Aside from a brief hiccup in January, this year, the best in live music was back in full force this year after repeated lockdowns – and venues breathed a sigh of relief! From the BBC 6 Music Festival to Stereophonics and Tom Jones in the Principality, here are the best gigs in Wales we vibed with the most in 2022.
PIXIES / LUCY DACUS / IDLES
Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union, Fri 1 Apr

BBC 6 Music Festival welcomed Bristol punks Idles, alt-rock pioneers Pixies and the quietly devastating folk tales of Lucy Dacus to the Great Hall for a varied lineup of musical styles and stage personas.
words ALEX SWIFT – read the full review here
FATHER JOHN MISTY
St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Sun 3 Apr

Father John Misty’s performance in collaboration with the BBC National Orchestra Of Wales creates new dimensions to his already beautiful songs. Support was an endearing Gruff Rhys and stateside indie songwriter Cat Power who complimented the night at St David’s Hall.
words CHLOE BLISSETT – read the full review here
GREGORY PORTER
Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Fri 13 May

The Cardiff audience welcomed the Grammy-winning Gregory Porter in May as he toured his sixth studio album, All Rise. As an artist completely at home on stage, Gregory tackled issues of race and love with a positive mindset.
words ELOUISE HOBBS – read the full review here
ALICE COOPER / THE CULT
Swansea Arena, Mon 23 May

After the godfather of shock-rock emerges from a Nightmare Castle, Alice Cooper eases into it at this Swansea Arena show with renditions of Poison, School’s Out and Billion Dollar Babies. Meanwhile, support The Cult rattle through a confident classic rock performance and Creeper make the most of a 25-minute slot.
words OWEN SCOURFIELD – read the full review here
ED SHEERAN
Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Thurs 26 May

Booked in for multiple nights at the Principality Stadium, 200,000 fans were graced by the ginger haired hit songwriter as his set was punctuated by lesser known cuts, fireworks, lights and high quality production.
words CARL MARSH – read the full review here
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Sat 28 May

After not visiting south Wales in some 11 years, the return of My Chemical Romance only made this Sophia Gardens show that bit more special. An emo emergency, My Chemical Romance teased newbie The Foundations Of Decay, as well as classic older cuts, to moshpits of diehards.
words CHRIS ANDREWS – read the full review here
STEREOPHONICS
Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Sat 18 June

Presenting an evening bursting with Welsh spirit and a 27-song length setlist, Cwmaman’s own Stereophonics were joined by Tom Jones, supports Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard and Gruff Rhys for the second night of their Principality run.
words INDIA MUNDAY – read the full review here
BRYAN ADAMS
Cardiff Castle, Mon 11 July

Still looking youthful to this day, Bryan Adams’ voice sat comfortably somewhere between Bruce Springsteen’s rasp and Bon Jovi’s belt during the summer Cardiff Castle show, blending new material with older classics to the delight of so many.
words JOHN-PAUL DAVIES – read the full review here
HAIM
Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Wed 20 July

This being their first show in Cardiff during their 10-year lifespan as a band, Haim didn’t know what to expect from a Cardiff audience and likewise. But I think everyone got on really well, with the Haim sisters donning funny stories, tales of how songs came to be, sprinkled between high energy dance routines and powerful instrumental segments. We should do it again sometime.
words EMMA WAY – read the full review here
NILE RODGERS AND CHIC
Singleton Park, Swansea, Fri 29 July

Plenty grooved on the grassy slopes as the funk guitar mastermind Nile Rodgers and Chic members played hit after hit during a Swansea Singleton Park show in July.
words EMMA J SMITH – read the full review here
FRANK TURNER
Tramshed, Cardiff, Wed 12 Oct

After listing the key rules of the night including “not to be a dick”, Frank Turner revisits plenty of moments from his career, while also paying homage to late Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchison in a rendition of A Wave Across The Bay.
words JOSHUA WILLIAMS – read the full review here
JOCKSTRAP
Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Tue 11 Oct

Electronic duo Jockstrap have been hot on every indie kid’s lips this year, even more so with the release of their debut album I Love You Jennifer B. This intimate show, upstairs at Clwb Ifor Bach was a chance to catch the two before they inevitably catch onto the tongues of more and more folk.
words JOSHUA WILLIAMS – read the full review here
THE FOUR TOPS / THE TEMPTATIONS
Cardiff International Arena, Mon 10 Oct

It was a bittersweet and emotional night of motown nostalgia as the Four Tops and The Temptations together graced the Cardiff International Arena stage, Duke Fakir, the last surviving founding member of the Four Tops, sadly announced it would be his final time touring the UK.
words RHONDA LEE REALI – read the full review here
BOB DYLAN
Cardiff International Arena, Wed 26 Oct

Potentially the last time we see Bob Dylan grace a Welsh stage, Dylan’s Rough And Rowdy Ways World Wide Tour made it to Cardiff in October, the tour in support of his 39th and latest studio album of the same name. Dylan’s presence itself was welcomed by rounds of applause that never seemed to die down.
words ANTHONY CONWAY – read the full review here
PUSSY RIOT
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Fri 28 Oct

With a powerful presence within news-based media for over a decade, punk unit Pussy Riot were ones to watch at this year’s Llais Festival. Their hour-long show was a mixture of sexualised dance moves and near-rap shouted vocals over flute music and rampant drum pounding.
words JAMES ELLIS – read the full review here
FLORENCE + THE MACHINE
Cardiff International Arena, Wed 16 Nov

Celebrating new album Dance Fever, Florence + The Machine presented a nonstop tour of old and new material, focussing on the absence of performance during lockdown.
words RHIANNON FARR – read the full review here
SQUEEZE / JOHN COOPER CLARKE
Swansea Arena, Thurs 17 Nov

Spoken word poetry from John Cooper Clarke and an impressive back catalogue from the remaining members of Squeeze made this Swansea Arena show one to spill your drink to.
words ANTHONY CONWAY – read the full review here
FROM THE JAM / BUZZCOCKS
Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union, Sat 19 Nov

Bruce Foxton’s FTJ left their Cardiff Great Hall audience feeling exhausted yet thrilled during their November show alongside Manchester’s Buzzcocks. The result was a storm of late 1970s punk and new wave cuts.
words PHIL HEDLEY – read the full review here
CONFIDENCE MAN
Tramshed, Cardiff, Wed 16 Nov

With plenty of costume changes and pop brilliance, there was never a dull moment for Australian indie duo Confidence Man as they busted out big suits and bullet bras for this Tramshed set.
words JOSHUA WILLIAMS – read the full review here
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