Blur's Damon Albarn: "For me, the last great guitar band was Arctic Monkeys" But he's optimistic about guitar music again MusicRadar · Jul 14, 2023
The Guide #95: One-day festivals, week-long Wembley residences – have we reached peak big gig? In this week’s newsletter: Wherever you look there’s a pricey new event – but the majority of the industry isn’t in such rude health The Guardian - UK · Jul 14, 2023
"It’s the most shambolic performance by Blur possible": Watch Blur perform on Italian TV with a cardboard cut-out of guitarist Graham Coxon No Graham Coxon? No Alex James? No problem for Blur Louder · Jul 14, 2023
Are Arctic Monkeys “the last great guitar band”? Blur’s Damon Albarn sure thinks so That said, the Blur frontman voiced his optimism for a new age of guitar bands – and name-dropped the artists that he thinks are rejuvenating the genre Guitar World · Jul 13, 2023
Blur's Damon Albarn pins Arctic Monkeys as "the last great guitar band", says no band has been as good as them since Blur frontman Damon Albarn thinks there's increasing "excitement" for guitar bands, but believes the sound grew "sterile" after Arctic Monkeys Louder · Jul 12, 2023
London’s five star summer as more than 1 million attend concerts in a week A million people attended 22 concerts in the capital in the last week – supercharging the economy to the tune of £320m Evening Standard · Jul 12, 2023
Blur star Alex James starts selling cheese in Morrisons The musician says the blue cheese should be "smushed on a Frazzle for the ultimate canapé" Wales Online · Jul 11, 2023
I saw Blur at Wembley and saw four 'ridiculous old men' put on the show of their lives Blur are clearly hyped for their first London show since 2015 with guitarist Graham Coxon clenching his fists and screaming ‘come on’ as he walks on stage at Wembley Daily Mirror · Jul 10, 2023
Blur at Wembley Stadium review: fizzed with the vibrant energy of a band in their prime It was a set full of twists and turns: big populist hits cut with strange idiosyncratic oddities and true emotional heft Evening Standard · Jul 10, 2023
Blur review – glorious reunion buzzes with energy and ragged joy The enduring friendship between Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree shines through in a set that veers from lairy capers to bittersweet ballads The Guardian - UK · Jul 9, 2023
Blur realise Wembley goal with triumphant performance Blur frontman Damon Albarn said the band had been waiting all their lives to play Wembley at the first of two gigs at the stadium. Evening Standard · Jul 9, 2023
Blur frontman wants Britpop label ditched for Europop because he hates Brexit This weekend Blur, famous for hits such as Girls and Boys, Song 2 and Parklife, will be playing to thousands at Wembley stadium but frontman Damon Albarn said he found the resurgence of Britpop 'irritating' Daily Mirror · Jul 8, 2023
‘There’s nothing like face to face’: Darlington reacts to ticket office closures In Darlington, a town steeped in rail history, teenage and elderly rail passengers agree nothing beats talking to a human The Guardian - UK · Jul 7, 2023
Roskilde 2023 review: A triumph for Rosalìa, Rina Sawayama and Lizzo at Denmark’s answer to Glastonbury It was sultry, ultra-feminine pop music that pumped the strongest through the festival’s veins this year The Independent UK · Jul 5, 2023
Evening Standard · Jul 4, 2023 Injury throws Blur’s comeback Wembley shows into doubt Blur’s Wembley Stadium comeback concerts have been thrown into question after drummer Dave Rowntree injured his knee.
MusicRadar · Jul 4, 2023 Blur pull out of France’s Beauregard festival after Dave Rowntree suffers leg injury The announcement comes just days before the band’s planned return at Wembley Stadium
Evening Standard · Jul 4, 2023 OPINION - Sorry, Naomi, the truth is for a lot of women it can be too late for kids It’s a truth universally acknowledged that in your 30s it’s all hen dos, weddings and babies and in your 40s it’s all rehab, divorce and failed IVF.
Evening Standard · Jul 3, 2023 Blur at Wembley Stadium: Dates, set times, and support acts Their first album in eight years will be released later this month
Evening Standard · Jul 3, 2023 Pulp at Finsbury Park review: one of the sharpest, tightest and most ecstatically received reunion parties ‘It’s just like in the old days,’ Cocker sang, and he wasn’t wrong
The Guardian - UK · Jul 1, 2023 On my radar: Graham Coxon’s cultural highlights The musician from Blur and the Waeve on the magic of Spain’s Alhambra, chip butties and his love of jazz biographies
Louder · Jul 1, 2023 A beginner's guide to 90s UK indie in five essential albums There was more to 90s indie than just Britpop, but it's a pretty good place to start... Here, the story of how one decade saw a genre morph beyond all recognition, told by the albums that made it happen
Louder · Jun 30, 2023 Here are the best alt. rock songs you'll hear this week, featuring Blur, Fall Out Boy, Olivia Rodrigo and more Here are eight great alternative songs you may have missed this week: vote here for your favourite!
Evening Standard · Jun 28, 2023 Blur, boozers and 90s hedonism — why Britpop was the last carefree party The often maligned Nineties music scene was in fact an explosion of maverick talents crashing the mainstream. Sylvia Patterson recalls a time when ‘it felt like the freaks and geeks were winning’
Louder · Jun 27, 2023 Remembering the time a young Damon Albarn fired shots at Morrissey Blur frontman Damon Albarn was miffed at a comment from the ex-Smiths singer – but, then, who wasn't by the time the 90s rolled around?
Irish Mirror · Jun 26, 2023 Blur frontman Damon Albarn spotted in Dublin city venue after Malahide Castle show The Girls and Boys singer was seen around town