Gorillaz and Damon Albarn delight Leeds with a stadium headline performance
Gorillaz performed at Leeds First Direct Bank Arena on Wednesday evening as part of their new tour in support of recent record The Mountain
Gorillaz brought a stunning stadium headline performance to Leeds when they headlined the city's First Direct Bank Arena.
Gorillaz have been a beloved collective for over a quarter-of-a-century since Blur’s Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett paired to create something which is still ever-evolving. The ‘cartoon band’, formed of characters 2-D, Murdoc, Russel and Noodle, all packed with their own personality, received raucous cheers on Wednesday evening as they flashed on the screens at Leeds First Direct Bank Arena for the first time. They have been a part of the lives of many fans for so long.
In 2026, there’s a feel of it being a triumphant year for Gorillaz. Their latest record, ninth album The Mountain, recently secured number one and a big homecoming London date is scheduled at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the summer. Without forgetting, the small matter of their current arena tour - which they embarked on earlier this month.
On Wednesday, there didn’t appear to be a spare seat, or any extra room in the standing section below, as the packed Leeds city centre was taken on a journey by the animated band which devotees adore so much. For those unfamiliar, in this current Gorillaz incarnation, 2-D, Murdoc, Russel and Noodle feature depicted in immersive visuals as Albarn, 58, and his heavily-talented troupe take the audience through the band’s songbook.
In Leeds, Albarn was surrounded by 12 musicians throughout the performance while regular collaborators would take to the stage. Joe Talbot, from Idles, Yasiin Bay and Michelle Ndegwa all paid a visit to Leeds First Direct Bank Arena.
The opening proceedings featuring red velvet-style curtains, with a mystical air forged, as the thousands in attendance were taken on a story book adventure of The Mountain. The latest offering from Gorillaz heavily draws on Indian classical musicianship and spiritualism. Albarn is clearly, rightfully so, incredibly proud of the new material with much featuring through the near two-hour performance. The Happy Dictator, The God of Lying, including Talbot, and The Moon Cave came early on.
Of course, the classics, spanning that 20-odd-year period, weren’t ignored. The airing of 19-2000 saw the mellow opening tone shift as Albarn went down the front with his fans. He shouted ‘go on!’ as thousands danced to Gorillaz in a happy mood. Soon after, with a big smile on his face, Albarn, who seemed so at ease and playful throughout, said: “I like you.” Prompting, as you’d expect, a very positive response in the arena.
The Mountain tour delivers many tender moments. Often with the respectful nods paid to collaborators no longer with us - Bobby Womack, Dennis Hopper and Mark E Smith all carefully placed into the stunning Gorillaz visual. The latter received due prominence during the exuberant freewheeling play of Delirium - which has a feel of The Mountain’s Dare.
Albarn briefly spoke to the crowd to discuss his fondness for the tour warm-up shows Gorillaz did in Yorkshire at Bradford Live earlier this month. This dedication met by playful boos from the Leeds natives. Accompanied with a cheeky point outwards, Albarn warned: “You can’t be doing that.”
Here Albarn took a moment to honour the extremely accomplished musical expertise which form Gorillaz. With admiration, he said: “It is a family that has grown and grown over the years.”
The visuals, starring the band’s legendary illustrated heroes, range from being mesmeric, beautiful, awe-inspiring, a little haunting and often portrayed with humour - Alan Partridge fans receiving an unexpected treat when ‘cock, p**s, Partridge’ was shown following a quick visit from ‘Alan’ (not Partidge) and his algorithm button.
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The displays worked brilliantly through On Melancholy Hill which was one of Wednesday’s highlights. The wistful admission of ‘you can't get what you want but you can get me’ softly floating through the air. Whereas in contrast, the excellent sound set up at the First Direct added lots of punch to the gnarling rendition of Stylo which saw the original video featuring Bruce Willis accompany - in another touching moment.
Aside from the odd misfire, Andromeda having to be restarted with a sense of ‘we want to get this right, Gorillaz’s Mountain tour is festival headline ready production. Given it is off to a big stadium in the summer, those in Leeds got to enjoy it in the relative, by comparison, intimate setting of an arena.
As the main set came to a close, countless phone torches illuminated the setting during The Shadowy Light. Albarn, dressed in a cargo jacket displaying the CND emblem with a Mexico jersey underneath, later returned to the stage with ‘the amazing Gorillaz’, as he exclaimed, for a five-song encore.
The very enthusiastic Posdnuos got all, able to, sat up top, on their feet for Feel Good Inc. The venue rumbled as the American rapper exuded: “Come on, motherf**kers!” While the evening’s support, Argentine Trueno, who Albarn first encountered in Buenos Aires, joined Gorillaz for The Manifesto and Clint Eastwood which brought the virtual red velvet curtain down.
On Wednesday evening, there was an overriding strong sense of inclusivity and what good can be achieved through collective spirit. Perhaps, a far cry from another event held at Leeds First Direct Bank Arena a little earlier this week…
Although, 2-D, Murdoc, Russel and Noodle might be able to provide Nigel Farage with an alternative perspective, should they ever meet.
Setlist
- The Mountain
- The Happy Dictator
- Tranz
- Tomorrow Comes Today
- 19-2000
- The God of Lying - with Joe Talbot
- The Moon Cave
- El Mañana
- On Melancholy Hill
- The Empty Dream Machine
- Cloud of Unknowing
- Delirium
- Andromeda
- Stylo - with Yasiin Bey
- Damascus - with Yasiin Bey
- Kids With Guns - with Michelle Ndegwa
- Dirty Harry - with Bootie Brown
- The Shadowy Light
- The Sad God
Encore
- The Hardest Thing
- Orange County - with Kara Jackson
- The Manifesto - with Trueno
- Feel Good Inc - with Posdnuos
- Clint Eastwood - with Trueno
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