Gorillaz to Play Iconic Albums in Full at One-Off London Live Shows
Gorillaz, the iconic virtual band led by Damon Albarn, are set to take to the stage in London later this year for a series of one-off live shows. According to a report from NME, the band will play four limited-capacity live shows at the Copper Box Arena in London, revisiting their early discography and performing each album in full.
The live shows, which will take place between August 29 and September 3, mark the closing week of Gorillaz’s House of Kong exhibition at the venue. The band will be joined on stage by the full Gorillaz live band and backed by visuals by Jamie Hewlett, recreating iconic live shows from their early days. As NME reports, the gigs will see Albarn and the live band perform each record from beginning to end, in a limited-capacity setting.
The first show, on August 29, will see the band perform their self-titled 2001 debut album in full, recreating their iconic first live shows at London’s Scala and La Cigale Paris. These early shows first saw members Murdoc, Noodle, Russel, and 2D front and centre via Hewlett’s visuals, while Albarn and the full live band appeared in silhouette behind a screen. The following night, August 30, will see the sophomore album ‘Demon Days’ played in full – something which hasn’t been done since the album’s release in 2005.
According to NME, Tuesday, September 2, will see the band play their 2010 third album ‘Plastic Beach’ in full, marking the first full live performance of the album since two shows at London’s Roundhouse 15 years ago. The fourth and final show will be held on September 3 and is described by the band as a ‘Mystery Show’. It isn’t yet clear if there will be any special guests joining Albarn, nor has it been shared which songs fans can expect.
Tickets for the live shows go on sale at 10am BST on May 30, although earlier options will be offered to House of Kong exhibition ticket holders. Fans can buy an exhibition ticket to access the pre-sale, which ends at 11pm BST on May 27. As NME notes, the House Of Kong exhibition began on August 8 and offers fans a look behind the curtain of the virtual band’s headquarters.
This year’s live shows come as Gorillaz tease a new album, with Albarn suggesting it will be arriving later in 2025. "I’m finishing a new Gorillaz album. One opera and one new Gorillaz album seems like enough for 2025," he told French magazine Les Inrockuptibles. "Unless someone accuses me of taking my foot off the gas!" Hewlett then added fuel to the fire, writing in an Instagram comment: "Yes, the new album is coming out this year." Gorillaz’s last album, 2023’s ‘Cracker Island’, was given a four-star review by NME and described as "a consistently enjoyable record that shows why they remain relevant so far into their career."
