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Martin Garrix Debuts U2 Collab ‘Fireflies’ With The Edge at Tomorrowland in Belgium
Martin Garrix surprised fans by debuting "Fireflies," his previously unheard collaboration with U2, during his headlining set at Tomorrowland in Boom, Belgium, on Friday 17 July. U2 guitarist The Edge joined the Dutch DJ on stage to play the track live, while Bono's vocals featured on the recording, marking the song's live premiere ahead of its official release. The moment closed out the festival's opening night and underlined the enduring creative partnership between the electronic dance star and the veteran Irish rock band.
The track, announced as "out soon" via Garrix's Instagram, is now available to pre-save on Spotify and Apple Music, though it remains unclear whether it will feature on a forthcoming album from either act. Garrix and U2 have collaborated before, notably on "We Are the People," the official UEFA Euro 2020 song, which reached number 12 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, and Bono has co-written several Garrix tracks. The news also comes as U2 prepare their first studio album since 2017's Songs of Experience, having already released the single "Street of Dreams" and two surprise EPs earlier this year.
In short
- Garrix debuted new U2 song "Fireflies" live at Tomorrowland
- The Edge performed on stage; Bono's vocals played on the track
- Single available to pre-save; release date not yet confirmed
Explained simply
Martin Garrix is a Dutch electronic music producer and DJ who rose to international prominence in 2013 with the dance track "Animals" and has become one of the world's most prominent figures in electronic music. U2 is an Irish rock band that has enjoyed global success for over four decades, led by vocalist Bono and guitarist The Edge.
Tomorrowland is one of the world's largest electronic music festivals, held annually in Belgium and attracting hundreds of thousands of fans from around the globe. The festival is a major platform for dance music artists and a notable venue for announcing significant collaborations and new releases.
The two acts have previously collaborated on "We Are the People," the official song for UEFA Euro 2020, suggesting an established working relationship. U2 have been relatively quiet in recent years but are currently preparing new material, making a collaboration part of their broader creative activity.