Fontaines D.C. Live at Cardiff Castle: A Night of Raw Power and Purpose

Fontaines D.C. delivered one of the standout shows of the summer in a sold-out Cardiff Castle, and it was worth every second of the anticipation. As part of the TK Maxx Summer Sessions from Depot Live, the Dublin band reminded everyone why live music matters, raw, urgent, and full of feeling.

The support was just as strong. High Vis kicked things off with frontman Graham Sayle throwing himself around the stage with full-body commitment — think airborne kicks, clenched fists, and a passionate call to look out for one another, all delivered with a punch from their hardcore punk roots. Kae Tempest followed, commanding the crowd with calm intensity, every word and movement measured and deliberate.

By the time Fontaines were due, the front section of the crowd was packed tighter than I’ve seen in years. As the lights tested and smoke drifted across the stage, the tension rose and then the band launched straight into Here’s the Thing, Jackie Down the Line, and Boys in the Better Land, setting the tone for the night.

The staging was a subtle spectacle, a shimmering silver balloon rose slowly as the “Fontaines D.C.” sign shifted from white to green to pink, and even the Irish flag at one point reflecting the shifting mood of the set, which has always been a one of the things we have enjoyed over the years, how they use colour so much in tier shows . They stormed through Big Shot, Desire, and crowd favourites with confidence and power, never letting the energy dip,. which was being driven by the audience’s energy, the crowd was bouncing and castle was rocking.

After 17 songs (a decent number for a band with four albums to date), Fontaines D.C. departed the stage. With the lights still down, the audience still salivating for more and breaking into a few waves of “oggie oggie, oggie” chants, the band returned with the cinematic  Romance and….Then came the encore, a masterclass in how to close a show. Rather than winding down, the band raised the stakes. Romance pulled us in, In The Modern World made a political statement with “Free Gaza” visuals and flags, and I Love You had the Grian Chatten donning a Welsh flag thrown on stage. They finished on Starburster, a frantic, explosive end to a gig that already felt legendary.

In a time when legacy acts like Oasis, stereophonics have dominate the headlines, Fontaines D.C. proved that the future of live music is in very good hands. This wasn’t just a concert — it was a moment, and I can wait to see them again.