Gorillaz opened their 2026 North American tour in Orlando on Thursday, September 17th, and they did it the way you would expect a band with two decades of hits behind them to open: with a 24-song set that touched every record in their catalog. The virtual band, created by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, started the night with their latest full-length, then spent the rest of the show pulling from their self-titled debut, Demon Days, Plastic Beach, Humanz, and The Mountain. It was a marathon of songs, and it worked.
The show began with “The Mountain” and “The Happy Dictator.” The main set moved through the expected hits — “19-2000,” “Feel Good Inc.,” “On Melancholy Hill,” and “She’s My Collar” — while throwing in some deeper cuts like “Orange County” with Kara Jackson and “Sound Check (Gravity),” which made its live debut. The encore closed with “Clint Eastwood” and “Dirty Harry,” with Bootie Brown joining on both.
Little Simz and Del the Funky Homosapien both got their moment in the spotlight. Simz appeared on “Garage Palace,” while Del the Funky Homosapien joined for “Rock the House.” The set also featured “New Gold” and “Stylo,” both with Bootie Brown, marking their live debuts.
Opening With The Latest Album
The set began with “The Mountain” and “The Happy Dictator.” Starting with new material is a smart strategy for a band that has been around this long.
The two songs set the tone for the night.
Running Through The Catalog
The main set was an eclectic mix of hits, fan favorites, and deeper cuts. “19-2000” and “Feel Good Inc.” closed the main set with two of their biggest hits. “On Melancholy Hill” and “She’s My Collar” kept the energy high throughout the middle stretch. The encore, with “Clint Eastwood” and “Dirty Harry,” ended the night on a high note.
The set also featured “Sound Check (Gravity),” which made its live debut. “New Gold” and “Stylo” were also marked as tour debuts, meaning fans saw these songs performed live for the first time during the Orlando show.
The Guest Appearances That Stood Out
The guests were the highlight of the night. Little Simz brought her own energy to “Garage Palace,” while Del the Funky Homosapien anchored “Rock the House.” Both appearances gave the show a fresh edge.
Bootie Brown appeared on “New Gold,” “Stylo,” “Dirty Harry,” and “Clint Eastwood.” His presence across multiple tracks kept the encore fresh, and his contributions were a welcome addition to the set.
Kara Jackson’s appearance on “Orange County” added a distinctive touch to the track. Michelle Ndegwa’s turn on “Kids with Guns” brought a different approach to one of the band’s newer songs. Each guest brought something distinct to the stage.
How The Setlist Was Structured
The setlist ran deep, touching every era of the band’s career. Here is how it unfolded:
- “The Mountain”
- “The Happy Dictator”
- “Tranz”
- “Last Living Souls”
- “Tomorrow Comes Today”
- “19-2000”
- “Rhinestone Eyes”
- “El Mañana”
- “On Melancholy Hill”
- “Orange County” (with Kara Jackson)
- “Sound Check (Gravity)” (tour debut)
- “Delirium”
- “Andromeda” (DRAM Special vocal bridge)
- “Garage Palace” (with Little Simz)
- “She’s My Collar”
- “New Gold” (with Bootie Brown) (tour debut)
- “Stylo” (with Bootie Brown)
- “Kids with Guns” (with Michelle Ndegwa)
- “The Shadowy Light” (extended “vote” outro)
- “Feel Good Inc.”
- Encore
- “Cloud of Unknowing” (first verse sung by Damon)
- “Rock the House” (with Del the Funky Homosapien)
- “Dirty Harry” (with Bootie Brown)
- “Clint Eastwood”
The encore, which included “Clint Eastwood” and “Dirty Harry,” sent fans out of the Kia Center happy. The setlist is available to see in full, along with fan-shot videos of the performance.
What The Setlist Shows About The Band
A 24-song set is a statement of confidence. It says the band has enough material to justify a long show, and that the audience is willing to sit through it. Gorillaz have been doing this since their debut, and the setlist shows they are still reaching back to their earliest work while moving forward with new material.
The setlist also shows the band’s willingness to experiment. “Sound Check (Gravity)” and “New Gold” were marked as tour debuts, meaning fans saw these songs performed live for the first time during the Orlando show.
What Fans Can Expect Next
The tour continues at Miami’s Kaseya Center tonight, September 18th. After headlining the final night of Shaky Knees in Atlanta on September 20th, the band heads to New York City, Toronto, Chicago, and more.
Full tour dates and ticket information are listed below. Fans can save $20 on their first order of $200 or more with promo code COS20 at checkout.
The Show’s Energy
The show was a reminder that Gorillaz remain one of the most versatile acts in music. Their catalog spans electronic, rock, hip-hop, and soul, and the setlist showed they can move between all of it without losing momentum.
The Bottom Line
A 24-song set is ambitious, and it takes nerve to pull it off. Gorillaz did both, and the result was a show that honored their past while celebrating their present. The setlist proved they can still fill arenas with hits old and new, and the guests added a layer of surprise that kept the show from feeling like a museum piece.
The tour continues tonight in Miami, and the dates stretch through October. For fans who missed the Orlando opener, the next chance to see the band is tonight, and the setlist suggests they will bring the same energy to each city.
KEY FACTS BOX
– Date: Thursday, September 17th
– Venue: Orlando’s Kia Center
– Songs: 24-song set
– Guests: Little Simz, Del the Funky Homosapien, Bootie Brown, Kara Jackson, Michelle Ndegwa
– Next stop: Miami’s Kaseya Center, September 18th
– Promo code: COS20 ($20 off $200+ first order)
Gorillaz opened their 2026 North American tour with a 24-song set that pulled from every record in their catalog, and it worked. The guests added a layer of surprise, and the encore closed the night on a high note. The tour continues tonight in Miami, and the dates stretch through October.
See the video the story is built around at Consequence.
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