Photo: Facebook/Beats Music
Blur are set to grace our stages once again this summer headlining the Isle of Wight Festival and Hyde Park British Summertime, as well as a series of gigs in Glasgow, Blackpool and Llanduno. Here's why we can't wait.
Damon Albarn and co. have never taken the easy way out - rather than simply regurgitating the hits, they've returned with one of the best albums of their career. They are back properly with an astonishing new album The Magic Whip to showcase, a remarkable return to form.
Things are going to be different this time around, the band are firing on all cylinders creatively and in light of recently praised small scale shows in London and New York, they are more than ready to blast this Summer’s headline slots. Here are 15 reasons to get excited for the return of Blur this summer:
1. Damon Albarn is relishing the new challenge. He stated "There was no way we could do another gig without another record" Luckily for us the new songs stand up with the hits: 'Thought I Was a Spaceman' can stand alongside any thing the band has written in the past decade. It also appears to be the first time in an age that Albarn is actually enjoying being part of the band. As he said in a recent behind the scenes documentary: “I try to avoid being in Blur because it’s something bigger than me, I was getting more excited the more I was hearing, but I was also reticent because it meant I’d be back in Blur.”
2. ‘Go Out’ is sounding pretty enormous. Albarn highlighted his excitement for playing the lead single live at the initial press conference back in February: “I can feel that already happening." The cheeky chant “to the lo-o-o-o-ocal” is bound to echo through Hyde Park this June - and it's going to sound even better in Blackpool.
3. The Magic Whip tracks have been thoroughly roadtested. The four-piece have been playing The Magic Whip in full at recent gigs. If you were lucky enough to be at their Beats gig at Mode in West London you know how much more risky and rewarding it is when the band change it up.
4. It’s not all about that signature Albarn melancholy. The group have massive new tunes which will please the crowd in 'Ong Ong’ littered with "la-la-las" and its sing-a-long chorus of ‘I wanna be with you!'
5. Expect some true Blur rarities. Recently Blur have been playing ‘Trouble in the Message Centre’ which they haven’t played since 1995, which means they have been looking back as much as they’ve been looking forward.
6. Graham Coxon is in full effect. With a little help from a conflict counsellor and the sweet sentiment of 'My Terracotta Heart', the whole band are back on board having reconnected properly personally (in 2009) and creatively (in 2015). 7. The new tracks are full of surprises: The new songs show more movement than ever including the slow-jam funk on 'Ghost Ship' to the sweeping oriental swoon of ‘Mirrorball'
8. The Hyde Park support is phenomenal. The likes of The Horrors, Metronomy, Roots Manuva and Drenge will be joining Blur on 20 June. We'll bring you news of the support acts for the UK shows as soon as we get them.
9. They don't shy away from enhancing their sound. They’re bringing back strings and a gospel choir which brings a consistent sparkle to the songs in the live setting, which is particularly mesmerising on tracks such as ‘The Universal’.
10. The constant uncertainty surrounding the group's future means the band are bound to give it their all. Yes Alex James said there is more material from the Hong Kong sessions - but If these shows are set to be their last then they are going to want to go on a bang.
11. The band haven’t forgotten their raucous roots. New track ‘I, Broadcast’ proves this conclusively - and they can still knock out Song 2 harnessing the energy of somebody 20 years their junior.
12. Damon’s got a massive ice cream. And he's not afraid to sing about it - or the man who sold it to him.
The returning Britpop heroes, who this week topped the charts with the brilliant new album The Magic Whip, will be hitting the road to perform three shows - calling at Glasgow, Blackpool, and Llandudno.
Blur's newly announced dates are below. Tickets are now on sale. For tickets and information, visit here.
JUNE
9 - Glasgow, Barrowlands
10 - Blackpool, Empress Ballroom
11 - Llandudno, Cymru Arena
They are also set to play the Isle of Wight festival and Barclaycard Presents British Summertime.
