Damon Albarn is to perform on Saturday Night Live with Gorillaz for the first time next month.
The band will be the musical guest for the late night show on March 7, which will be hosted by Ryan Gosling. The actor will take the reins as host of the late night show for the fourth time.
MARCH 7
Ryan Gosling
Gorillaz pic.twitter.com/giriyfxnzr— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) February 12, 2026
This comes as Gorillaz are to release their new album, The Mountain, which they have already previewed with the singles, ‘Orange County’, ‘The God Of Lying’ (featuring Idles), ‘The Happy Dictator’ (feat. Sparks), ‘The Manifesto’ with Trueno and late D12 member Proof, and ‘Damascus’.
The Dictator sees Albarn collaborate with Sparks, and sees the Blur star sing the lyrics: “No more bad news, so you can sleep well at night and the palace of your mind will be bright.".
The album arrives on February 27, and will open with the voice of longtime collaborator and friend, drummer Tony Allen, who passed away in 2020. These songs also look at themes of grief and hope, like much of the album.
However, Orange County carries a much more uplifting tune, with Albarn collaborating with US National Youth Poet Laureate Kara Jackson on vocals, as well as 14 time Grammy award nominee sitar player, Anoushka Shankar.
The song was also co written by Kara Jackson, who sings: “You know the hardest thing is to say goodbye/To someone you love/That’s the hardest thing,” 2D (Albarn) sings in a melancholic tone, backed by simple, cheerful instrumentals. “Every face you forgot/ Father’s jaw/ They suspend the clock/ Another start/ Get another chance to love".
Gorillaz will support this album with a new UK and Ireland tour, which begins on March 20.
See the dates below.
MARCH
21 – Co-op Live, Manchester
22 – BP Pulse Live, Birmingham
24 – OVO Hydro, Glasgow (support from Trueno)
25 – First Direct Arena, Leeds
27 – Utilitia Arena, Cardiff (support from Trueno)
28 – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham (support from Trueno)
29 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool (support from Trueno)
31 – SSE Arena, Belfast
APRIL
1 – 3Arena, Dublin (support from Trueno)
JUNE
20 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London (support from Sparks and Trueno)
