Cardiff Castle is no typical venue. Its medieval stone walls and central location give it a rare sense of occasion - a special place where history, architecture, and atmosphere converge. A perfect setting then for a band whose music has long walked the line between spiritual tension and communal release. 

The crowd, a mix of loyal followers and younger faces, arrived early to catch a strong support bill. Liverpool’s Jamie Webster opened with heartfelt acoustic grit, followed by Shed Seven, who delivered a punchy dose of Britpop nostalgia that kept the energy building.

What followed was something more than a performance, it was a masterclass in how to grow as a band without losing your core. James have always embraced change, and on this stage, they showed that evolution doesn’t mean forgetting your identity.

Opening with “Johnny Yen”,  a moody, reflective track from their 1986 debut, a tone of introspection was set before unleashing a wave of energy. Tim Booth, as unpredictable and mesmerising as ever, moved with wild, loose-limbed intensity across the stage, his presence as commanding as his voice as he invited the crowd in.

Even with a packed catalogue of ‘90s hits to lean on, James continue to push forward. Tracks from their 2024 album Yummy slotted into the set with such confidence and clarity. “Way Over Your Head” delivered with brooding edge, while “Stay” shimmered with colour and optimism as they stood shoulder to shoulder with the classics, greeted with excitement and eagerness.

Across a career-spanning set, the band pulled from 18 studio albums. Songs like “She’s a Star,” “Come Home,” and “Say Something” landed with full emotion. With so much material to draw from, the challenge of crafting a cohesive, crowd-pleasing set could easily become a burden but James made it look effortless.

At the midway point ,“Moving On” was introduced with quiet poignancy, as Tim Booth reflected on the recent passing of his mother. He spoke of how the Ainslie Henderson–directed video, a stop-motion meditation on grief, is now often shown in children’s hospices to help young patients understand death. The performance carried that weight, drawing the crowd into one of the night’s more emotionally charged moments. All before “Heads” delivered a completely different energy, a cathartic, percussive release that pulsed with tension and drive.

Throughout the set, Booth frequently paused to acknowledge his bandmates during their solos, kneeling in stillness, endearingly watching. It was a gesture of deep respect, mirrored by the warmth and chemistry on stage. An intimacy that extended beyond the music and transcended in to the crowd as he stepped down to the front row, stood aloft the barrier clutching the hands of fan's for support.

The juxtaposition in James' music runs deep. Despite the track's often euphoric and uplifting nature, their lyrical content and conception often comes from a much darker place. From “Sit Down”, written about isolation and a desire for connection to “Tomorrow”, constructed after talking someone down from taking their life, their music has often spoken to many in more ways than one, and coming together in this setting had a profound effect as fans sang out each and every word. 

Returning for an encore consisting of “Beautiful Beaches,” “Sound,” and crowd-favourite “Laid”, It was a final showcase of the band’s range and enduring creativity. Seamlessly moving from recent material to era-defining hits, James didn’t simply coast on nostalgia; they closed the night with the same sense of momentum and purpose that’s kept them evolving for over four decades.

This wasn’t a show built on sentimentality alone, but one through honesty, joy, and a shared release or emotion. They aren’t a band you simply watch. They’re one you experience. And as the crowd slowly filed out beneath the ancient ramparts, humming fragments of choruses and wiping away tears, there was a shared sense that we’d all witnessed something eternally special. 

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