Gorillaz debut three new songs and bring Robert Smith on stage at London show

Gorillaz welcomed a star-studded list of collaborators on stage for their London show last night (August 10), where they debuted three new songs.

The 02 gig was a free event for NHS workers and their families as a thank you for their efforts during the pandemic. The show comes ahead of their sold-out concert in the O2 again tonight (August 11).

The virtual band were joined onstage by The Cure’s Robert Smith to perform ‘Strange Timez,’ the lead single from their new album Song Machine Season One: Strange Timez.

After Smith’s appearance alongside Gorillaz co-creator Damon Albarn, a number of high-profile artists followed. New Order’s Peter Hook, Popcaan, Leee John, Fatoumata Diawara, Shaun Ryder and Rowetta, Slowthai and Slaves, De La Soul‘s Posdunos, EARTHGANG, Little Simz and Sweetie Irie joined the cartoon band on stage.

Gorillaz also debuted three new songs as part of their set. They performed ‘Meanwhile’ with Jelani Blackman, ‘Jimmy Jimmy’ with AJ Tracey and ‘De Ja Vu’ with Alicaì Harley.

Watch Gorillaz perform 'Jimmy Jimmy' with AJ Tracey and 'Deja Vu' with Alicai Harvey below.

Albarn recently spoke about new “carnival-themed” music by the virtual four-piece and that the group are “going back to the spirit of their first record,” their eponymous 2001 debut in an NME interview.

“It’s really exciting and we’ve been really enjoying it. It’s a nice kind of counter-balance to The Nearer The Fountain..., really," said Albarn.

“I’ve definitely needed a dose of something else after I finished that record. Steel pan drums and Casio MT-40s were always going to be a good cure.”

Albarn recently signed a deal with Transgressive records to release his sophomore solo album, The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows. His last solo album Everyday Robots was released in 2014. The Blur frontman released his latest single ‘Polaris’ on June 6th.

Listen to ‘Polaris’ below.