Blur at Coachella: festival-goers slammed on Twitter as lacklustre crowd response goes viral
15 April 2024, 09:44 | Updated: 22 July 2024, 18:06
The Britpop legends played the California festival this weekend, but footage of the crowd failed to impress fans on social media.
Listen to this article
Blur played a set at Coachella this Sunday (14th April), but fans on social media were unimpressed by the crowds, labelling them as undeserving of watching them perform.
The Britpop legends took to the stage ahead of Tyler The Creator for the first of two weeks at the festival - which takes place in Indio, California - but footage soon went viral of Damon Albarn trying his best to encourage the lacklustre crowd.
One clip in particular sees the frontman telling the audience during the band's Girls & Boys single: "You'll never see us again, so you might as well f***ing sing it!".
The clip was shared multiple times on social media, and in this instance was captioned by a fan on Twitter: "WHAT THE F*** IS HAPPENING
"I'm convinced coachella has the worst vibes and people possible. it’s fucking Blur, show some respect" (sic).
WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING
— newt (@strwberrynewts) April 14, 2024
im convinced coachella has the worst vibes and people possible. it’s fucking Blur, show some respect !!!! pic.twitter.com/DzB0pQVj7S
Another Twitter user, Nicole, shared the same clip with the caption: "the crowd for blur at coachella was so embarassing damon im so sorry i wasn't there"(sic).
the crowd for blur at coachella was so embarassing damon im so sorry i wasn't there pic.twitter.com/k60LxJj8a7
— nicole (@cupidschok3hold) April 14, 2024
Azra wrote: "this coachella people do NOT deserve this blur setlist you’re joking,."
this coachella people do NOT deserve this blur setlist you’re joking
— azra (@kirbyfaces) April 14, 2024
She added: "watching the live stream and the crowd is dead as hell even for GIRLS & BOYS?? i should’ve been there".
Plenty of people shared her sentiments and slammed the festival for having some of the "worst" crowds.
Greg Finch wrote that Coachella had the "worst crowds in America," while another added that he thought the crowd looked like they had been "lobotomised".
Worst crowds in America
— Greg Finch (@Finchmeister) April 14, 2024
KIKi F wrote: "They cant be that unbothered, like clap, scream, move, do something you’re in a f***ing festival. People from Latin America WOULD NEVERRRRRRRR"
They cant be that unbothered, like clap, scream, move, do something you’re in a fucking festival.
— Kiki F (@hesgotmystyles) April 14, 2024
People from Latin America WOULD NEVERRRRRRRR
However, many did point out that many of those in the crowds at Coachella wouldn't have even been born when the band were first famous.
Bob wrote"Blur ? from 1998.. the audience wasnt even born".
Blur ? from 1998.. the audience wasnt even born
— █ Bob (@justbawb) April 14, 2024
Kenny Jones added: "I know who Blur is but i feel like this generation would know Damon’s side group Gorillaz more than the band itself".
i know who Blur is but i feel like this generation would know Damon’s side group Gorillaz more than the band itself
— kenny jones (@relientkenny) April 14, 2024
Another follower opined that Blur didn't really break the States and were mostly known by their hit single, Song 2, writing: "The reality of the situation is that Blur was essentially a one-hit-wonder in the United States (Song #2) and we’re over 25 years removed from that."
The reality of the situation is that Blur was essentially a one-hit-wonder in the United States (Song #2) and we’re over 25 years removed from that.
— That Funky Monkey (@SubsonicMonkey) April 14, 2024
Of course these kids don’t know any Blur songs. https://t.co/NmJuL6GHTB
And they weren't the only people giving the festival-goers somewhat of a break. Godless socialist wrote: "This is like expecting 90s skater kids to go wild at a Roy Orbison gig."
This is like expecting 90s skater kids to go wild at a Roy Orbison gig.
— Godless Socialist (@ruby_roubaix) April 14, 2024
Making a comment on the festival in general, Sarah asked: "What going on at coachella? Seeing lots of disengaged crowd stories-what you’all there for-it’s a music festival-get crowdloving the artists who turned up, to entertain you".
What going on at coachella? Seeing lots of disengaged crowd stories-what you’all there for-it’s a music festival-get crowdloving the artists who turned up, to entertain you❤️
— . (@sarahnaomi110) April 14, 2024
Another took aim squarely at the festival, writing: "Coachella is a music festival for people who don't like music"
Coachella is a music festival for people who don't like music
— Clarence X (@CaesiosTeneamur) April 15, 2024
Eddy Lowe seemed to see the funny side, however, arguing that it was a "huge day for Oasis-heads".
Huge day for Oasis-heads
— Eddy Lowe (@SteadyLeddy04) April 14, 2024
Despite all the noise, Blur took to Twitter after their performance to thank Coachella and shared a few photos from their 13-track set.
Coachella, thank you pic.twitter.com/fzxQI7xMB2
— blur (@blurofficial) April 14, 2024
See Blur's Coachella week 1 setlist on 13th April 2024:
- St Charles Square
- Popscene
- Trouble in the Message Centre
- Beetlebum
- Goodbye Albert
- Trimm Trabb
- Out of Time
- Bird Song ([traditional] cover) (with the Torres Martinez Cahuilla Bird Singers)
- Death of a Party (with the Torres Martinez Cahuilla Bird Singers)
- Girls & Boys
- Song 2
- The Narcissist
- Tender (with the Torres Martinez Cahuilla Bird Singers)
- Damon Albarn's 12 best songs: from Blur to Gorillaz and beyond
- This Blur interview from 1991 is pure Britpop nostalgia