Two-time GRAMMY nominated singer-songwriter NOAH KAHAN not only played his first UK outdoor show of the summer but had the honour of kicking off the very first BLACKWEIR music series last night (Friday), and what a show it was.
The Cardiff date was the first of four gigs for the brand new venue and we were there to watch 25,000 fans descend on the site to see the Vermont star.
The gates opened at 5pm but we can tell you the crowds arrived nice and early, not only to see Noah Kahan play a memorable set but also be the first to see this new venue and give it their seal of approval. We spoke to a lot of the music lovers and without fail they gave the venue, staging and brilliant atmosphere a big thumbs up.
Maybe it was the Cardiff sunshine that helped or the incredibly friendly and enthusiastic team who ushered everyone around the site safely, but whatever it was the consensus seemed to be BLACKWEIR needs to return next year.
If like many of us you’ve watched YouTube performances of Noah and wondered how he would fair with a Cardiff crowd well, you needn’t have worried, from the get go he had all of us in the palm of his hand. With one of the most accomplished bands you’ll see and hear anywhere, this group of on stage mates quickly made friends with 25,000 of us who sang in choir-like unison to every song during an electrifying 90 minute set.
Noah said…..
“The more success you have, the more your career becomes your life. If you allow yourself to be fully immersed in your career and let that become your entire personality, you start to lose, I think, a little bit of what you had before — and that’s really scary for me.”
There was no sign of him being scared on the massive stage, he smiled and sang his way through some of the most personal and beautifully crafted songs of the last 6 or so years.
Opening with All My Love and Everywhere Everything. He then segued perfectly into a hit-filled set including Dial Drunk, She Calls Me, New Perspective, Homesick, You’re Gonna Go Far, Orange Juice and Northern Attitude.
An encore followed with View Between Villages before the song we had all waited for, and boy were we ready to bring the non existent roof down. A great artist saves the best for last and they really don’t come much better than his huge number one single Stick Season.
Noah Kahan left the Cardiff crowd on a real high giving us a musical glimpse into his Vermont life along with some quirky tales of life back home. This is a night we, and we suspect Noah will never forget.
As we made our way out of the park and back into the city you could hear the 25,000 strong Kahan choir continue the show till the site was cleared to get ready for another night.
Supporting Noah was Stranger Things actor and musician Djo, aka Joe Keery, while German-born, London-raised busker turned songwriter Sebastian Schub opened the night.
The first ever BLACKWEIR was a massive success helped along by a faultless performance from the opening headliner, a venue which ticked all the boxes for a great experience and I have to say thousands of the most eager, dedicated and ‘up for it’ music fans you’ll find anywhere in the country.
Blackweir continues on Wednesday with seven-time GRAMMY Award winning singer/songwriter Alanis Morissette.
BLACKWEIR 2025
- 2nd July – Alanis Morissette + Liz Phair + Gwenno + Megan Wyn
- 3rd Juiy – SLAYER + Amon Amarth + Anthrax + Mastodon + Hatebreed + Neckbreaker
- 9th July – Stevie Wonder + Corinne Bailey Rae
For more details on BLACKWEIR, how to get there safely and ticket information, go HERE.
