Hundreds of fans of the band Gorillaz gathered in December 2022 to attend the very first augmented reality concert. This AR concert took place in Times Square and Piccadilly Circus. There, the band’s characters appeared in giant form thanks to Google’s ARCore and Geospatial API. They performed to promote their new single “Skinny Ape”.
The Gorillaz has always had virtual members as a band. But where the characters were often projected as 2D elements during concerts, in their concerts in December 2022 they appeared as giant 3D characters thanks to augmented reality. The AR concert could be followed by downloading an AR app. The app uses Google’s ARCore and Geospatial API.
AR concert thanks to Google’s Geospatial API
Thanks to Google’s Geospatial API, the developers of the AR experience were able to connect the concert to a location. This technology allows the user to experience the AR content as if it were part of the physical world. During this concert, this was translated into large screens that appeared on the location, but also by placing the giant band members in 3D on the buildings.
During the AR concert, hundreds of fans gathered in Times Square in New York City and Piccadilly Circus in London. With their phone pointed upwards, they saw an imaginative world including the band members, but also other visuals to dress up the concert. The band performed in celebration of the release of Skinny Ape, the band’s latest single.
Who are the Gorillaz
Gorillaz were formed in 1998 by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett. The band has recorded six studio albums, always looking for new and innovative ways to make the music more interesting or to challenge themselves. For example, one album was completely recorded on an iPad. Since the band consists of virtual characters, it is only logical that they now discover AR.
