Noel Gallagher says Glastonbury is ‘a bit woke now’ and criticises political musicians
Former Oasis guitarist describes festival, which has long championed political causes, as ‘kind of preachy and a bit virtue-signalling’
June 2024
Blur: To the End review – sentimental journey for four likely lads on their way to Wembley
The latest documentary about the Britpop Monkees finds them reassembling for a stadium gig, though we’ll have to wait to hear complete songs
April 2024
Tantrums of the rich and famous: nine acts that turned on their audience – from Elton to Bieber to Blur
This week, Damon Albarn took umbrage at a Coachella crowd who failed to sing along. But he is far from the worst offender
December 2023
Best music of 2023
Blank space: how Taylor Swift – and an aching sense of loss – dominated music in 2023
Best music of 2023
The 50 best albums of 2023, No 8 – Blur: The Ballad of Darren
May 2023
Blur: The Narcissist review – a band finally at ease with themselves
Fatoumata Diawara: London Ko review – exuberance rules
February 2023
Gorillaz: Cracker Island review – bittersweet tunes for anxious times
Alexis Petridis's album of the week
Gorillaz: Cracker Island review – smaller, subtler, and better for it
January 2023
Blur’s Dave Rowntree: ‘I still wake at 3am thinking I’ve frittered my life away’
Drummer, lawyer, composer, politician… Blur’s busiest member on the troubled childhood that influenced his new solo album, and the band’s summer reunion gigs
November 2022
Blur to reunite for one-off Wembley show next year
Band will headline at the London stadium on 8 July for their 35th anniversary, supported by Slowthai, Self Esteem and Jockstrap
May 2022
‘Like them, we’re fragile’: how Randall Poster assembled his star-packed birdsong project
The esteemed music supervisor enlisted stars such as Mark Ronson, Nick Cave, Beck, Sean Penn and Tilda Swinton for an ambitious new project
April 2022
Down the rabbit hole
What links Punchdrunk’s Burnt City to Patti Smith and John McEnroe?
As the celebrated theatre group launches a new immersive show, follow it down the rabbit hole via Damon Albarn, Meryl Streep and Glenda Jackson
February 2022
Down the rabbit hole
What links The Great British Menu to the underbelly of the 00s New York scene?
From Miquita Oliver via American Apparel to Oxfordshire cheese, we tumble down a five-course rabbit hole
January 2022
Taylor Swift criticises Damon Albarn for saying she doesn’t write her own songs
The Blur and Gorillaz frontman apologised to Swift, claiming that a ‘conversation about songwriting’ in the LA Times was ‘reduced to clickbait’
November 2021
Brief letters
The addictive world of competitive chess
Tony Allen: A Retrospective review – sprawling tribute gets the crowd on its feet
Alexis Petridis's album of the week
Damon Albarn: The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows review – beautifully haunting
On my radar
On my radar: Damon Albarn’s cultural highlights
September 2021
End of the Road 2021 review – phones firmly in pockets at life-affirming festival
From Little Simz to Richard Dawson, the indie stalwart’s 15th anniversary party provided a joyous slice of summer in a difficult year
