Damon Albarn wants to make Another Opera

Damon Albarn has spoken about his future plans - to possibly write and compose another new opera, following the success of his latest 'Dr Dee'. 

At the English National Opera (ENO) on October 3rd, Damon Albarn said: "I've got a really good idea. I'm not going to say what it is, but it's interesting". 

According to NME, Albarn was at the London Opera house to help launch "Undress For The Opera", a program to attract younger audiences to watch and enjoy opera by lowering prices and relaxing the usually strict dress code. 

Albarn supported this scheme, and said "I quite like dressing up, but I also like to have the choice. I like the ritual of dressing up to go and see something, but at the same time you don’t have to."

"I’m quite clearly not someone who had any form of opera education. I’ve done it entirely instinctively. The fact that the English National Opera is prepared to encourage that is a great sign of its health."

It seems that Damon treats opera as a more serious, heavy "long term study thing". "I was too busy jumping up and down on stages around the world when I should have been at college finishing my classical musical education." said the Blur frontman. Without jumping up and down stages, however, where would Damon Albarn be now ? 

Damon Albarn also said: "Opera as a form can go forward and allow people to use these incredible facilities to find something new. At some point I hope I can deliver something to the ENO that ticks every single box but doesn’t compromise where I come from as well."



Looks like we'll be getting a new Albarn opera soon, one that ticks every single box for the fans. 

Check out Telegraph.co.uk comprehensive article on "Undress for the Opera" scheme. 

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Order the new Blur boxset HERE
Blur first ever 2012 gig-  Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

Blur Exhibition review and photos HERE

Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE

Rumours: Blur still play live after Hyde Park? HERE

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Damon Albarn having the 'party of his life' after Blur

Before we get to the details, look - Damon Albarn played Gorillaz during his Africa Expres Train tour!

Dailystar reports that Damon Albarn is "having the time of his life thanks to booze from the Olympics". According to recent interviews, the singer is having the ultimate musical party of his life after embarking on an Africa Express Train tour, all around the UK and Scotland.

And with many other prominent musicians, including Jarvis Cocker, Gruff Rhys, Eliza Doolittle, Rizzle Kicks and many African musicians on the train, the Africa Express is indeed a musical riot. 

Party!... from xlrecording's twitter 

Damon peering out of his train of music

Dailystar reports comprehensively: 



“It’s a 24-hour party.

"It’s not necessarily a massive drunken party, but it’s one celebrating music and how it makes us feel.” The final date this Saturday at King’s Cross Granary climaxes the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad Festival.

Damon added: “There’s a bar on the train, it’s booze left over from the Olympics that takes up a few carriages.” Africa Express began in 2006, with Damon wanting it to show the brighter side of the continent. 

He explained: “It reminds people that Africa isn’t the cliché of this struggling place ravaged by war and famine. Those are very big problems there, but it’s also a very exciting continent, futuristic and forward-thinking in many respects.” The gigs, including “some pretty surprising” guest stars on Saturday, are totally unrehearsed. 

Damon laughed: “It’s rhythmical, groove-orientated stuff, so you go into a bit of a trance on stage. “Although, on a bad day, you think: ‘Oh, this is getting a bit boring.’ It’s a fine line. “But that’s what we’re doing on the train, getting inspired together, so hopefully by London we’ll be fairly articulate.”

Last year’s album Rocket To The Moon which Damon made with Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, 49, and drummer Tony Allen, 72, was inspired by them travelling to Lagos for Africa Express. And Damon revealed: “I might well make another record with people on this trip, you never know.

“That’s one of the joys of Africa Express, that spontaneity.”


Could this mean a new album for Damon Albarn after the tour ends?

The Africa Express train tour is currently up in Glasglow, Scotland as of today. It will end in a finale concert on September 8th 2012 in London's Granary Square, King's Cross.

Check out Africa Express's official website with lots of pictures here 

Although tickets were long sold out, do check out The Guardian's live coverage of the entire tour as it goes along. Damon Albarn sure is looking very happy up on his musical train. It is looking to be an excellent tour.

Tune in for a later post with the very best pictures of Africa Express 2012 - the highlights.

Order the new Blur: Parklife (Live at Hyde Park CD / DVD) HERE

Order the new Blur boxset HERE
Blur first ever 2012 gig-  Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

Blur Exhibition review and photos HERE

Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE

Rumours: Blur still play live after Hyde Park? HERE

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Damon Albarn torn over whether Blur should record new album

BLUR NEWS: All's well in the rehearsals, the Hyde Park show preparations and all's good in the interpersonal relationship side of things. But Damon Albarn has admitted that he is unsure about the possibility of Blur ever recording a new album. 
   
