Blur fans hoping the Britpop icons would be playing more shows outside the UK for their new excellent 2023 album The Ballad of Darren, you appear to be out of luck. Damon Albarn told French rock mag Les Inrockuptibles (via Far Out) that it’s “time to wrap up this campaign,” adding, “It’s too much for me. It was the right thing to do and an immense honour to play these songs again, spend time with these guys, make an album, blah-blah-blah.”
Albarn went on to say, “I’m not saying I won’t do it again, it was a beautiful success, but I’m not dwelling on the past.”
Blur wrapped up their touring in November with appearances at Mexico City’s Corona Capital and Primavera Sound festivals in Chile and Argentina.
So what is occupying Albarn’s time now? He and Jamie Hewlett are gearing up for the next Gorillaz album, and he’s written an opera “which will be presented in Paris next year.”
Meanwhile, NME points out that Blur guitarist Graham Coxon will be on the road with The Waeve, the band with partner Rose Elinor Dougall, as they open Elbow’s 2024 UK arena tour.