blur to perform 'The Ballad of Darren' in full at one-off UK show
In front of 5,000 fans
Fresh from playing two triumphant shows at Wembley Stadium over the weekend, blur have announced a relatively intimate show for later this month.
Damon Albarn, Alex James, Graham Coxon and Dave Rowntree will perform their new studio album ‘The Ballad of Darren’ in its entirety in front of 5,000 fans at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith on Tuesday 25th July.
It will be the first and only time that blur will play the complete album live from start to finish.
Everyone who pre-orders a copy ‘The Ballad of Darren’ from blur’s official shop before 3pm on Monday 17th July will receive a code to buy a ticket. All customers who have already pre-ordered the album are automatically included and will receive a code via email.
Tickets will be sold on a first come first served basis when they go on sale at 10am on Tuesday 18th July.
The one-hour performance of The Ballad of Darren will be streamed live worldwide at 9.00pm BST on 25th July via Driift. Livestream tickets costing £13.50 are on sale HERE.
Released on Friday 21st July, ‘The Ballad of Darren’ follows 2015’s comeback album ‘The Magic Whip’, which stormed straight to Number 1 in the UK.
The 10-track record’s visually striking artwork features an image of an empty swimming pool against a stormy sky, which was captured by British photographer Martin Parr.
Commenting on ‘The Ballad of Darren’, blur’s Damon Albarn said: “This is an aftershock record, reflection and comment on where we find ourselves now.”
Guitarist Graham Coxon adds: “The older and madder we get, it becomes more essential that what we play is loaded with the right emotion and intention. Sometimes just a riff doesn’t do the job.”
Take a look at tours to look forward to in 2023 and beyond:
ABBA - 'ABBA Voyage'
ABBA's virtual tour 'ABBA Voyage' started in May 2022. The tour sees the ABBA avatars accompanied by a 10-piece live band, all taking place in a custom-built arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London.
The shows were due to run until October 2022, but due popular demand from fans, they will now run until 2026.
Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson has announced four UK dates for her 'Together Again 2024 tour', in September and October. The singer will welcome special guest Wyclef Jean at all dates except for London, which has not yet been announced.
Paul Carrack
Paul Carrack announced a tour for 2024 just days after finishing his 2023 tour dates. Paul's 2024 'How Long Tour' - which celebrates 50 years since the release of his best-known song of the same name - will see him perform 20 shows throughout September and October 2024.
Crowded House
Crowded House have announced a UK and Europe tour in support of their eighth studio album 'Gravity Stairs'. The band will be performing at several venues across the UK including The O2 in London. They will be starting their tour on 8th October in Manchester.
Adam Ant
Adam Ant has announced 17 dates for a tour in October and November 2024. The singer had 22 hit singles and won the first BRIT Award!
Hue and Cry
Hue and Cry have announced their 40th anniversary tour will take place in October and November 2024. The band, consisting of brothers Patrick and Gregory Kane, are best-known for their hits 'Labour of Love' and 'Looking For Linda'.
Squeeze
Squeeze have announced a huge tour taking place in October and November 2024 to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
Lulu
Although the legendary Lulu shocked fans with her retirement announcement earlier in 2024, the singer revealed she will be extending her 'Champagne For Lulu' tour, adding 10 new dates to the trek. Lulu will be hitting the road again in November 2024, with dates running from Sunday 3rd - Monday 18th.
The Corrs
The Corrs will be going on tour in November 2024 with special guest, Natalie Imbruglia. The siblings will be taking to the road in November 2024, starting their tour in Belfast, before travelling across the UK and Ireland and ending in Sheffield on 18th November.
Lightning Seeds
Liverpudlian serial hitmakers the Lightning Seeds will celebrate their 35th anniversary in 2024 with an extensive UK & Ireland tour. The tour will take place across November and December 2024.
The Human League
The Human League, Philip Oakey, Joanne Catherall and Susan Anne Sulley, will perform eight huge arena shows in the run-up to Christmas 2024 on the 'Generations 2024 tour'. They will be supported on all dates by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and T'Pau.
Wet Wet Wet with special guest Heather Small - 2025
Wet Wet Wet have announced they will be going on touch in 2025 with special guest Heather Small. The band will be touring in January, February and October 2025.
Jason Donovan - 2025
Jason Donovan has announced a huge tour for 2025 to celebrate 35 years in entertainment. Shows begin in February 2025, running through to the end of March.
Mike + The Mechanics - 2025
Mike + The Mechanics have announced their 'Looking Back - Living The Years 2025 Tour', performing across the country in March and April 2025, including dates in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Manchester, Sheffield, and Birmingham, before finishing in London at the Royal Albert Hall.
Alison Moyet - 2025
Known for her solo hits 'All Cried Out', 'Is This Love?' and 'Love Letters', Alison Moyet will be taking her hits on the road in 2025. The singer will start in Dublin on 16th February 2025, before performing across the UK, ending in Aberdeen on 22nd March.
Cyndi Lauper - 2025
Cyndi Lauper has announced four UK dates for her 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour', due to take place in February 2025.
