Blur Announce Massive Splendour Arena-Tour Sideshows

Iconic Brit-rock outfit Blur are ramping up their impending Australian visit with the news that they will be performing three headline Splendour In The Grass sideshows at arenas around the country this July.

The visit — their first to the country since 1997 — will come in the wake of their eagerly awaited eighth studio full-length, The Magic Whip, which is released Down Under today, and takes in performances at Sydney's Qantas Credit Union Arena, on Saturday, 25 July; Rod Laver Arena, in Melbourne, on Tuesday, 28 July; and Perth Arena on Thursday, 30 July, in addition to their Splendour commitment.

The album's release was preceded by recent singles Go Out and There Are Too Many Of Us, the clips for which you can see below, but for many Australian fans the impending visit is about more than just the new goods, being that The Magic Whip marks Blur's first new full-length in 12 years and the band hasn't been here in 18 years — meaning, in addition to the new LP, there are two other whole albums (1999's 13 and 2003's Think Tank) that have never had a run outside Down Under, so one would expect the forthcoming arena shows will delve deeply into the band's extensive back-catalogue to dig out some old, unappreciated favourites alongside the hits and new goods.

Blur will be joined for all shows, which are proudly presented by The Music, by fellow UK act Jamie T, who made himself known to Aussie audiences with popular cut Zombie, which landed a top-half position in triple j's Hottest 100, coming in at #43.

Tickets for Blur's Splendour In The Grass sideshows will go on sale from 10am local time next Friday, 1 May. See theGuide or check The Music App for more information.

For more news and information about the sold-out Splendour In The Grass festival, see our dedicated event page under the Festivals tab.