Alex James has quipped that he is “basically a monk”. The Blur bassist lives on a picturesque Cotswolds farm with his wife, Claire Neate, and their five children, where he produces artisan cheese and craft drinks. Speaking to the Metro, he said: “I’ve had so many people come to me and say, ‘cheese, music, isn’t that a bit weird?’ But monks sing in the morning and make cheese in the afternoon. I’ve started making booze now as well, another pastime of mine. I’ve realised that festivals were all originally religious festivals. So basically, I’m a monk.”
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James is also preparing for his Britpop Classical tour next year, which he debuted at his annual Big Feastival event on his Oxfordshire farm. The shows combine orchestral arrangements with Britpop classics, and audiences may need to pack some tissues. “We do a quick blast of The Beatles, David Bowie, T. Rex, The Kinks, The Who. By the time we get to the orchestral suite, about two thirds of the way through, we just let the orchestra let rip on The Verve’s Bitter Sweet Symphony and Creep by Radiohead. I noticed I was crying; it was just so emotive,” he said.
The tour features a symphony orchestra alongside special guests performing Britpop hits from Blur, Oasis, Pulp and Supergrass. Guest performers include actor and musician Phil Daniels (featured on Blur’s Parklife), Saffron of Republica, and Gary Stringer of Reef. Alex added: “Somehow all of these songs mean more to people now than they did when they were first released. They really resonate with my kids’ generation too.”
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The run kicks off at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 11 March, before heading to Birmingham, Manchester, Brighton, Nottingham, Newcastle, Glasgow and Sheffield. Additional dates include Scarborough Open Air Theatre, Halifax’s Piece Hall, Dreamland in Margate, and Latitude Festival 2026. James said: “Bringing them back to life with a symphony orchestra, a kick-ass band, some old friends and very special guests totally blew the roof off at Feastival, and I absolutely cannot wait to get this show on the road.”
