“We love you because we are you": Gorillaz at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Written by Mia Samson

As my head pounded from the sheer volume of bass and screaming, and my hair frizzed to a new level I didn’t know was possible, Damon Albarn’s poetic exit from the stage struck at the heart of what was already the biggest emotional rollercoaster of a concert I've ever been to.

Gorillaz at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | Credit: Mia Samson

“We love you because we are you”

And that is Gorillaz summed up perfectly: a collaborative, creative project that welcomes every shape, colour, age and background imaginable.

As I approached White Hart Lane I was apprehensive. Firstly, as an Arsenal fan, entering Tottenham Hotspur Stadium felt like cheating on a partner. Secondly, because I knew this gig was going to be huge, I just didn't know what to expect.

With strong and powerful opening acts from both Trueno and Sparks I could already tell we were in for quite a night. When ‘The Mountain’ finally projected on the screen the vibe and tone for the evening was set.

The beautiful Indian and electronic fusion made for a surprisingly emotional opening which, with the risk of sounding dramatic, did bring a tear to my eye. Damon soon stormed the stage and prepared us for a “mass gathering of multi-cultural, multi-generational music”.

After such a beautiful opening the band sprung into action with new single ‘The Happy Dictator’, fan favourite ‘Tranz’ and classic ‘Tomorrow Comes Today’.

What I wasn’t expecting was the surprise appearance of Little Dragon during ‘Empire Antz’. Absent from previous setlists, it was an exhilarating addition that genuinely made me feel like I’d ascended.

From there, the set bounced effortlessly between old favourites and new material. ‘Delirium’, from the band’s latest album The Mountain, paired a posthumous Mark E. Smith vocal with striking visuals from Jamie Hewlett. ‘Stylo’ paid tribute to Bobby Womack, while ‘Garage Palace’ showcased the magnetic presence of Little Simz. Then came ‘Dirty Harry’, an absolute firestarter that had the entire stadium shrieking along.

Credit: Mia Samson

As the set edged towards its conclusion, ‘The Shadowy Light’ delivered one of the evening’s most moving moments. The song featured a tribute to Asha Bhosle, who sadly passed away before the tour began. Her part was carried by her granddaughter, and the symbolic passing of the candle felt profoundly moving. Let me tell you, there was not a dry eye in the house.

Soon came to the encore which featured music royalty Paul Simon and Johnny Marr for ‘Plastic Beach’, new hit single ‘Orange County’ which was a beautiful sing-along, ‘Feel Good Inc.’, ‘Clint Eastwood’ (of course), and finally the highlight of the night ‘Dare’ with Shaun Ryder making a hilarious and memorable appearance.

Yet for all the guest appearances, visuals and spectacle, none of it fully captures what it felt like to be inside that stadium. Gorillaz somehow achieved the impossible: making a venue of 60,000-plus people feel intimate.

We laughed together, cried together and danced together.

At the end of the concert, Jamie Hewlett emerged and left us with the perfect closing thought:

"We are all one, under the sun."

After three hours of music, collaboration and celebration, it was hard to disagree.