Gorilliaz – Demon Days live – Manchester Opera House

We took a day off work to get the train up to Manchester to see The Gorillaz play as part of an arts festival there.

On paper it sounded pretty cool – they’re doing 5 nights and everyone who appeared on the last album (60+ people apparently) will be appearing together for the first time.

It reality it was even more special - awesome venue, string section, 2 choirs, guest appearances by Neneh Cherry, De La Soul & Shaun Ryder among others, fantastic sound...brilliant all round. As Kim said "believe it when you hear Damon Albarn is a genius".

The highlight for me was the roof raising reception for local hero Shaun Ryder appearing for "Dare" - and the school kid chorus for "Dirty Harry".

Damon seemed happy to stick in the background for the most part - visible in silhouette grinning and conducting from a keyboard. He does come forward to centre-stage for the encore of 'Hong Kong' (a great song not on the Demon Days album but available of the more recent War Child charity compilation - Help A Day In The Life).

Hi-def cameras were swarming all around the venue filming the shows for a DVD release - so look out for that one when it appears.