GORILLAZ NEW TRACK “ORANGE COUNTY” (FT. BIZARRAP, KARA JACKSON AND ANOUSHKA SHANKAR) OUT NOW | NEW STUDIO ALBUM THE MOUNTAIN COMING FEBRUARY 27
KONG
Gorillaz climbs The Mountain with a new track out today titled “Orange County” (ft. Bizarrap, Kara Jackson & Anoushka Shankar), which comes with its companion track “The Hardest Thing” (ft Tony Allen). Side by side on new studio album The Mountain, out February 27, 2026, on Gorillaz’s own new label, KONG, the two tracks are also available now on a limited-edition Double A Side 7” vinyl.
Written by Damon Albarn, “The Hardest Thing” opens with the voice of longtime collaborator and friend, the pioneering musician and drummer Tony Allen, who passed away in 2020. The song is a beautiful exploration of grief and hope, both central themes on the new album The Mountain, with the haunting lyric, “You know the hardest thing is to say goodbye to someone you love, That is the hardest thing” carrying through into “Orange County”. The uplifting track sees Albarn joined by singer-songwriter and poet Kara Jackson on vocals, as well as 14-time Grammy-nominated sitar player Anoushka Shankar. Produced by Gorillaz and Bizarrap, “Orange County” was written by Damon Albarn, former U.S. National Youth Poet Laureate, Kara Jackson, and four-time Latin Grammy-winning, Argentine artist, producer, and musical innovator Bizarrap.
The Mountain is Gorillaz’s ninth studio album, an expansive sonic landscape of instruments and sounds, richly layered with voices, melodies, and addictive beats, spanning a collection of 15 songs that embody.
The very essence of Gorillaz’s collaborative ethos. The record features an extraordinary list of artists and collaborators including: Ajay Prasanna, Amaan & Ayaan Ali Bangash, Anoushka Shankar, Asha Bhosle, Asha Puthli, Bizarrap, Black Thought, Gruff Rhys, IDLES, Jalen Ngonda, Johnny Marr, Kara Jackson, Omar Souleyman, Paul Simonon, Sparks, Trueno and Yasiin Bey; as well as the voices of friends and collaborators who have gone before us, including Bobby Womack, Dave Jolicoeur, Dennis Hopper, Mark E Smith, Proof, and Tony Allen. The Mountain is a playlist for a party on the border between this world and whatever happens next, exploring the journey of life and the thrill of existence.
The Mountain’s release will coincide with a week-long Gorillaz takeover of Los Angeles featuring the Downtown L.A opening of House of Kong. The internationally celebrated multi-sensory excursion into the world of Gorillaz will make its L.A. debut and kick off its last run anywhere on February 26th, running through March 19th at Rolling Greens. Tickets are on sale now. Prior to the House of Kong L.A. opening, the new album will be performed in its entirety by Damon Albarn and the Gorillaz live band featuring special guests at two very special one-off shows on February 22nd and 23rd at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Palladium.
Tour Dates
UK & Ireland Dates
March 13 – BRADFORD, Bradford Live (Warm Up Show) – SOLD OUT!
March 14 – BRADFORD, Bradford Live (Warm Up Show) – SOLD OUT!
March 20 – MANCHESTER, Co-op Live – NEW DATE DUE TO DEMAND!
March 21 – MANCHESTER, Co-op Live
March 22 – BIRMINGHAM, bp pulse LIVE
March 24 – GLASGOW, OVO Hydro* – SOLD OUT!
March 25 – LEEDS, First Direct Arena*
March 27 – CARDIFF, Utilita Arena* – SOLD OUT!
March 28 – NOTTINGHAM, Motorpoint Arena*
March 29 – LIVERPOOL, M&S Bank Arena*
March 31 – BELFAST, SSE Arena* – SOLD OUT!
April 01 – DUBLIN, 3Arena* – SOLD OUT!
April 02 – DUBLIN, 3Arena* – NEW DATE DUE TO DEMAND! SOLD OUT!
*support from Trueno
June 20 – LONDON, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
With support from Sparks and Trueno
European Festival Dates
June 05 – FRANCE, Paris – We Love Green Festival
June 06 – SPAIN, Barcelona – Primavera Sound Barcelona
June 10 – CZECH REPUBLIC, Hradec Králové – Rock For People
June 11-13 – PORTUGAL, Porto – Primavera Sound Porto
June 14 – NETHERLANDS, Hilvarenbeek – Best Kept Secret
June 23 – CROATIA, Zagreb – INmusic Festival
June 25 – GREECE, Athens – Release Athens x SNF Nostos 2026
June 27 – ITALY, Lido di Camaiore – La Prima Estate Festival
July 02 – DENMARK – Roskilde Festival
July 04 – BELGIUM, Rock Werchter
July 05 – LUXEMBOURG, Luxepo Open Air
July 09 – SLOVAKIA, Trencin – Pohoda Festival
July 11 – FRANCE, Ais-les-Bains – Musilac Festival
July 14 – TURKEY, Istanbul – Pozitif Vibrations*
July 16 – TURKEY, Istanbul – Pozitif Vibrations
July 18 – BULGARIA, Plovdiv – PhillGood Festival
July 23 – SWITZERLAND, Nyon – Paleo Festival
July 25 – ITALY, Trieste – Piazza Unita’ d’Italia
August 13 – POLAND, Poznan – BitterSweet Festival
August 15 – SWEDEN, Gothenburg – Way Out West
August 22 – KAZAKHSTAN, Almaty – Kazakhstan Park Live
August 29 – IRELAND, Stradbally – Electric Picnic
Artist Links
SPILL NEWS: GORILLAZ NEW TRACK “THE MANIFESTO” (FEAT. TRUENO AND PROOF) OUT NOW | TOUR DATES
