I went to Blackweir Live's first ever gig in Cardiff and it proves one thing about the city

Wales Online

a day ago

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We know Cardiff has an incredible music scene. You only have to look at the stellar line-up the Principality Stadium hosts each year, from Taylor Swift to Beyoncé to Oasis and Foo Fighters.
Cardiff Castle is bursting at the seams every summer hosting the likes of Bastille, JLS, Noel Gallagher, Sting, Tom Jones, and more. This year alone, the Sugababes and Scissor Sisters have stepped out at the Utilita Arena, and the independent scene is thriving with venues like Clwb Ifor Bach and Tramshed.
But now there is a new kid on the block, and they have a point to prove.
Blackweir Live is Cardiff's newest gig series, shooting onto the scene under Depot (also responsible for the Castle gigs) and Cuffe and Taylor.
Big, bold, and not afraid to possibly ruffle a few feathers, Blackweir Live has transformed Blackweir Fields, which are often used for cricket, in the north of Bute Park.
And now the first gig has successfully run with American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan bringing Stick Season to thousands last week - you can read our review here - it proves one thing: Cardiff could host its full-scale festival.
With a few minor details sorted, I really think Blackweir Live could be the start of a brand new festival for Cardiff.
Walking into Blackweir Live for the first time to see Kahan, I was blown away at how big it was.
It was simply huge, the stage impressive and towering, and it instantly gave a festival atmosphere.
(Image: CUFFE & TAYLOR)
My friends and I immediately turned to each other and said: "Oh my god, this is massive!" as we looked around.
It surpassed all my expectations; it was sprawling on a much larger scale than I ever imagined.
There were bars lining each side with pretty much every cuisine you could imagine; you weren't just limited to burgers and chips here. There was white plastic covering leading up to the stage, unlike anything I had seen in Cardiff.
The stage was incredibly impressive, and suitable for the crowds that can reach 35,000 people at Blackweir.
While there was some confusion over what was classed as golden circle and more importantly, which toilets us normal ticket holders could use, with these little niggles ironed out, clear signs for the toilets and making sure everyone who had a golden ticket wristband knew exactly where to go, the night ran smoothly.
The insane operation behind pulling off the first ever Blackweir Live was not missed as walking down the middle of North Road at 10.50pm without a car in sight was never something I thought I would do.
(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
They nailed the scale of the road closure meaning fans could safely exit and head home, there were pedestrian bridges built over the canal just for the gigs to ensure a smooth exit, there were extra trains from Great Western Rail and Transport for Wales and the whole event felt well-thought-out and clear.
Pulling off events this size with the capacity of up to a whopping 35,000 people, I think, lays the foundation for Cardiff to have its own music festival.
Understandably, reasons such as wildlife in the park, commuters who use the park daily, and the already existing needs for the park, such as for sporting reasons, need to be taken into consideration, but for one weekend a year, could we see multiple stages from the Castle to Blackweir Fields?
Could Cardiff Castle host one stage, Blackweir Fields the main stage, and maybe even another somewhere else in Bute Park?
As Depot continues to expand and grow, from a warehouse to an established live music organiser, will we one day see a festival in Cardiff that rivals the likes of Reading & Leeds? You can read more about the story behind Depot here.
They have the names - as well as Kahan, Blackweir will host the likes of Alanis Morissette, who is performing on Wednesday, July 2 - read everything you need to know about the gig here - as well as Slayer and Stevie Wonder later this month - and there is certainly the leg work, organisation and planning in place to pull off gigs this scale.
Only time will tell if Blackweir Live transforms into something more, but for now, those of us who love or call Cardiff home can enjoy yet another fantastic addition to the music scene.