Two nights, more than 70,000 fans and countless smiles, tears and singalongs. It’s safe to say Lewis Capaldi won the hearts of Wales all over again as he headlined the Blackweir Summer Series in Cardiff.
Across both evenings, support came from Tyler Ballgame and Jacob Alon. While neither received quite the warm reception reserved for Capaldi, both put in commendable performances. Tyler Ballgame took some playful criticism from Lewis fans online in his stride, even joking on stage about the Welsh comments he’d received beforehand. His voice was genuinely impressive and deserved more appreciation than it perhaps got.
Jacob Alon opened with an unusual choice that initially divided the audience, but by the end of his set many were leaving with the infectious chorus of You’re an Arsehole, Motherf**ker firmly stuck in my head. As the sun finally broke through the clouds, his gentle folk sound proved a fitting way to ease the crowd into the evening.
Then came Lewis.
Both nights he walked onto the stage to deafening applause, almost looking overwhelmed by the reception before immediately doing what he does best, making everyone laugh. With his trademark self-deprecating humour, he admitted that the previous night’s performance had been his favourite, before quickly joking his way into the first song.
That’s Lewis Capaldi in a nutshell. Honest, funny and completely himself.
There isn’t another artist quite like him. One minute he’s making tens of thousands of people cry with a heartbreaking ballad, the next he’s got the entire field laughing at one of his outrageous stories or off-the-cuff jokes. It feels less like watching a global superstar and more like spending an evening with one of your funniest mates who just happens to have one of the best voices in music.
His 18-song set barely let up. Every lyric was sung back by a sea of fans as he worked through all six of his UK number one singles, including Wish You The Best, Pointless, Before You Go, Forget Me and Survive. Looking across Blackweir Fields, you could see people hugging, crying and singing every word together.
It’s remarkable to think that just two years ago Lewis wasn’t sure he’d ever perform live again. Now, after three Cardiff shows in the space of a year, he looks completely at home on stage once more. More importantly, he looks like he’s enjoying it again, and that joy spreads through the audience.
One of the evening’s most beautiful moments came with a spine-tingling cover of Britney Spears’ Everytime, before he closed both nights with the song everyone had been waiting for. Someone You Loved transformed Blackweir into one enormous choir, creating one of those goosebump moments that will stay with everyone lucky enough to be there.
As for the Blackweir Summer Series itself, it continues to go from strength to strength. Four sold-out shows have demonstrated not only how well organised the new venue has been, but also just how much Cardiff has embraced this exciting addition to the city’s live music calendar.
There is now just one show remaining, as Pitbull prepares to bring his Miami party to Blackweir and close the series in style.
But these two nights belonged to Lewis Capaldi.
Funny, vulnerable, brilliantly self-aware and vocally outstanding, he reminded everyone why he remains one of the most loved artists of his generation.
Cardiff didn’t just welcome him back. It embraced him.