Toto - 2025
Toto, the band behind hits such as 'Africa' and 'Rosanna', will grace the UK early next year for a headline arena tour.
Opening at Glasgow OVO Hydro on Saturday 1st February, Toto play Birmingham BP Pulse Live (Sun 2nd Feb), Manchester AO Arena (Tue 4th February) and London OVO Arena Wembley (Thu 6th Feb) on the short trek.
Kim Wilde - 2025
'Kids in America' singer, Kim Wilde, has announced a brand new tour for 2025 - shortly after the release of her 15th studio album, 'Closer'. The UK leg of the tour, of the same name, will kick off in Birmingham on 14th March - and will span nine dates, including in London, Liverpool and Glasgow.
Gabrielle - 2025
Gabrielle has announced a tour for 2025 called 'A Place In Your Heart'. The singer will be playing 10 UK dates, starting in Glasgow on 2nd April 2025, playing at locations such as Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester, and more before ending in Bournemouth on 19th April 2025.
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue has announced her latest tour will be called 'The Tension Tour' and will take place in the UK throughout May 2025. Speaking about her tour, Kylie said: "I am beyond excited to announce the TENSION TOUR 2025. I can't wait to share beautiful and wild moments with fans all over the world, celebrating the Tension era and more! It's been an exhilarating ride so far and now, get ready for your close up because I will be calling Lights, Camera, Action … and there will be a whole lot of Padaming!"
Bryan Adams
Chart-slaying Canadian rocker Bryan Adams has announced a nine-date UK arena tour. Part of the 'Roll With The Punches' world tour, Bryan Adams' headline trek opens at Newcastle Utilita Arena on Thursday 8th May 2025 and visits Manchester, Leeds, Aberdeen, Glasgow, London, Liverpool and Nottingham before concluding at Birmingham bp pulse LIVE on Sunday 18th May 2025.
Holly Johnson - 2025
Holly Johnson will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's debut album 'Welcome to the Pleasuredome' with a June 2025 UK tour.
Opening at Birmingham Symphony Hall on Friday 6th June, Holly Johnson visits London, Bath, Newcastle and Glasgow before culminating with a massive homecoming show at Liverpool M&S Bank Arena on Saturday 21st June.
Billy Joel - 2025
'Piano Man' Billy Joel has announced two UK dates for next year. The singer will be performing in Liverpool and Edinburgh, making it the first time in more than 45 years that he'll be playing in those cities! He will be performing in Edinburgh on Saturday 7th June, and Liverpool on Saturday 21st June 2025.
Billy Ocean - 2025
Billy Ocean will start his UK tour in Manchester at the O2 Apollo on Wednesday 4th June 2025, before travelling across England, Scotland and Wales, ending his tour on 30th June in Nottingham, and the Royal Concert Hall.
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band have announced a trio of concerts for May and June 2025. The Boss and his legendary band will kick off their short run of shows with two nights at Manchester's Co-op Live on Saturday 17th and Tuesday 20th May 2025.
They will then play an outdoor concert at Liverpool Anfield Stadium on Wednesday 4th June 2025.
Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie has announced several UK dates as part of his 'Say Hello To The Hits' 2025 tour. Starting in Glasgow's OVO Hydro on Wednesday 4th June, before travelling to London, Sheffield, Birmingham and Manchester, Lionel has already added extra dates to his tour before it went on general sale.
Sting - 2025
Sting announces UK dates for his 'Sting 3.0' world tour. The tour sees the singer enter a new 'dynamic era', showcasing some songs from his huge back catalogue. On tour, Sting performs as part of a trio, with Sting on vocals and bass, Dominic Miller playing guitar and Chris Maas on drums.
Simple Minds
Scottish band Simple Minds have now announced a series of 2025 shows taking place at several festivals and outdoor locations, including Live At The Piece Hall, Halifax and Lincoln Castle, taking place in June and July 2025.
Oasis - 2025
Oasis have reunited and now announced a UK tour taking place in July and August 2025, performing in Cardiff, Manchester, London and Edinburgh.
Simply Red - 2025
Simply Red have announced they will be going on tour to celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2025. The band will be performing 12 gigs in September and October 2025.
Marti Pellow
Marti Pellow has announced he will be going on an arena tour in 2025 to celebrate 30 years of his iconic song 'Love Is All Around', which he released when he was part of Wet Wet Wet, back in 1994.
Speaking about the tour and the upcoming announcement, Marti said: "To think it's been 30 years since 'Love Is All Around' became such a huge part of my life is amazing. It's not just my song – it belongs to the fans. Celebrating this milestone with them is going to be incredibly special. And I've got something exciting planned around the song itself – I can't wait to share more soon!"
Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard has announced six UK dates as part of his 'Can't Stop Me Now' tour, which will see him perform across Australia, New Zealand and the UK in November and December 2025.
Now read:
The biggest tours to look forward to in 2023
Liam Gallagher gives his verdict on 'lost' Oasis album created by AI
Depeche Mode announce MORE UK and European tour dates