Cardiff’s Depot venue, organisers of the annual Depot In The Castle, are about to hold their biggest ever event. Last year, a mix of entertainment, food and live performances brought around 5,000 to Cardiff Castle. This year, it is hoped that the introduction of a second stage, and a second Saturday headliner, will attract more than 8,000 partygoers.
The smaller second stage will exclusively play host to local talent: Welsh-born musicians looking for the chance to share a venue with some of the music industry’s biggest pop artists. Acts will be playing throughout the day, offering a range of genres and ensuring audiences interested in the up-and-comers of the local area will have plenty to enjoy.
Tom Odell is set for his first ever gig at Cardiff Castle as he supports electronic pop masterminds Clean Bandit. Bringing his brand of unique vocals and acoustic instrumentals to the (hopefully) sunny surroundings, he will surely bring a relaxed atmosphere to the event. This relatively young artist is certainly a favourite among fans of mellow pop, as his rise towards increasing stardom appears irreversible.
If you’re excited for a party atmosphere, look no further than Clean Bandit. Top of the roster, this three-piece band boast four billion (!) global streams and a host of top 10 hits. They offer up an interesting mix of classical moods and electronic music – see recent hit Rockabye for a perfect example. The result is clear: tunes you can’t help but move to. Perfect for an event like this. In their capacity as headliners, Clean Bandit will finish out the night will all the energy and skill they can muster.
In another change, the festival’s street food village will be extended to include 15 traders. That means there will be an even bigger range of local food to choose from. As the event continues through the day, entertainment and vendors will be in place to keep you occupied while the music offers the perfect soundtrack to your day. It’s sure to be a picturesque, pint-filled celebration of some of the best music of the moment.
Cardiff Castle, Sat 13 July. Tickets: £42.50/£21.50 under-18s/£5 under-12s. Info: 029 2034 1199 / www.depotinthecastle.com
words Alex Keene