Pressparty reports:

Damon Albarn has admitted that he’s torn over whether Blur should record a new studio album.

Rumours about a possible follow-up to 2003’s ‘Think Tank’ have been circulating ever since the band reformed for a series of comeback gigs in 2009, but the 44-year-old told Q magazine that he’s still unsure whether it would be a good idea:

“It’s very much on my mind. I feel very…torn between a lot of different emotions. I’m undecided about how I feel. The problem is, I’m constantly asked about it and I don’t really know. 

“Genuinely, as a human being – not as Damon Albarn, whatever that is – as just a person. I don’t know how I feel.”

The Britpop icon, whose band will perform at the Olympics closing ceremony gig in Hyde Park next month, went on to add:

“There’s part of me that would love to be able to bring it into our 40s and our sort of family world. But does it belong in that world?

“That’s the other side of it. Do any of us need that? And I have got so many more interesting things to do.”

There seems to be no solid "yes/ no" answer right now as to the band's future. But why ask so many questions when we can enjoy Blur this summer for their massive gigs, warm up shows and exhibition? 

Blur is also featured on this month's Q Magazine cover - watch out for Damon's toothy smile and the other Blur members on the front. 

Get your copy of Q Magazine, out on 31st July (Tuesday) in your local newsstand. There will be an exclusive interview with Damon Albarn about Blur and the coming gigs. 

Damon Albarn says Blur will continue after 2012- HERE

The Puritan- new track HERE

Damon Albarn says it's the End of Blur! Read HERE

Top 7 Blur Updates of 2012 HERE

Check out Blur's rumoured new album HERE. 

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Win tickets to watch Damon Albarn in OneFest 2012

Sign up and enter the competition to win one of the 5 pairs of tickets to see Damon Albarn perform his new songs from the latest LP Dr Dee, at OneFest, Marlbourgh, UK, on 14th April 2012. 

Albarn will also release the studio album for the Dr Dee opera, which he recorded earlier this year in London with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. The album, titled "Dr Dee", will be released on the 7th May, and consists of 18 tracks which Albarn described as "strange, pastoral folk". 

The tracklist is: 

‘The Golden Dawn’

‘Apple Carts’

‘Oh Spirit Animate Us’

‘The Moon Exalted’

‘A Man of England’

‘Saturn’

‘Coronation’

‘The Marvelous Dream’

‘A Prayer’

‘Edward Kelley’

‘Preparation’

’9 Point Star’

‘Temptation Comes In The Afternoon’

‘Watching the Fire That Waltzed Away’

‘Moon (Interlude)’

‘Cathedrals’

‘Tree Of Life’

‘The Dancing King’

Enter the Dr Dee Easter competition here: http://smarturl.it/Onefest - Winners will be announced on Tuesday. Check out some of Dr Dee's extracts below! 

Read all about Blur being BASHED AT THE BRITS HERE, 
10 Cool Damon Albarn facts HERE, Blur talking about their future HERE
 New tear jerker song HERE and check out their newest track HERE 

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Damon Albarn's new album "Dr Dee" OUT NOW!

Dr Dee, Damon Albarn's new opera features brilliant music from the frontman, and the soundtrack is now officially ready for pre-order online in Amazon (click to go to page) ! It's a 1 disc CD by Parlophone and it features a very ethereal Albarn in black and white :

Buy Now!

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Damon Albarn to make first solo album for 2012

Damon's going to make a solo album! Exciting news everyone! 

DAMON Albarn's done a lot in his 20-year career in music but he's still missing one thing from his lengthy CV – a proper solo recording (The Sun)

Now the Blur and Gorillaz man has pledged to follow fellow Britpop hero Noel Gallagher and spend most of next year recording an album of his own.

But Damon has three albums to get out first.

One is a project by Africa Express – a collective of Western and African musicians – recorded in the Congo.

Another is a collaboration with Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers and drumming legend Tony Allen.

The third is a recording of his Elizabethan opera.

After that he'll get to work on his first solo disc so it's ready for release some time in 2012.

A source said: "Damon's finally ready to make a solo album after years of hiding behind cartoon band Gorillaz and working with collectives of musicians.

"He's looking forward to it and his label bosses at EMI are pleased as it's sure to sell by the bucketload."

Although it's bad news for fans holding out on a full Blur reunion – a Damon solo disc is still an exciting prospect.