Blur (band): Difference between revisions

On 18 May 2023, Blur released "[[The Narcissist (song)|The Narcissist]]", the first single from their ninth studio album ''[[The Ballad of Darren]]''.<ref>{{cite web|first=Alexis|last=Petridis|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/may/18/blur-the-narcissist-review-a-band-finally-at-ease-with-themselves|title=Blur: The Narcissist review – a band finally at ease with themselves|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=18 May 2023|access-date=18 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Evan|last=Minsker|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/blur-announce-new-album-the-ballad-of-darren-share-new-song-the-narcissist-listen/|title=Blur Announce New Album The Ballad of Darren, Share New Song "The Narcissist": Listen|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=18 May 2023|access-date=18 May 2023}}</ref> The next day, the band played their first concert in eight years on 19 May 2023 at the [[Colchester Arts Centre]] in [[Colchester]].<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Selena|last=Fragassi|url=https://www.spin.com/2023/05/blur-first-show-eight-years/|title=Blur plays first show in eight years, debuts two new songs|magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|date=20 May 2023|access-date=25 July 2023}}</ref> Following the warmup shows, Blur performed at [[Primavera Sound]] in [[Barcelona]] and [[Malahide Castle]] near [[Dublin]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Torres |first1=Eric |last2=Sodomsky |first2=Sam |date=5 June 2023 |title=The Best of Primavera Sound 2023: Blur, Kendrick, Rosalía, and More |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/festival-report/best-of-primavera-sound-2023-barcelona-blur-kendrick-rosalia-and-more/ |access-date=25 July 2023 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Walshe |first=John |date=25 June 2023 |title=Phil Daniels joins Blur on stage for some Dublin Park Life |url=https://www.hotpress.com/live-review/phil-daniels-joins-blur-on-stage-for-some-dublin-park-life-22975848 |access-date=25 July 2023 |work=[[Hot Press]]}}</ref> Blur headlined Wembley Stadium on 8 July and 9 July 2023, with [[Jockstrap (band)|Jockstrap]], [[Sleaford Mods]], and [[Self Esteem (musician)|Self Esteem]] as the support acts for the first show, and [[The Selecter]] and [[Paul Weller]] as support acts for the second show.<ref>{{cite web|first=Elizabeth|last=Aubrey|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/here-are-the-stage-times-and-support-acts-for-blur-at-wembley-stadium-3463828|title=Here are the stage times and support acts for Blur at Wembley Stadium|work=[[NME]]|date=5 July 2023|access-date=25 July 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Surej|last=Singh|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/blur-wembley-2023-set-list-footage-3466454|title=Here's what Blur performed at Wembley|work=[[NME]]|date=9 July 2023|access-date=25 July 2023}}</ref> ''The Ballad of Darren'' was released on 21 July, and was preceded by the second single "St. Charles Square".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Jordan|last=Darville|url=https://www.thefader.com/2023/06/29/blurs-new-song-st-charles-square-is-the-sound-of-a-spiral|title=Blur's new song "St. Charles Square" is the sound of a spiral|magazine=[[The Fader]]|date=29 June 2023|access-date=25 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Liberty|last=Dunworth|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/blur-share-new-single-st-charles-square-ahead-of-wembley-stadium-shows-3462983|title=Blur share new single 'St. Charles Square' ahead of Wembley Stadium shows|work=[[NME]]|date=29 June 2023|access-date=1 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Jazz|last=Monroe|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-blur-video-for-new-song-st-charles-square/|title=Watch Blur's Video for New Song "St. Charles Square"|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=29 June 2023|access-date=1 July 2023}}</ref> After the album's release, the band performed at the [[Øyafestivalen]] in [[Oslo]] on 10 August, [[Way Out West (festival)|Way Out West]] in [[Gothenburg]] on 11 August, [[Flow Festival]] in [[Helsinki]] on 13 August and [[Summer Sonic Festival]] in [[Tokyo]] and [[Osaka]] on 19 and 20 August.<ref>{{cite web|first=Bill|last=Pearis|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/blur-share-very-blur-y-st-charles-square-off-forthcoming-album/|title=Blur share very Blur-y "St. Charles Square" off forthcoming album|work=[[BrooklynVegan]]|date=29 June 2023|access-date=25 July 2023}}</ref>