Here’s ten live music upcoming events happening in Cardiff this summer that you don’t want to miss!
Tom Jones
Kicking off with a Welsh music legend, Tom Jones is returning to the capital this year for three dates at Cardiff Castle, hosted by DEPOT Live. He will be rocking up to the stage as part of his Ages and Stages tour on July 21st, July 24th and August 5th, for his first major Cardiff show in 21 years.
Despite being 82 years old, the legendary star can still put on a cracking performance and is sure to delight fans, both new and old! Sir Tom has sold over 100 million records, spanning his incredible 60 year career.
https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/tom-jones-cardiff-21-07-2023/event/1F005E43A7E83C34
PRIDE Cymru
Pride Cymru is an annual event that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community, promoting diversity and inclusion in Wales. This year the festival will be taking place at Cardiff Castle on the 17th and 18th June. Pride Cymru has grown bigger every year since 1985 and now attracts thousands of people from across South Wales and the whole of the UK.
Claire Richards from pop group Steps, and pop icon Sophie Ellis- Bextor are headliners with other artists due to be announced closer to the event. The pride festival will offer a mix of big names and local talent over three stages, set in the magical surroundings of Cardiff Castle.
Tickets are on sale now, starting at £11.20 for a standard ticket. VIP access is also on offer which will get you a dedicated premium main stage viewing area, VIP toilets, dedicated bar and a complimentary drink.
Alongside the festival, there is also the famous pride parade that’s known as Cardiff’s most colourful event and will take place throughout the city centre on the 17th June. You can join the fun by applying on the Pride Cymru website, where individual walkers and grassroots organisations can walk for free but a £2 donation is suggested.
The event is run by the volunteer led charity Pride Cymru that works to promote the elimination of discrimination. They say they recognise and celebrate the contributions made by LGBT+ people in society and work to create opportunities for LGBT+ people around Wales to connect and support each other.
Depot in the Castle
Cardiff’s home grown festival Depot in the castle returns this year on the 8th July for the sixth year running. Multi award winning band and firm festival favourite Bastille will be headlining the iconic stage at Cardiff Castle. Other confirmed artists include Example, Caity Baser, General Levy, Tom Jenkins and Cat Burns.
The event is suitable for the whole family and will provide an array of incredible food and drinks options for you to enjoy alongside live music and plenty of dancing.
Adult tickets are on sale for £61.85, with children tickets available too.
Queens of the Stone Age
Yet another fantastic event taking place at Cardiff Castle this summer, Queens of the Stone Age will be delighting fans with a headline show at the iconic venue. One of the only three UK dates announced for the European tour, the band will be playing the very special show on the 23rd June. This tour is the first time the band have played to a UK audience since 2018, so is set to be in huge demand.
Inside Out Festival
Inside Out festival will be taking place on September 7th this year in Cardiff Bay. The Streets will be headlining with Zed Bias, Emmeline and Kojey Radical also confirmed, with other acts to be announced. The huge annual party held at Alexandra Head will host 10,000 people in the open air. It’s set to be one of the biggest dance music events in South Wales this year, so definitely not to be missed!
Lets Rock Wales - The Retro Festival
The UK’s favourite and largest retro festival will be held in Bute Park on the bank holiday weekend at the end of May. Let’s Rock is a celebration of all things 80s and pop, and promises to offer non stop unpretentious fun for retro music lovers. Headliners Wet Wet Wet and Soft Cell join a fantastic array of acts including Nik Kershaw and Tony Hadley.
The event is family friendly with a Kids Kingdom area featuring an interactive circus, inflatables and face painting. There is a wide variety of catering on offer, including a large BBQ, Indian, Mexican and Chinese. You can also bring your own picnics.
Join the fun on the 27th May for £58.50 and £11.25 for under 12s.
Tafwyl
Tafwyl is an arts festival situated in the grounds of the magnificent Cardiff Castle, taking place on the 15th and 16th of July. The arts festival is a celebration of Welsh music and language, and will host some of Wales’ biggest names in the arts, culture and sport. There will be plenty of vendors serving up delicious food from Cardiff favourites Grazing Shed, Brother Thai and Meat and Greek.
The event is entirely free of charge and also fantastic for children, with plenty of family fun on offer. There is the Bwrlwm Play Zone and a Baby Yurt with activities such as body painting, and sing and story sessions. There’s also yurt T which is full of activities and workshops aimed at teenagers, including a glitter parlour, hula hooping and a silent disco.
Clwb Ifor Bach will be hosting the official Tafwyl afterparty if you’re keen to continue the party into the early hours. There is also an accompanying fringe festival that takes place across various venues in the city centre, showcasing stand up comedy, spoken word, live music and arts events.
Ravers Tots Outdoor Festival
Held at Alexandra Head in Cardiff Bay, Ravers Tots is said to be the biggest and most family friendly festival in South Wales, where kids and grownups can hit the dancefloor and rave together! The main stage will be playing the best in house, garage and drum and bass, with performing artists Artful Dodger, Mollie Colins and Wideboys confirmed alongside many more.
There is plenty of family fun on offer, including fairground rides, arts and crafts, glitter art, inflatables, giant parachute games and play areas around the site at Cardiff Bay. All ages are welcome, from very young babies to grandparents! There will also be street food available and a fully licensed bar for the adults.
You can check out the full line up and more details of the event on their website.
Coldplay
Coldplay will be returning to the Welsh Capital for one of the biggest Cardiff events of the year. They will be performing at the Principality Stadium on the 6th and 7th June, with Chvrches and Welsh born Hana Lili supporting, as part of their worldwide Music of the Spheres tour. The band’s record breaking tour began in Costa Rica in March 2022 and has seen them travel across the world, selling more than four million tickets!
The tour has been heralded for it’s use of 100% renewable energy, power bikes and kinetic dancefloors , fans to help power the show, and one tree planted for every ticket sold, alongside many other sustainability initiatives.
Held at the Principality Stadium, you can expect top class hospitality and a night to remember!
Find tickets and more information on the band’s website.
Harry Styles
Harry Styles will perform at The Principality Stadium for one of the most highly anticipated Cardiff concerts of the year. The phenomenally successful Love On Tour was extended due to exceptional demand, with 19 new dates being added. Harry will play two concerts across June 20th and June 21st to a crowd of all age groups.
Known for his high energy performances, Harry Styles is one of the biggest and most influential artists in pop music today. You can expect to hear many of his global hit singles, including Sign of the Times, Adore You and Watermelon Sugar.
More information and tickets can be found below.
www.princiaplitystadium.wales/event/harry-styles-love-on-tour
The ultimate guide to music events in Cardiff this summer
Whether you’re looking to party all weekend, watch a stadium gig or share some music and the festival experience with your kids for the first time, there’s something for everyone in Cardiff this summer, regardless of your musical taste.
You can find a range of packages available to hire, for all your private events and after parties check out our packages here. Alternatively, contact us here or give us a call on 02920 095590 and we can help you organise your event this summer.