Review - Catfish & The Bottlemen - Cardiff Castle 20/07/2024

After cancelling their performance at the Principality Stadium in 2022, fans feared it might be the end for Catfish and the Bottlemen. However, on Friday, they made a triumphant return to Cardiff Castle!

Friday was the warmest day we've had this year, and fans dressed in band merch were seen all around the city, buzzing with excitement for what promised to be a fantastic comeback. This gig, the first announced after releasing their recent single 'Showtime,' had fans eagerly competing for tickets. It was their second show since their comeback, following their performance at Sefton Park in Liverpool.

The evening kicked off with a set from 'The Big Moon.' Although I only caught the end of their performance, having seen them support other acts previously, I can attest to their ability to set a great tone for the night. Their lively and engaging presence on stage always manages to energise the crowd, making them an excellent choice to warm up the audience for the main event.

As Catfish and the Bottlemen took to the stage at Cardiff Castle, they were met with a huge applause. They opened with the fan-favourite 'Kathleen,' instantly getting the crowd’s hands in the air and setting a high-energy tone for the evening. This was followed by 'Soundcheck,' during which inflatable crocodiles sold at the merch stall bounced around the front of the stage, adding a playful touch to the vibrant atmosphere.

The mid-section of their set consisted of hits like 'Conversation,' 'Business,' and 'Homesick,' maintaining the momentum and keeping the audience fully engaged. My favourite moment was during '2all,' as it’s my favourite Catfish song, and hearing it live again alongside best friends was a nice experience. The energy throughout the set was exciting, with everyone singing along, hands in the air, and many fans perched on shoulders.

Despite a few moments where the energy from the stage dipped, the passionate and consistent atmosphere from the fans never waned. The band closed with an electrifying performance of 'Cocoon,' leaving the crowd on a high note. Although they delivered a familiar setlist, mirroring the one they performed in 2021, and didn't include their most recent single, the night was still enjoyable. Their set began around 9:15 and wrapped up just before 10:40, leaving many of us wishing for at least one or two more songs. The abrupt ending felt somewhat anticlimactic, especially given the high energy and enthusiasm bestowed on them by the crowd.

Overall, it was nice to see Catfish make their comeback, and it made me reminisce about my late teenage years. For extremely dedicated fans, this must have been a great night, but for me, it was the crowd's energy that truly made the evening memorable.

Depot In The Castle – Live Music Back In Full Swing!

Last weekend live music made a comeback at Cardiff Castle. For the first time in 18 months, we were once again allowed to enjoy the feeling of music being played in person rather than on a screen. Just a week before the festival, the Welsh Government confirmed its “Freedom Day” meaning the festival could go ahead.

There was plenty of choice for food and drink, a vast array of variety from burgers to tacos to ice cream and desserts. Even the bars were stocking variety, the classics like beers and wines but also a selection of cocktails such as mojitos and cosmopolitans. I didn’t taste any of the delicacies but from what I saw others having, they all looked beautiful and delicious which I imagine they very much were.

The line-up consisted of names like Ella Eyre, Tom Grennan and Kaiser Chiefs. Other names such as Gentleman’s Dub Club, Dodgy, Lottery Winners and Mr Wilson’s Second Liners were amongst the headliners. With tickets priced at just £45, you definitely got your bang for your buck there. 

The festival was well managed, queues were handled very well upon entrance. Only downside was that before the festival everyone had to have a Covid-19 lateral flow test done which was uncomfortable but luckily the whole experience was worth it. I got into the Castle about 15 minutes before Ella Eyre performed, finding a spot was hard but luckily there was a spot in front of the sound desk which gave us a pretty decent view of the stage.

Ella Eyre played a great set, hyping up the audience in the right way with Waiting All Night. I’d say the majority of the audience were up on their feet, singing along and dancing. That particular song changed the atmosphere in a brilliant way. From then on, she had the Castle roaring. 

Tom Grennan similarly put on a good set, his vibe is different to Ella’s but regardless he too knew how to hype a crowd. Playing some of his most famous songs, such as Sober and Found What I’ve Been Looking For, they had people dancing and singing along too.

The stand out performance had to be the headliners, the Kaiser Chiefs of course. Arguably the band most had gone for in the first place, and they made it known. They praised the acts before them, which was nice to hear. By this time it had started to go dark, which actually helped because the light show was pretty spectacular. I Predict A Riot caused the most ruckus from the crowd, it was such an amazing feeling to be in amongst that kind of atmosphere again. It was the exact kind of serotonin boost that was needed for post-lockdown. 

Overall, I would say the festival lived up to expectations. Good management and brilliant entertainment, what more could you possibly need for a good festival!

Ffi Edwards