Arena-sized intimacy: RICHARD ASHCROFT smashes out the anthems at Cardiff Castle
Ex-Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft delivered a confident performance packed with anthems that stretched back more than three decades.
Live
DAVID GRAY and THE DIVINE COMEDY serenade the Saturday sunset
Backed by a superb band, the arrangements were rich and textured, allowing David Gray’s unmistakable voice to remain at the heart of the performance.
Quebecois oddities TRUCK VIOLENCE splice noiserock and folk live in Newport
Whilst Truck Violence outside of the mainstream, it’s easy to envisage them filling larger spaces when they play with this much passion.
Silver fox BILLY OCEAN and Scottish fox MARTI PELLOW roll back the years in Cardiff
As we depart, Billy Ocean's biggest hit Caribbean Queen rings round the streets of Cardiff: a perfect end to a perfectly sultry night.
KYLE EASTWOOD QUINTET bring Clint’s film legacy to life at Palladino’s
Film history, family legacy and first-rate musicianship: Kyle Eastwood and his quintet made it all look effortless at Palladino's in Cardiff.
KATY PERRY spikes her fluffy pop hits with industrial language in Cardiff
I was left flummoxed and disappointed by Katy Perry's performance, interspersed as it was by her ramblings on matters of AI and outer space.
Aussie hairballs AIRBOURNE mine a golden hard rock seam in Cardiff
If AC/DC, Iron Maiden and Metallica were caught up in a test tube reaction, the new creation to emerge from the slime would resemble Airbourne.
A unique stage setup & a bombardment of unbreakable metal classics: METALLICA live
By the time Enter Sandman finishes and Metallica have spent five minutes throwing guitar picks into the crowd, you feel full and satisfied.
Face tats, designer denim and a soulman voice to die for: TEDDY SWIMS live
It’s hard to look past his appearance, but if ever the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” applied to anyone, it’s Teddy Swims.
LILY ALLEN turns heartbreak into theatre on her WEST END GIRL tour
Lily Allen's theatrical embodiment of her latest album is staged with suitably West End-esque precision and the emotional weight of a confessional.
EMPIRE OF THE SUN transcend high expectations at Cardiff Castle
Empire Of The Sun's Luke Steele and his bandmates enter in flamboyant outfits and headgear, and have the crowd screaming their names.
THE CURE: cool in Cardiff on a sweltering summer night
Some bands survive the passing of time; the Cure transcend it. On the hottest day of 2026, they deliver the perfect soundtrack for over 30,000 fans.
GARBAGE & SKUNK ANANSIE roll back the years and rock Cardiff Castle
With Garbage and Skunk Anansie in Cardiff Castle on a double-header tour, everyone went home happy, sweaty and rocked out.
ETHEL CAIN live in Cardiff: slow and sad, but often spectacular
It's no surprise to see the front rows at Ethel Cain's Cardiff Castle show singing word-perfect whenever the big screen cameras find them.
London indie rockers TOOTH send the crowd dental in Clwb Ifor Bach
The hyperactive Clwb Ifor Bach crowd had each other on their shoulders, chanting “TOOTH!” in between every single song without fail.
Donning suits of many colours, MIKA’s Welsh debut is a prime Pride warmup
It’s Pride weekend and queer icon Mika is in town for the first time ever to kick off proceedings, with support from Gwenno and The Feeling.
PETE TONG brings his IBIZA CLASSICS concert back to a damp but happy Cardiff Castle
Two icons – the Castle so central to Cardiff’s image and Pete Tong so influential in UK clubbing's formative years – made for a night to remember.
Swansea rockers TRAMPOLENE make friends through inter-city banter in Newport
It’s a heroes’ welcome for Swansea band Trampolene as they make their way through a packed, expectant crowd to the stage in Newport.
From Paris (via Lebanon) with love: IBRAHIM MAALOUF’s Cardiff debut
It’s the first time Ibrahim Maalouf has played Cardiff, and the vibe is a positive feedback loop of grins and anticipation between crowd and band.
DERMOT KENNEDY shelters Cardiff from the rain with Celtic warmth and soul
There was a sense of gratitude from Dermot Kennedy, for this opportunity to share his purpose, and from the audience for the chance to bask in it.
COURTNEY MARIE ANDREWS turns Clwb Ifor Bach into a spellbound sauna
Often lost in song, yet never losing the room, across a 90-minute set spanning Courtney Marie Andrews' career there were no weak points.
Screen icon KIEFER SUTHERLAND previews upcoming album for Cardiff fans
While the gig was impressively atmospheric, one wonders if the songs would resonate as loudly without Kiefer Sutherland's name on the ticket.
Manchester rockers PINS offer heat and cool on sizzling Saturday night
Mancunian-adjacent, garage-pop-power-punk quartet PINS graced Cardiff with their presence, bringing ice-cold swagger on a melting evening.
Irish pop-folk faves KINGFISHR charm a sold-out Cardiff crowd
If you’ve ever been lucky enough to party with the Irish, this is how it’s done; Kingfishr lend their culture and Celtic sound to their fanbase.