Blur announce intimate UK warm-up dates ahead of European reunion tour
The Britpop legends will play dates including a homecoming show in Colchester as they warm up for Wembley
By Nick Reilly
Blur have announced a fresh run of intimate UK warm-up gigs next month, ahead of a full comeback tour that will take in two dates at Wembley Stadium this summer.
The Britpop legends will play a one-off date at the 300-capacity Colchester Arts Centre on Friday, May 19, which marks something of a homecoming after frontman Damon Albarn spent his childhood there and met guitarist Graham Coxon at a school in the Essex city.
Subsequent warm-up dates will follow at the Winter Garden in Eastbourne (May 21), Wolverhampton’s The Halls (May 26) and a final stop at the O2 City Hall in Newcastle (May 28).
A larger summer of festival dates will then take in shows at Dublin’s Malahide Castle, Barcelona’s Primavera Sound, Roskilde, Flow Festival, Japan’s Summer Sonic and the two dates at Wembley.
Support at Wembley on Saturday July 8 comes from Slowthai, Jockstrap and Self Esteem, while the Sunday (July 9) sees the group flanked by Paul Weller, Ska icons The Selecter and a DJ set from snooker legend Steve Davis.