Cupids draw back their bow

CUPIDS: Picture by BEKKA SIMPSON

Rejuvenated Cupids are bidding to make a big name for themselves on their first nationwide tour.

The tour comes after the lads — Jake Fletcher, Sid Cooper, James Cardus and Ryan Comac — made the decision earlier this summer to change their name from the Gramotones.

The Oldham four-piece, who began the 16-date tour in Bournemouth on Thursday, left nothing to chance as they headed south. Guitar/vocalist Fletcher said: “It’s the most we’ve rehearsed, actually. We usually just gig and count them as rehearsals. It’s all new territory for us — it’s going to be different, but interesting too.

“We think it’s the best stuff we’ve ever done. We’re not binning the old Gramotones tunes, they will always be ours, but now it’s time to throw the new stuff out there and see it how it goes down.”

Spreading Cupids’ word at venues from Bournemouth and Brighton to London, Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and more will raise their profile significantly. Fletcher added: “It’s all about expanding your fanbase, definitely. There will be a lot of people who will have never heard of us — and even if they have heard of us, our set is now a lot different.

“There’s no nerves, though. Certainly numbers don’t phase me. There was 9,000 watching the Gramotones at Warwick Castle last year.”

Seven of the 16 tour dates are as support to newly-signed Blossoms, with the rest headline dates. Both situations appeal to Fletcher and his bandmates: “They both have pros and cons. You might be able to play songs that are a bit quieter at the headline shows maybe, because you have more of an attentive audience. With Blossoms, though, I really like them. It’ll be nice to play to a new crowd because that’s how you expand your fanbase.

“That’s the best way to do it to be honest, playing to a fresh, and hopefully, big crowd. With it being a support slot you have to keep it upbeat and up-tempo because quiet tunes can fall a bit flat in that situation.”

Visit www.cupidsband.com for details. The final show, with Blossoms at the Manchester Ritz on October 23, is sure to be a sell out.