the catalog, stating that he loved performing the material despite the unconventional pairing.
Upcoming Headline Tour Dates
To promote the release of Songs From The Wedding Cake, Blossoms celebrated the album announcement with an impromptu pop-up performance from the back of a van outside Manchester’s 42nd Street Nightclub.
The group will embark on their largest arena headlining tour to date later this year. The UK tour launches at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena on November 26, with scheduled stops in London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow. Support across the entire arena run will come from The Royston Club.
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