Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten And Kae Tempest Team Up For New War Child Charity Song Flags
Thursday, 12 February 2026
Written by Jon Stickler
Photo: Lawrence Watson
Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten of Fontaines D.C. and Kae Tempest have joined forces for a new song, Flags.
Recorded for the star-studded War Child charity album 'HELP(2)', due out on March 6 via War Child Records, the powerful, piano-driven indie track blends heartfelt vocals and spoken-word poetry.
Produced by Gorillaz frontman Albarn, James Ford, Marta Salogni, and Toby L, Flags also features contributions from Johnny Marr, Dave Okumu, Adrian Utley, Gorillaz' Seye Adelekan, Ezra Collective's Femi Koleoso, and a children's choir, alongside a second all-star choir including Marr, Jarvis Cocker, Carl Barat, Declan McKenna, English Teacher, Black Country, New Road, and more. Check out a short video of the recording session below. Albarn said:
"Recording ‘Flags’ was a genuinely joyful two days, with a strong sense of purpose throughout the building. I was particularly struck by the decision to employ children to do all the filming in the studio – it felt inspiring and directly reinforced the point we were trying to make about communicating with kids, by involving them in the process itself."
Tempest added: "I feel honoured to be a part of this project. I loved writing this song and collaborating with the other artists, it was like a fever dream that day at Abbey Road. Couldn’t believe how good it felt and the sheer force of will that shepherded all those energies together and directed them towards this beautiful conclusion. It was a true collaboration. It’s a great album and I hope we can raise lots of funds and energy. For the children."
"To be gifted the chance to collaborate with such talented artists as Damon and Kae in aid of such an important cause was really special" Chatten shared. "It’s a rare occasion that you feel the energy for change in such a tangible way and from so many, but that is exactly how it felt in the room that day."
Flags follows on from Arctic Monkeys' contribution Opening Night, the Sheffield band's first new song in four years, released last month alongside details of the Ford-produced 'HELP(2)'.
Other acts lined up to appear on the record include Pulp, Anna Calvi, Beabadoobee, Beck, Bat For Lashes, Graham Coxon, Depeche Mode, The Last Dinner Party, Arlo Parks, Foals, Wolf Alice's Ellie Rowsell, Ezra Collective, Olivia Rodrigo, Sampha, Wet Leg, Young Fathers and more.
The group will follow the album's release with the UK and Ireland leg of The Mountain Tour in spring, and a major London show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20 as part of a run of summer European dates. Ahead of the tour, they'll play two intimate warm-up shows in Bradford next month.
Additionally, House Of Kong, celebrating the band's 25th anniversary, heads to Los Angeles between February 26 and March 19, coinciding with two special Hollywood Palladium shows on February 22 and 23, where Gorillaz will run through 'The Mountain' in its entirety with some surprise guests. Tickets are on sale now.
Fontaines D.C. released their Mercury Prize-nominated fourth studio album, 'Romance', in 2024 and appear at several European festivals this summer, including a headline slot at Reading and Leeds.
Kae Tempest, meanwhile, put out his fifth studio album, 'Self Titled', last July and will play London's Roundhouse in April, Bearded Theory in Derbyshire in May, Boomtown Fair in August, and support Self Esteem at Cardiff Castle in July for the Depot Live series.
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