Cupids arrow in on 2016

Photo: Bekka Simpson

THRILLING 2015 . . . Cupids are planning on more of the same for next year

MUSIC EXTRA: wonderful Oldham favourites Cupids brought the curtain down on a thrill-a-minute 2015 by packing out an electric Deaf Institute in Manchester.

It’s been a period of massive change in direction for Cupids, our four-strong harmonic outfit who hadn’t even been heard of this time last year. Jake Fletcher, Sid Cooper, Ryan Comac and James Cardus have now completed their transformation from The Gramotones: the show featured a complete set of exciting new material.

It remains to be seen what’s in store for 2016, but Cupids are set for a year of greater support, higher-profile dates, new recordings and hopefully another tour.

There was a real sense of anticipation at the gig, a self-promoted show Cupids were headlining and all-but sold out with little effort. It was packed, and I was particularly delighted to spot a host of fellow Oldham hopefuls in the audience. Shadow Palace, The Velocetas, Dahlia Soul and even the now-defunct Rivertairs were represented, all hugely appreciative as they watched a new band gearing up to make a big impact.

Cupids rattled rather swiftly through their set in the final outing of the year, but it was packed with quality.

“Good Things Come”, “Hope It Never Ends”, “Confession Box”, “A Study In Extremes” and “Heaven Knows Me Now” are all tightly-worked offerings with Jake and Sid’s interchanging being worthy of special praise, before “Drive” and “Kicking In” started to truly raise the roof.

The encore was the real highlight for yours truly, however. The superfast “Money” and “Corporate Whipping Boy” are simply top class tunes, ones which will feature heavily in helping to thrust Cupids into the national consciousness in the New Year... bring it on.