Joe GallopBritpop group Blur is to play a run of four intimate warm-up shows, including the reopening of the refurbished The Halls Wolverhampton, before the band’s first-ever dates at Wembley Stadium in July.
Ahead of two dates at the 90,000-capacity stadium on 8-9 July, the band will play shows at Colchester Arts Centre (cap. 400) on 19 May, Eastbourne Winter Gardens (1,000) on 21 May, The Halls Wolverhampton (3,404) on 26 May and Newcastle O2 City Hall (2,135) on 28 May.
Promoter Metropolis Music has announced that special guest Paul Weller, ska band The Selecter and Snooker Champion/DJ Steve Davis will join the line-up for the second Wembley show. The first show which sold out in minutes, will see Slowthai, Self Esteem and Jockstrap also perform.
Colchester is the hometown of bandmembers Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon and drummer Dave Rowntree. Last year Colchester Council’s culture boss Pax Cox called for the band to stage a reunion show in the Essex town. The upcoming concerts will mark Blur’s first headline performances since 2015.