Blur Close Glastonbury

Reformed Britpop giants Blur closed Glastonbury last night (June 28th) with a sensational career spanning set.

Blur split in 2003, following the departure of guitarist Graham Coxon during the sessions for their final album 'Think Tank'. Having been a founder member of the band, Blur decided that they simply could not function without Coxon.

With each member going on to enjoy successful solo careers - albeit in hugely varying avenues - Blur stunned fans last year by announcing their reformation. Lead singer Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon put aside their differences, with the two childhood friends being re-united in the band they loved.

Blur have played a number of intimate re-union shows recently. The group re-visited the site of their first ever show by playing the East Anglian Railway Museum in Colchester, before stunning fans by playing to just 150 people at the launch of their new 'Best Of'.

However all eyes were on Blur when it was announced that the Britpop group were set to play Glastonbury. With the rejuvenated festival bagging a string of sensational acts, Blur were widely seen to be the jewel in Michael Eavis' crown.

Playing the final night of the festival, Blur bounded onstage to huge cheers. Singer Damon Albarn looked slightly intimidated by the sheer size of the crowd, exclaiming "wow, there's a lot of people here!"

Opening with their debut single 'She's So High' the band then moved up a gear by unleashing their classic hit 'Girls And Boys'.

"I came here yesterday really early in the morning, it seems like there's a positive atmosphere," Albarn then declared ahead of 'There's No Other Way', before mysteriously adding, "That's what I want to say about something else, let's keep it positive!"

At their recent shows the band used a stripped back line up, but added strings and brass flourishes for their Glastonbury set. Tracks from the famously lush album '13' benefited from the arrangements, with Blur storming through the hit single 'Tender'.

The band were joined by an old friend for their seminal hit 'Parklife'. One of the 90s defining songs, actor Phil Daniels reprised his role as narrator for the song to wild applause from the massive crowd.

Blur ran through their ballads 'End Of A Century' and 'To The End' before playing an emotional version of 'This Is A Low'. After leaving the stage Blur then returned with a quick run through of their single 'Popscene'.

Never included on an album, 'Popscene' has been included on the band's upcoming 'Best Of' compilation. After playing 'Advert' and 'Song 2' the band left the stage again, only to return for a second encore.

Beginning with 'For Tomorrow' the band were clearly having the time of their lives. "This is the fourth time we've played here," said Albarn ahead of the song. "It's really, really fantastic!"

Ending with 'The Universal' Damon Albarn bid the crowd farewell to huge cheers. Blur played:

'She's So High'
'Girls And Boys'
'Tracy Jacks'
'There's No Other Way'
'Jubilee'
'Badhead'
'Beetlebum'
'Out Of Time'
'Trimm Trabb'
'Coffee And TV'
'Tender'
'Country House'
'Oily Water'
'Chemical World'
'Sunday Sunday'
'Parklife'
'End Of A Century'
'To The End'
'This Is A Low'
'Popscene'
'Advert'
'Song 2'
'For Tomorrow'
'The Universal'