Stereophonics Bring the Roofless House Down at Principality Stadium

There’s not much more Welsh than watching Stereophonics play a homecoming show in Cardiff — and at the Principality Stadium, with the roof wide open and 60,000 fans singing along, it felt almost spiritual. Like the Pope preaching in the Vatican, but with pints, pyro, and Dakota.

The night kicked off with rising singer-songwriter Finn Forsyth who looked completely at ease on a stage that size, unphased by the huge crowd and clearly settling into life on tour with the Welsh giants. One to watch, for sure.

Next up were Blossoms, who brought a burst of colour and energy. Frontman Tom Ogden, moving around the stage in a paisley shirt with a bit of a Jarvis Cocker swagger, led the band through a slick set of hits. There was storytelling, a touch of stage theatrics, and a surprise appearance from Gary the Gorilla ( who looked like the Gorilla a Bristol zoo) — a prop character wheeled out for their final song, giving the set a surreal but brilliant finish.

Then it was time for Stereophonics — and they didn’t waste a second. Opening with C’est La Vie, they tore through a set packed with fan favourites like Maybe Tomorrow, Have a Nice Day, and Just Looking, with the crowd roaring every word back. Kelly Jones, as cool and commanding as ever, barely needed to sing at times — the stadium did it for him.

The production was massive — strobes, screens, and flames — but the heart of the show was still the music. Whether it was the stripped-back emotion of Handbags and Gladrags or the pure release of Dakota to end the night, it all felt like a love letter to the fans and the country.

In a summer packed with big gigs across Cardiff, this one felt personal. A true homecoming for a band who’ve never forgotten where they came from — and who can still bring the house down, even with no roof.