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Friday, 13 June 2025

Live Review: Snow Patrol - Cardiff Castle, 12 June 2025

Last night, Snow Patrol made an emotional return to Cardiff, delivering a spellbinding performance under a golden summer sky - and proving they had far more than just the hits up their sleeve. As the earlier rain clouds miraculously dissipated (because really, what’s a gig in Wales without the looming threat of a downpour?), the fading sun lit up the ancient stonework and the thousands of eager faces waiting within the castle walls.

Framed by medieval towers and surrounded by a sea of devoted fans, the iconic venue offered the perfect backdrop for a night that was equal parts nostalgic and celebratory. From the moment the band walked on stage, the adoration was palpable.

The reception was immediate with a thunderous swell of cheers that greeted a band who’ve long mastered the art of turning melancholy into something epic. From the first chorus, it was clear this would be a night of shared memories and collective catharsis.

The setlist moved fluidly between widescreen anthems and quieter, more introspective moments. Take Back the City surged with early-evening energy, while Chocolate brought a hush over the crowd, its lyrics landing with fresh emotional weight. Run transformed into a communal act of remembrance, every voice in the audience rising to match the band, chorus after chorus.

Between songs, Gary Lightbody was at his most disarmingly charming: self-deprecating, heartfelt, and completely at ease. "Yes, we’ll get to that one, don’t worry....it’s coming," he joked, responding to a fan already in tears at the thought of Chasing Cars."Would anyone like to hear a story?" he asked. After a smattering of cheers, he smiled. "Okay, I’ll tell it to the seven people who answered," before launching into the infamous tale of accidentally calling Hull Cardiff at a previous gig."They didn’t cheer that night," he added, to a roar of laughter from the real Cardiff crowd.

Thankfully, there were no such mishaps here.

Snow Patrol have always been a band that understands the value of quiet. In a musical era often defined by spectacle and noise, their strength remains in subtlety; the held breath, the patient crescendo, the lyric that lingers. And live, their sad, soaring indie ballads take on an entirely new dimension.

From the emotionally strung guitar lines of Heal Me to the euphoric final push of Just Say Yes, the band curated a set that spanned the full sweep of their career, not just greatest hits, but deep cuts and moments of emotional truth, delivered with total conviction.

Snow Patrol’s music has always been about moments from first dances, last goodbyes, long drives and quiet nights in. At Cardiff Castle, they delivered all of that and more, with poise, heart, and absolute clarity. Under the battlement shadows and golden skies, they offered a masterclass in emotional precision, reminding us that sometimes the most powerful thing a band can do is stand still and let the songs do the talking.

***** 

 

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