By Alexandra Pullen
Photo Credit: Luke Dyson
25 years after the release of their debut eponymous album, Gorillaz are soaring to new heights on their current tour, celebrating the release of their ninth studio album, The Mountain. In modern culture, the idea of a virtual band fits in quite well but in 2001 it was almost unheard of, perhaps apart from the likes of Alvin and the Chipmunks or Josie and the Pussycats. With Gorillaz, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett were insanely ahead of their time, and over the past two and a half decades, have collaborated with over 100 artists.
Upon arriving at Manchester’s Co-op Live for the opening night of The Mountain tour (other than the two warm up shows in Bradford just a week earlier), I popped into the box office to retrieve my ticket and a woman next to me had booked hers unaware of the standing restrictions, that “anybody under the age of 16 is not permitted in the standing area.” Her son, who was evidently under 16, stood beside her, seemingly worried and disappointed at the prospect of not seeing Gorillaz that night. This anecdote is the perfect representation of the power of the band’s music; much like the period of Britpop which Albarn had previously been a figurehead of, their sound carries through generations. The crowd at Co-op Live spanned across all ages, and hopefully the woman and her son were able to witness the brilliant show I did.
Supporting the band that night was Omar Souleyman, a Syrian singer who began his career back in 1994 as a wedding singer. Over 500 albums have been released under Souleyman’s name, although most are recordings from weddings which have been given as gifts to married couples, then copied and sold. His blending of electronic beats with Middle Eastern melodies got the crowd in standing hyped and ready for the upcoming evening, with several limbs flying up in the air. Despite Souleyman’s lack of conversation or interaction with the crowd, Co-op Live seemed to warm to him – a good thing, as his support slot wasn’t the last time we would be seeing him that night.
At the sight of a theatrical red curtain and the widely-known and loved Gorillaz logo on screens, the crowd erupted into cheers even before the band took to the stage. When they did, a new wave of excitement shook the arena to its core. Opening with the titular track off their newest album, the band welcomed us to the setting of The Mountain, inspired by Albarn and Hewlett’s visit to Amber Fort in Jaipur. Continuing on this trajectory, The Happy Dictator followed and transported the crowd through space and time.
Sat in front of me in Co-op Live was potentially one of Gorillaz biggest fans: a young girl who, upon recognising each song the band began, would scream to the lady sitting next her “I can’t believe they’re playing ___!”, whilst jumping up and down. This exact reaction came for the next two tracks, Tranz and Tomorrow Comes Today, and it was wonderful to see such excitement. The former, the only track played from 2018’s The Now Now, was a highlight of the night and is classed by many fans as one of the band’s strongest tracks from that album. Albarn clearly thought we had been eased in enough, as he then jumped straight into some throwbacks; during 19-2000 he made his way down to the barrier and even signed a fan’s cap mid-song.
“Isn’t it amazing that spring has come?! I don’t think I’ve ever felt the transition as acutely. I’m so happy about that,” shared the lead singer. That particular Friday was a rare sunny one in Manchester, and spirits were high. They peaked even higher when Albarn asked where his “algorithmic atrophy button” was before delivering an incredible rendition of Rhinestone Eyes. Shortly after, he was joined by the first of several special guests of the night, Joe Talbot, lead singer of IDLES, who joined for an inspiring performance of The God of Lying.
Naturally, a Gorillaz gig would not be complete without some visual storytelling and the appearance of the band’s animated members 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Russel Hobbs and Noodle. Snippets from music videos were played throughout the night, although there was an even more poignant use of the screens which linked to the themes explored in The Mountain. The album explores grief and loss, amongst many other ideas, inspired by Albarn and Hewlett both experiencing the death of a closer family member during its production. In keeping with these themes, Abarn included unused vocal takes from previous Gorillaz collaborators who have passed away, and in the live performances of these tracks, the musicians’ faces would be shown in tribute. Bobby Womack and “great Mancunian” Mark E. Smith were two of many remembered during the show in The Moon Cave and Delirium.
There was a feeling of unity which flowed through the room that night. Albarn wished those who were celebrating a “happy Eid” and shared, “every time you write these songs it’s not a given that anyone will give a f*ck,” before thanking the band and the fans: “we’re all one community”. In a time of immense uncertainty and turmoil, this message echoed loudly through Co-op Live.
Support act Omar Souleyman returned alongside Yasiin Bey for Damascus, the latter also performing the absolute energy-lifting rocket that is Stylo. Speaking of, I don’t think I have heard the arena as loud as it was when Bootie Brown exploded onto the stage and perfectly executed Dirty Harry – a true masterclass in performance. Before the lights dimmed to blue, Albarn expressed his appreciation to the crowd once more before one by one, the band left the stage…for a few minutes.
The excitement didn’t stop during the encore, with heavy hitters including Feel Good Inc. and the set closer Clint Eastwood. But before we got there, two slower songs acted as a bridge after the sea of phone flashlights which accompanied The Sad God, ending the main set. Kara Jackson, American singer-songwriter, essayist and poet, graced the stage for Orange County which made each member of the crowd stop and take in every second of the song. It was a beautiful duet.
A true sight to behold though, was the reaction amongst the standing attendees when De La Soul’s Posdnuos came out to hype everyone up and make sure we were feeling good for Feel Good Inc. Albarn hailed him as a “living legend” and the pair were clearly having the time of their lives on stage, as was the crowd.
For those younger fans who were potentially being introduced to the band, or those like me who were seeing Gorillaz live for the first time, the show was a perfectly crafted balance between older fan favourites from Gorillaz, Demon Days and Plastic Beach, and an impressive 11 out of the 15 new releases from The Mountain. It is definitely worth noting though that there was a Shaun Ryder-shaped hole within the setlist as DARE did not make an appearance.
This added night at Co-op Live confirmed what many already knew, Gorillaz are legends of the industry. They know the art and power of live music, and certainly give their fans a treat at their shows. One final farewell from Albarn signalled the end of a fantastic night, and as the 23,500 people in attendance spilled out onto the streets of Manchester, there was certainly a buzz in the air.
Text Copyright 2026 © Alexandra Pullen/ADRENALINE Magazine.
Photography Copyright 2026 © reserved to its rightful owners.
Kyle Horne 
Alisha Lawton 
Emma Turner