Coachella audience criticized for lack of enthusiasm during Blur’s set, leading to Damon Albarn’s refusal to return: ‘You don’t deserve their performance’

The crowds at Coachella have been branded ’embarrassing’ and ‘dead’ after footage of Blur’s set on Saturday night went viral.

The British band played a 13-song set at the California music festival, including 90s classics like Girls & Boys, Popscene and Song 2.

They also brought out the Torres Martinez Cahuilla Bird Singers, a group of tribal singers from the Mojave Desert, where Coachella is held.

However, the audience at their set was less than enthusiastic, with their apathy becoming apparent to the band onstage.

Lead singer Damon Albarn could be seen looking increasingly irritated as he attempted to engage with the crowd to no avail.

The crowds at Coachella have been branded ’embarrassing’ and ‘dead’ after footage of Blur’s set on Saturday night went viral

The British band played a 13-song set at the California music festival, including 90s classics like Girls & Boys, Popscene and Song 2

However, the audience at their set was less than enthusiastic, with their apathy becoming apparent to the band onstage

For their 1994 hit Girls & Boys, the musician tried to get everyone to sing along to the chorus multiple times, but it was radio silent.

Frustrated he declared that the band would not be returning to the festival, saying: ‘You’re never seeing us again, so you might as well f****** sing it’.

Clips of the toe-curling moment were soon circulated on social media, with many fans slamming the Coachella crowd as having the ‘worst vibes’ and declaring they ‘did not deserve to be graced by the presence of blur’.

They wrote: ‘this coachella people do NOT deserve this blur setlist you’re joking; lord please take away all my suffering and give it to the blur crowd at coachella; Why does everyone at Coachella lowkey want Blur dead; the crowd for blur at coachella was so embarassing damon im so sorry i wasn’t there’.

‘America, you don’t deserve Damon Albarn, you do not deserve Blur. I will burn you to the ground.; i should be at coachella watching blur and no doubt perform back to back and not these children… they don’t get it; Coachella you do not deserve to be graced by the presence of blur.’

‘I actually feel bad for blur at Coachella, they deserve better; Coachella looks like the f***ing worst. Poor Blur.; honestly that crowd did NOT deserve blur except for like the few people who actually made noise; blame rich californians for the dead blur crowd not just americans sigh’.

‘most of these ppl at coachella don’t even know how lucky they are to see blur THAT SHOULD BE MEE; Thanks to every coachella goer who went to blur and probably ruined the chances of sny more america shows for our american blur lovers’.

‘the SILENCE when blur came out pls; coachella does not deserve blur I should be there; WHAT THE F*** IS HAPPENING im convinced coachella has the worst vibes and people possible. it’s f***ing Blur, show some respect !!!!’

Lead singer Damon Albarn (pictured) could be seen looking increasingly irritated as he attempted to engage with the crowd to no avail

Frustrated he declared that the band would not be returning to the festival, saying: ‘You’re never seeing us again, so you might as well f****** sing it’

Clips of the toe-curling moment were soon circulated on social media, with many fans slamming the Coachella crowd as having the ‘worst vibes’ and declaring they ‘did not deserve to be graced by the presence of blur’

Others pointed out that those attending Coachella were unlikely to be familiar with Blur, insisting they would only know recent music and not the impact of Britpop.

They tweeted: ‘Coachella was never going to be the right crowd for Blur. Still gutted for them tho!!; i wish britpop had more exposure in america. watching this gives me second hand embarrassment’.

‘I can’t help but think the crowd at Coachella has no idea who Blur is.; “You know who we should book for the 7:30 Saturday slot here at Coachella? Blur. Whose entire discography combined has sold slightly less in the United States than Limp Bizkit’s Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water did in its first 7 days on sale.” 

‘Do these kids at #Coachella2024 even know who Blur are?; That 19 year old Americans don’t know who Blur are is an effing disgrace. Sing for uncle Damon. SING. Without Blur, you have no Doja Cat, no Tyler the Creator, no Ice Spice. Fact.’

Many other fans took to social media to declare that the band should return to Europe instead, and declared they would give Blur the crowd reaction they deserved. 

They penned: ‘Blur, come over to Glasto instead. We’re waiting for you!! i think we need more uk blur shows just to show coachella what a proper crowd looks like’.

‘Shoulda done a British festival. Coachella looks dead.; so hyperfixated on blur it’s sickening i should have been there i would have given them the best crowd ever. that crowd didn’t deserve that set list’.

‘damon, there are mentally ill teenagers and chronically online youth livetweeting the entire blur set, waking up at 5am for it and obsessively taking screenshots and screenrecordings. the crowd does not define blur. come back to the other side of the globe come back comeback’.

Others pointed out that those attending Coachella were unlikely to be familiar with Blur, insisting they would only know recent music and not the impact of Britpop

Damon performed at Coachella last year with his other band, Gorillaz, while Blur last played at the festival in 2013.

Ahead of their show, Damon and bassist Alex James spoke to KROQ about returning to the desert.

They revealed they had decided to do the festival after receiving a phone call at night telling them they had five minutes to decide whether to perform.

Alex said: ‘This was a wonderful opportunity, it’s the biggest festival on the planet. If I wasn’t here I’d have FOMO to be honest.’

When asked how they felt the audience would react, Damon admitted: ‘I have no idea how it will go. It’s a weird one, Coachella when it comes to audience. 

‘It’s hard to know sometimes, because they’re sort of on their own planet a bit, the audience.’

Many other fans took to social media to declare that the band should return to Europe instead, and declared they would give Blur the crowd reaction they deserved

Ahead of their show, Damon and bassist Alex James spoke to KROQ about returning to the desert and revealed they had received a phone call at night telling them they had five minutes to decide whether to perform