Two Cardiff venues to entertain over 250,000 music fans this summer
Two Cardiff venues to entertain over 250,000 music fans this summer
Image credit: Sin Hart
Nick Saunders, director of Cardiff-based music events company Depot, is preparing for a record-breaking summer, with more than a quarter of a million music fans expected to attend shows across two major venues in the Welsh capital.
Now in its eighth year, Depot Live at Cardiff Castle will host 19 shows, welcoming more than 150,000 attendees through the gates of the historic venue. Meanwhile, a new addition to Cardiff’s live music calendar, Blackweir Live, will hold four large-scale concerts with a site capacity of 30,000 per show and an estimated attendance of over 100,000.
“Between our two sites, we’re tipping over 250,000 people. It puts us on par with some of the UK’s biggest series,” Saunders said. “If you compare it to something like Glastonbury, which hosts around 200,000 people, it shows the scale of what’s happening in Cardiff this summer.”
This year’s line-up includes international stars such as Sting, Alanis Morissette, Slayer and Stevie Wonder, alongside rising acts like Fontaines D.C., and hometown hero Tom Jones, offering a broad mix of genres and audiences.
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“We aim for a balanced series. Whether it’s heritage acts or electronic artists, we cater to a wide range of demographics,” Saunders explained.
Booking global superstars, he admits, comes with its own challenges.
“It’s definitely a ‘pinch-me’ moment when you confirm artists like Stevie Wonder. But once you’re in the thick of organising, it feels like work, you stay professional and focused.”
Organising events of this scale is a year-round process, with artists and promoters often planning 18 to 24 months in advance. Staying ahead of the curve and betting on fast-rising talent, like Fontaines D.C., requires a careful balance of industry data and intuition.
“Yes, it’s a gamble sometimes,” he said. “But we work with partners who have access to tour data to help make informed decisions.”
With big gigs comes big economic value of live music to the city. Last year, over 40% of Cardiff Castle ticket holders came from outside South Wales, bringing major benefits to hotels, restaurants, transport, and local businesses.
“We’re a small part of a much bigger economic picture, but the feedback we’ve had from across the hospitality and tourism sectors is hugely encouraging.”
Like many sectors, live events are still baring some of the brunt after the Covid-19 pandemic and the pressure of the cost of living crisis. Saunders noted a spike in demand in 2022 and 2023, though 2024 has seen some slight dips due to financial pressures and global touring schedule disruptions lingering from the pandemic.
“COVID put a pause on touring and we’re still feeling the effects. But people still love live music and we’re lucky to have incredible sites like Cardiff Castle and now Blackweir to host them.”
As for the act he’s most excited to see this year?
“It’s got to be Stevie Wonder. When that confirmation came through, it was a huge moment. To have a legend like that playing in Cardiff, at Blackweir Fields no less, is incredible.”
With an ambitious vision, a stellar line-up, and the economic impact to match, Depot’s summer series is fast establishing Cardiff as a must-visit music city on the UK events calendar.
