Leeds Arena 25th March 2026
A perfect fusion of art and music made last night’s two-hour set flash past in a whirl of tunes, feelings and images. With an ever larger fusion of sounds, the guests and videos saw 11,000 people soaking up Argentinian Trap, Hindi song, Middle Eastern male voice, dead indie stars, modern punkers, African drumming and a whole bunch of Albarn and Hewlett’s bittersweet reflections.
Plus this was a masterclass in touring a new album. Just play it! Half the set was the new album and there was no “new song wee break” exodus from the crowd, who were as keen to hear these as the older material. They were right, of course – ‘The Mountain’ is quite possibly the highlight of their quarter-century long career. Whilst the work of two middle-aged men reflecting on death and passing time, it oozes quiet hope amongst the seeming despair of songs like the closing ‘Sad God’. If 11,000 people in Leeds echo those sentiments of the wrongness of despoiling what we share on Earth, all hope is not lost.
Definitely not the 2-D aka Damon Albarn show, despite his front man role; Noodle on guitar and Murdoc on bass are vibrant and jumping in constant motion, adding that rock gloss on the other stylings. There are plenty of other musical shapes. Two tabla players open proceedings and, added to two drummers, make for a multi-rhythmic monster, propelling the cartoon adventures of Stylo and the gang. With thirteen people on stage, the epic sound is as full and wide as the video screens. Speaking of which, I’m dubious of playing to video but the interaction was two-way, allowing Albarn to throw in a curve-ball at the end with some freestyling, and the projections just having to catch up.
With a super-wide-multi screen backdrop and flashing lights built into the stage for helicopter gunship fights, the visual impact was stunning. Blending cartoon images, live camera feeds and video of pre-recorded contributions, the eye was never still. Dropping in saved video and sound from past collaborators, living and dead, made for a stimulating watch. Dennis Hopper rode with Stylo, Tony Allen brought his afro-beat from beyond the grave and Mark E Smith spun his special ‘Delerium’. Sparks popped up early in the show with Ron and Russell telling us; “oh what a happy land we live in”. Live guests were a fulsome mix. From Joe Talbot of Idles on ‘The God Of Lying’ to Kara Jackson on ‘Orange County’ to Posdnuos (from De La Soul) to Trueno (the support act) to Bootie Brown (Pharcyde) to Mos Def, Gorillaz appear to be a black hole that draw everything into the spinning centre.
It’s a mystery how so many semi-apocalyptic themes add up to a life-affirming celebration but I reckon it is Damon Albarn’s magic melodica and the mystery of live music. I saw Leeds Arena become fairyland Twinkly Hollow as ‘The Shadowy Light’ conjured distant images, lap steel and an Albarn ballad move the venue’s hearts. Then, from ending on the harsh message of ‘Sad God’, to the encore’s start; the melancholy ‘The Hardest Thing’, Gorillaz wrung love and victory via three oldies and new classic ‘The Manifesto’. There was a stack of rapping and an epic blend of new artists and the old stalwarts. It’s a victory for eclecticism and a triumph for artistic vision tied to canny feelings for contemporary sound and vibes.
Ross McGibbon