Blur play 'secret' record shop gig

By Julian Marshall
Newsbeat online editor

Graham Coxon announced the gig on his Twitter page on Monday

Blur have played their second show in three days with a 'secret' gig at a record shop in London.

The band, who have reformed for a series of high profile gigs this summer including a headline appearance at Glastonbury Festival and two nights in London's Hyde Park, performed at the Rough Trade East record shop.

Speaking from the stage, singer Damon Albarn said that playing smaller shows had been a helpful way to get ready for the bigger gigs this summer.

He said: "We're only just getting started really but it's been a lot of fun so far."

Big hits

Their set was shorter than the band's live return on Saturday night at the East Anglian Railway Museum near Colchester, the venue where they launched their careers in 1988.

Blur's set list She's So High Girls & Boys Advert For Tomorrow End Of A Century Beetlebum Coffee & TV Tender Out Of Time Popscene Song 2 Parklife This Is A Low

However, the band still played some of their biggest hits including Song 2, For Tomorrow and early track She's So High.

Other highlights included Tender, Song 2 and Parklife with Damon Albarn on lead vocals.

Phil Daniels, who sings on the recorded version of the track, wasn't there.

After the closing track This Is A Low the 170 fans in the crowd cheered for an encore, but the band stayed put backstage.

People were able to get tickets for the London show on a first come first served basis.

Free wristband

Guitarist Graham Coxon announced the gig on his Twitter page earlier on Monday saying: "Mornin all! Midlife [New album] ... is out today and to celebrate we're gonna play some songs in London!"

Then, people who turned up at London's Brixton Academy after 11am were given a free wristband allowing them access to the evening event.

The Rough Trade record shop is renowned for its in-store appearances from bands and the show coincided with a new greatest hits album, which was released on Monday.

When Radiohead were due to launch their latest album In Rainbows in January 2008 the group planned a similar event at the venue but were forced to move to nearby 93 Feet East when word leaked out.