More Blur News...Olympic Warm-Up Gigs

While the official Blur channels have promised an announcement tonight at midnight, it leaked late last week that Blur will playing 4 UK warm-up gigs in advance of their two European festival dates and massive Olympics Closing Concert in Hyde Park, London, in August. The new dates are:

1 Aug - Winter Gardens, Margate
5 Aug - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
6 Aug - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
7 Aug - Pavilions, Plymouth

 While this is certainly excellent news, I can't help but be a bit bummed, personally, that the US Tour Damon seemed so adamant about earlier in the year is still, for all intents and purposes, looking dead. But I can't be too choosey...it's better just to have them back together being (somewhat) active again.


In related news, Damon mentioned, in an interview on Andrew Marr's show the other night, that Blur will be doing "further recording" and also may play more than one new song at this summer's shows. Enticing news, indeed, although with all of the different proclamations of "this is the end/this isn't the end, no more new music/new music," etc, I don't know what to believe any more!  I'm hopeful for the latter in both cases, but for now I'll remain cautiously optimistic so as to not be let down.


Still, Blur activity this summer, including the forthcoming box set, is always a good thing! It's like a (much) scaled-back version of those years in the 1990s when I hinged on every scrap of news I could find, only easier with the internet, Facebook, Twitter, etc!

New Alex James interview...

On NME.com today...the headline is what'll grab you:

'Blur are meeting up over Christmas – and we'll probably record again' 

 It's actually a pretty poor interview in and of itself, but some interesting tidbits. I think the momentum is building and it's only a matter of time before 2012 will see SOMETHING come out of the Blur camp, whether it's a new album, EP, single, tour, festival appearance(s), something.  It makes too much sense *NOT* to happen in 2012.  Gorillaz is done, Graham's got his newest album ready for release (whenever that'll be), Alex is still a cheesemaking farmer, and Dave is still involved with politics and running for MP as it pops up in London.

 Something new from Blur in 2012 would just feel *right*, in my opinion...

(Did anyone else cringe when Alex made the "getting the Blues Brothers back together" analogy?)

What Might 2012 Bring?

As we get closer to 2012, all is still quiet (non-existent?) on the Blur front.  No news of anything potentially happening, other than Damon casually mentioning in an interview last month that they'd like to do another tour of America (Yes, PLEASE!).

So I ask you, my fellow Blur fanatics...what do you hope for and expect in 2012 from Blur?

I hope for a new album and world tour. Realistically, however, I'm expecting, at most, a one-off single or EP and a gig or two, probably at large festivals or for some benefit, in London (the Olympics?).  And even that might be hoping for too much.

What say you?