Few shows feel like a concert. Fewer still feel like you’ve stumbled into another dimension. But that’s exactly what happened when Australian electronic pioneers Empire of the Sun landed at Cardiff Castle and transformed the historic venue into a cosmic journey through space, time and imagination.
On one of the hottest nights of the summer, Cardiff Castle was packed with fans ready to embrace the band’s unique blend of electronic pop, visual storytelling and theatrical spectacle. The crowd was almost as colourful as the stage itself, with fans arriving in bright outfits, glitter, face paint all with their own takes on Luke Steele’s iconic eye makeup. From teenagers discovering the band through TikTok to long-time followers who have been with them since Walking on a Dream, everyone had come to be part of something special.
Opening the evening were New Zealand indie-rock outfit Balu Brigada, who had the task of warming up the crowd a very hot crowed while much of the Empire of the Sun stage remained hidden behind giant drapes. The brothers, Henry and Pierre Beasley, didn’t let that slow them down. Their energetic set, packed with catchy hooks and infectious charm, quickly won over the Cardiff crowd.
What stood out most was how genuinely excited they seemed to be playing Cardiff Castle. Coming from a country without anything quite like this historic setting, they appeared humbled by the occasion and by the response they received. By the end of their set, they had made plenty of new fans.
Then it was time.
As darkness began to settle over the castle, the giant drapes finally lifted and the audience were poised to welcome the arrive from a distant land. The opening visuals introduced a mysterious capsule descending from another world, while smoke, lights and towering projections of fiery lightening built anticipation. Two ethereal dancers appeared before Luke Steele and the band emerged from the haze dressed in red, wearing one of his trademark elaborate headpieces and carrying his white guitar.
It felt less like a band entering a stage and more like first contact with a higher power.
From the opening moments, Empire of the Sun made it clear this wasn’t going to be a standard live show. Steele immediately left the stage to greet fans along the barrier, moving through the front rows as if he was welcoming the audience into his world before returning to begin the journey.
Musically, the band sounded superb. Tracks such as Cherry Blossom and We Are The People set the tone before the night’s visual feast truly began to unfold. Every song seemed to introduce a new character, costume or fantastical setting. Giant alien-like figures appeared, mysterious dancers emerged from the shadows and an enormous LED screen transported the audience from ancient temples and bamboo forests to distant galaxies and deep space the sound of the environment leading before each destination.
The production was astonishing. Every visual felt carefully considered and perfectly synchronised to the music. At times it resembled a futuristic space theatre production, at others a sci-fi film brought to life.
One of the standout visual moments came during Ask That God, when enormous animated hands reached across the screen towards Steele, as if to suggest making first contact with the gods and the visuals were amazing.
Then came the moment everyone many had been waiting for.
As the unmistakable opening notes of Walking on a Dream rang out across Cardiff Castle, the entire crowd erupted. Hands shot into the air, shoulders became viewing platforms and thousands of voices joined together in one giant singalong. In the lingering summer heat and haze, it felt less like a concert and more like one of those perfect festival moments people remember for years.
After briefly leaving the stage, the band returned for an encore that culminated with Alive, a fitting finale to an extraordinary evening. As the song reached its climax, Steele launched his guitar into the air, smashed it to the stage and dropped to his knees as confetti rained down around him.
It was dramatic, theatrical and completely in keeping with everything that had come before.
Empire of the Sun didn’t just play Cardiff Castle. They transformed it. They created a world, invited thousands of people into it and for two hours made reality feel a little less ordinary.
A stunning performance that was as breathtaking to watch as it was to hear.
