LIVE REVIEW
GORILLAZ
LIVERPOOL
Photography: Luke Dyson @lukedyson
Photography: Luke Dyson @lukedyson
Review: LJ Hubbard @hubbphotos
Artist: Gorillaz
Venue: M&S Bank Arena - Liverpool
Date: 29th March 2026
Review: LJ Hubbard @hubbphotos
Artist: Gorillaz
Venue: M&S Bank Arena - Liverpool
Date: 29th March 2026
Gorillaz Bring ‘The Mountain’ to Liverpool
On Sunday evening, every corner of Liverpool was packed with Gorillaz fans all on their way to witness the band perform for the first time in the city since 2001. What a night it was, with a set crammed with guests, songs both old and new and an energy like no other. ‘The Mountain Tour’ is taking the band around the world to share their highly acclaimed new album with their fans.
‘The Mountain’ is a record that depicts the grief, mortality and acceptance that Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett have experienced in recent years after both losing their fathers within ten days of one another as well as the journey of discovery it took them on across India. But it is also a celebration of life and of the wonderful artists who contributed to the band but have since passed away bringing their voices to life on the record and presenting them in a whole new way.
‘The Mountain’ is a record that depicts the grief, mortality and acceptance that Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett have experienced in recent years after both losing their fathers within ten days of one another as well as the journey of discovery it took them on across India. But it is also a celebration of life and of the wonderful artists who contributed to the band but have since passed away bringing their voices to life on the record and presenting them in a whole new way.
Photography: Luke Dyson @lukedyson
Kicking off the night was Argentine rapper/singer-songwriter, Trueno, who’s been a friend of the band since 2022, when Damon Albarn’s daughter recommended his music. He set up the show brilliantly, hyping up the crowd and getting the energy to extreme levels in time for the main act.
With a pre-show introduction not only to himself, but to Argentina and the influence it has on both him and his music, Trueno’s adoration and pride for his country really shines through. His performance of ‘TIERRA ZANTA’ was testament to this, as his lyrics, which were translated on the screen, shared with us his devotion to Argentina and his strong connection with being Latin American. Trueno did a stellar job of introducing us to his world, bringing Argentinian hip hop to Liverpool and getting the crowd prepared for Gorillaz eagerly awaited show.
With a pre-show introduction not only to himself, but to Argentina and the influence it has on both him and his music, Trueno’s adoration and pride for his country really shines through. His performance of ‘TIERRA ZANTA’ was testament to this, as his lyrics, which were translated on the screen, shared with us his devotion to Argentina and his strong connection with being Latin American. Trueno did a stellar job of introducing us to his world, bringing Argentinian hip hop to Liverpool and getting the crowd prepared for Gorillaz eagerly awaited show.
Photography: Luke Dyson @lukedyson
The house lights dimmed, red and orange hues illuminating the stage and the place erupted in applause as the band entered the stage from all sides. If there’s one thing guaranteed at a Gorillaz show, it’s that there’ll be a huge array of instruments and musicians filling the stage: keys, flute, bass, guitar, percussion, drums, table, backing vocalists, and of course Albarn’s trusty melodica. Each one of these instruments played such a crucial part in the show, contributing to that rich, complex sound that Gorillaz is known for.
Leading the set was the title track from their latest album ‘The Mountain’, a song rich with Albarn’s influences from his time in India with Gorillaz artist and co-creator, Jamie Hewlett. The song, which was formed from a recording of a folk musician the two had visited in Rajasthan, was the perfect way to introduce the narrative to the show as the Gorillaz themselves, Noodle, 2-D, Murdoc and Russell, appeared on screen to set the scene of ‘The Mountain’.
Leading the set was the title track from their latest album ‘The Mountain’, a song rich with Albarn’s influences from his time in India with Gorillaz artist and co-creator, Jamie Hewlett. The song, which was formed from a recording of a folk musician the two had visited in Rajasthan, was the perfect way to introduce the narrative to the show as the Gorillaz themselves, Noodle, 2-D, Murdoc and Russell, appeared on screen to set the scene of ‘The Mountain’.
Photography: Luke Dyson @lukedyson
The music transitioned into ‘The Happy Dictator’, the second track from the record and already a firm favourite. Russell Mael of the American pop-rock duo Sparks’ vocals reverberated through the arena, immediately energising the audience. Albarn’s famous PA/radio mic made its first appearance of the night as the frontman stepped down to centre stage, giving his vocals that distant, hollowed out sound. For a satirical song about Turkmenistan’s dictatorship, it’s such a joyful tune, with everyone singing it back to Albarn.
Gorillaz are always spot on with their visuals, with so much happening on stage you’d think it’d be hard to draw attention from the band to the enormous screens curving around the stage, but they have it down to a T with a flawless, captivating blend of on-stage cameras, animations, and music video footage. They truly have the most dynamic and thrilling shows around.
Gorillaz are always spot on with their visuals, with so much happening on stage you’d think it’d be hard to draw attention from the band to the enormous screens curving around the stage, but they have it down to a T with a flawless, captivating blend of on-stage cameras, animations, and music video footage. They truly have the most dynamic and thrilling shows around.
Photography: Luke Dyson @lukedyson
The next run of songs took us away from ‘The Mountain’ for a short while, opening the doors to the Gorillaz back catalogue with ‘Tranz’, ‘Tomorrow Comes Today’ and the legendary ‘19/2000’. Everyone was transported back to 2001, and you could feel the nostalgia fill the room, a sea of arms waved along to Albarn’s unforgettable, high-pitched ‘la la las’ coming through his PA mic.
With the guitarist, Jeff Wootton, and bassist, Seye Adelekan, both giving it their all, jumping around the stage, swinging their instruments all over, you could tell that every musician on that stage sincerely enjoys performing with Gorillaz. You don’t want a Gorillaz show without some mad action happening up on stage, and that energy is exactly what gets the crowd loving every second.
‘The Mountain’ is an album that honours those who have worked with Gorillaz that we’ve lost. With appearances from the artists no longer with us including Bobby Womack, The Fall’s Mark E. Smith and De La Soul’s David Jolicoeur, the record’s theme of grief is executed masterfully. There’s something extremely powerful about hearing the vocals of these incredible people after they’ve gone, filling the room with their words and intonations, allowing them to live on in their music.
With the guitarist, Jeff Wootton, and bassist, Seye Adelekan, both giving it their all, jumping around the stage, swinging their instruments all over, you could tell that every musician on that stage sincerely enjoys performing with Gorillaz. You don’t want a Gorillaz show without some mad action happening up on stage, and that energy is exactly what gets the crowd loving every second.
‘The Mountain’ is an album that honours those who have worked with Gorillaz that we’ve lost. With appearances from the artists no longer with us including Bobby Womack, The Fall’s Mark E. Smith and De La Soul’s David Jolicoeur, the record’s theme of grief is executed masterfully. There’s something extremely powerful about hearing the vocals of these incredible people after they’ve gone, filling the room with their words and intonations, allowing them to live on in their music.