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Blur confirm massive outdoor show

Damon Albarn

Damon Albarn said he was thinking about returning to Blur

Blur have reformed with Graham Coxon and will play live in 2009.

The band have confirmed they'll headline London's Hyde Park on Saturday 3 July.

It is the first time Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree have played together since performing at London's Royal Festival Hall in 2000.

Coxon left the band in 2002 to pursue a solo career and relations between him and Albarn have remained frosty.

Reform hints

But in November this year Damon Albarn told Newsbeat: "It's very possible I'll go back to Blur, it really is very possible."

Prior to that bassist Alex James hinted at a reunion in August 2007.

The band met up two months later and revealed on their official site that they "met up for an enjoyable lunch" but there were no "other music plans for Blur".

Speaking about Graham, Albarn said: "He's great, it's fantastic to get my old friend back."

Over the last five years, the Blur frontman has become heavily involved with side projects The Good, The Bad And The Queen, Africa Express and his other band Gorillaz who he is currently working with on a new album.

Blur

The reformed line up of Blur including Graham Coxon

"I'm halfway through the next Gorillaz album at the minute," he said. "That's going to be interesting and different again.

"This next time around there will be a lot going on in it."

Albarn has also brought his opera Monkey: Journey To The West back to London after it enjoyed success at the Royal Opera House over the summer.

The show, which is performed entirely in Mandarin, is currently at Monkey's World, a specially built theatre alongside the O2 Arena.