The first night of the Blackweir Summer Series belonged to The Cure and what a way to begin, returning for a second year Cardiff’s biggest outdoor concert series opens with a sold out show.
With 35,000 people filling Blackweir Fields for the first time and the screeching sun beating down, the stage was set for one of Britain’s most iconic bands to remind everyone why they remain one of the most beloved live acts on the planet. Supported by Welsh favourites Joy Formidable and Scottish post-punk outfit The Twilight Sad, this was a day that celebrated alternative music at its finest.
Opening the evening The Joy Formidable, returning to play in front of a home crowd. The Welsh trio delivered a blistering set packed with huge riffs and soaring choruses. Ritzy Bryan remains one of the most captivating frontwomen in British rock and the band’s energy was exactly what was needed to lift the field from the hazy heat with the sun still beating down across Cardiff, they reminded everyone why they have become one of Wales’ most successful modern rock exports.
Next came The Twilight Sad, whose atmospheric wall of sound and dark, brooding melodies felt like the perfect introduction to what was to come. Their powerful performance gradually drew the growing crowd in and frontman James Graham passionate performance, you can tell how much it meant to be on such a big stage in front of all these people dedicating the reason the band ever formed was down to listening to the Manics led to where he was today.
Then, as the evening light began to fade and the sun set behind the stage , the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived.
Robert Smith walked onto the stage to an enormous roar from the crowd and took his time to soak everything in, you can see that after all these years staring out at a sea of people is breathtaking and from the very first notes it was clear this was going to be a memorable experience for everyone.
The Cure’s catalogue spans more than four decades, yet every song felt timeless. Moving effortlessly between gothic masterpieces, post-punk classics and unexpected pop gems, the band delivered a career-spanning set that showcased exactly why they have influenced generations of artists.
What makes The Cure so unique is their ability to make songs filled with longing, heartbreak and melancholy somehow feel joyous when experienced together. Across Blackweir Fields, thousands of people sang every word, creating a remarkable atmosphere that felt both intimate and enormous at the same time.
The band’s visuals complemented the music perfectly. Huge screens captured every expression from the band, from Smith’s guitars, Roger O’donnell on the keys and Jason Cooper on the drums, who was outstanding.
As the night progressed, the hits kept coming with songs like THE LAST DAY OF SUMMER and JUST LIKE HEAVEN coming early before they let the stage only return for the longest encore of 10 songs with included The Lovecats, Friday I’m In Love, Close To Me, Why Can’t I Be You? and finally Boys Don’t Cry turned the final stretch of the set into one giant singalong. Tens of thousands of voices echoed across the park as generations of fans shared songs that have become part of the soundtrack to their lives with many more outside in the Bute Park and Coopers field set up in with there only little camps.
At 67, Robert Smith remains a captivating frontman. His voice still carries the same emotion that made these songs so powerful decades ago and he sounded just as iconic today as he did in the 80’s, his connection with the audience never seemed to waver.
As the final notes rang out across Cardiff and the crowd slowly began making their way home, you can hear people singing gently as they started the long walk out the park.
The Blackweir Summer Series could not have asked for a better opening night.
