Blur at Wembley Stadium: Review and setlist as Blur are rapturously received

I first saw Blur live in 1995 at Wembley Arena on the Great Escape Tour. In the intervening years they’ve been through multiple crises, taken hiatuses, been elected, found international fame with cartoons, made cheese and remained brilliant Graham (but sober).

Also in that time, the country got a new Wembley Stadium, and Blur have stepped up to stadium rock. I have to admit, I was really looking forward to this.

The set was light on new songs from the forthcoming The Ballad of Darren, despite the massive QR codes on the big screens to flog it - just the already released opener St Charles Square and The Narcissist - and heavy on hits.

I’m not sold on St Charles Square but it’s suitably an aggressive  start, followed by There’s No Other Way.

Popscene, third song in, is the moment things really explode. With a thrilling singalong to Tracy Jacks, Damon is in the crowd and it’s 1995.

“I didn’t think it would be like this,” he says.

Beetlebum is extraordinary. When it was first released, the critical reception was underwhelming but it’s only grown in stature vsince.

Trimm Trabb and Villa Rosie give the audience a breather which may, in hindsight, be unnecessary, but when Damon spots thelights of the crowds’ phones dotting the sky during Out Of Time, there’s an honest smile.

“I have Freddy Mercury’s entry indelibly marked…it’s the greatest entry to the Wembley stage. Let’s just celebrate that man, Freddy Mercury.”

End of a Century comes at a great time to defuse the intoxicated guy in front of me who’s moving through the phases. And it’s hard to be too wired during Country House.

If a song were ever made for a football stadium, its Parklife - and To The End sparkles like it should.

Oily Water serves as a crowd toilet break (but sounds great) and then it’s into a hammering of Advert and Song 2.

This Is a Low closes the main set before Lot 105 leads into an attempt at a “Wembeeerley” chant to kick off the encore. 

Girls and Boys follows, before some big anthems: For Tomorrow, a majestic Tender with the London Community Gospel Choir, The Narcissist, which fits into the catalogue well, and The Universal.

There were other songs I wanted to hear (Death of a Party, He Thought of Cars, Star Shaped) but I was never going to get them all. This is about as good as it gets - stunning.

“I’ve had a good night, honestly - dream come true,” says Damon.

Blur setlist at Wembley Stadium, Saturday July 8, 2023

ST CHARLES SQUARE

THERE’S NO OTHER WAY

POPSCENE

TRACY JACKS

BEETLEBUM

TRIMM TRABB

VILLA ROSIE

STEREOTYPES

OUT OF TIME

COFFEE AND TV

UNDER THE WESTWAY

END OF A CENTURY

COUNTRY HOUSE

PARKLIFE (Phil Daniels)

TO THE END

OILY WATER

ADVERT

SONG 2

THIS IS A LOW

LOT 105

GIRLS AND BOYS

FOR TOMORROW

TENDER (London Community Gospel Choir)

THE NARCISSIST

THE UNIVERSAL

Self Esteem

Rebecca Lucy Taylor, Self Esteem, is made for the big stage. She appears in a very big suit, ready to pile through Prioritise Pleasure and Fucking Wizardry.

A booming Mother is a high point (“I am not your mother. I’m not your mum”). What a star.

Sleaford Mods

I missed Jockstrap’s set but walked in for the brutal sounds of Sleaford Mods’ punishing beats sounding great on the main stage.

Mork N Mindy celebrates Billy Nomates’ backing vocals while closer Tweet Tweet Tweet pushes the hardcore punk/heavy techno mashup to the limit.