Gorillaz are taking things up a notch with their live show this year. It’s not a Gorillaz gig anymore, it’s a full blown fucking festival. When you’ve got a line up of collaborators like Damon Albarn has for Humanz, you can totally see why. And it’s gonna be fucking great.

Live Updates from Demon Dayz

I’ll get to the lineup and share some of their music with you, but first i’m going to be, in POTUS’ words a little bragadocius about the fact that Mezzanine will be attending the Gorillaz (not so secret anymore) show on Thursday, 8th June at the O2 Academy as well Demon Dayz festival on 10th June at Dreamland, Margate. So follow our instagram for live updates and instagram stories and that kinda thing.

Ok, now coming to the festival. It’s taking place at an amusement park. Three stages. Rollercoasters and all that cool stuff you loved as a kid at a Gorillaz gig. If you’re not at the festival, we feel bad for you. But to plug it again – follow us on Instagram to get as close to the experience as you can.

Gorillaz shared a video a few hours ago with the updated lineup.

Demon Days Festival Lineup

Here’s a quick introduction to the guys playing at the festival.

Gorillaz

Gorillaz don’t really need an introduction. The brainchild of Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett is a virtual English band that features 2D, Murdoc, Noodle and Russel. It’s the most fun thing you’ve heard in the last 20 years.



Vince Staples

Vince Staples is one of those rappers that sounds lazy but it’s just because he has such a natural flow to his rhymes. The man’s on fire even when he’s at his most effortless. He’s on Humanz on the track Ascension.



De La Soul

De La Soul have been around for 30 years and have been at the forefront of hip-hop since then. Their solo career is a must to checkout if you havent yet. With Gorillaz they’ve collaborated (if my memory serves right, i’m too lazy to Google shit right now) on Feel Good Inc from Demon Days, Superfast Jellyfish from Plastic Beach and on Momentz from Humanz. My favourite is the Feel Good Inc. so i’m gonna leave y’all with that “dope ass fuck” of a track.



Danny Brown

I remember watching the video for Danny Brown’s Grown Up and loving it. This was way back when it came out in 2012. I don’t really listen to that much rap music anymore, but I’ve been following Brown’s output since then and have always found his sound extremely interesting and unique. Danny Brown features on Humanz, along with Kelela, on the track Submission.

Little Simz

I haven’t heard Garage Place, the track on which Little Simz features from Humanz because it’s in the super deluxe edition version of the album which I cannot afford. But I checked out her album, Stillness in Wonderland after seeing her on the credits. It’s definitely worth lighting up to.



Kali Uchis

I’ve only heard Kali Uchis on She’s My Collar which is on Humanz. Everytime I hear the track I decide to listen to more of her stuff but never get around to it. I guess her performance at the festival will be as good an introduction to her broader sound as any. She’s definitely got a memorable voice and the track is one of my favourite off the album.

Popcaan

I remember first coming across Popcaan when he collaborated with Snoop Lion. And I just figured Snoop is now putting himself close to some good Jamaican musicians to get his reggae rep up a bit. The track was good, I never explored Snoop’s lion avatar, but Mavado and Popcaan from that track stuck in my head. Then I heard Popcaan on a Jamie XX track (along with Young Thug) and decided to finally check out his solo stuff. It’s Jamaican and it’s Reggae and it’s Dancehall and it’s pop and it sounds great.

Kilo Kish

I used to listen to a lot of Kilo Kish. Then I didn’t (I don’t know why though) and then Gorillaz brought her back on the radar for me. I’m gonna leave y’all with the first Kilo Kish track I heard.

That’s the part of the lineup that have featured on the latest Gorillaz release. There’s also a bunch of artists who aren’t on the album, but make for great inclusions in the lineup.

Kano

Announced as the special guest on the lineup, we can see why. There’s enough people who consider Kano the best rapper in the game right now. I don’t know about that but I’ve probably heard his stuff as much as I’ve heard Kendrick Lamar in the last year and that’s saying a lot considering I don’t listen to a lot of rap/hip-hop.

Fufanu

When I saw the Demon Dayz lineup I thought Fufanu was another rapper on the roster and I wondered what I’m going to do when I need a break from rap. Turns out Fufanu are a band who also do techno as Captain Fufanu. I just heard/watched them for the first time while writing this. And I think i’m going to go for a run and listen to this song. Yeah, i’ll run for all of 6 minutes and 27 seconds.

Gorillaz Sound System

Here’s what the facebook page for GSS says:

Gorillaz Sound System is a state-of-the-art audio-visual 4-man outfit incorporating all the hugely successful Gorillaz hits coupled with outsized projections of their award winning animation. GSS consists of a DJ, a Percussionist, a Drummer and a Visual Director who – with live mixing, remixing and percussion – can transform any space to create a great, dynamic and vibrant event. GSS have already played diverse Festival dates to a regular residency at London’s 100 Club which proves that the GSS experience can adjust to any situation, to suit a crowd of tens of thousands or a more intimate 500.

At Demon Dayz, GSS present Claptone, Remi Kabaka & Chris P Cuts and The Shapeshifters. Fun.



FIND US ON INSTAGRAM for live updates from Demon Days Festival as well as Gorillaz Live two days before that.