Principality Stadium – Stadium Anthems Tour – July 2025
“Still got it? They never lost it, mun.” 🏴🔥
🌞 THE WARM-UP – CARDIFF BAKES FOR THE PHONICS
The sun had clearly clocked the setlist and fancied a mosh – Cardiff was roasting! Temperatures soared into the high 20s, and 60,000+ fans flooded the streets in merch so faded it could only mean one thing: this crowd had been riding with the ‘Phonics since Word Gets Around. From students to silver foxes, bucket hats to cowboy boots, the energy was peak Cymru. 🧢🎸
As the Stadium Anthems Tour rolled into town, fans knew they were in for a greatest-hits showdown. But even by Stereophonics’ standards, this was a homecoming masterclass.
🥪 FOOD, DRINK & WALLET TEARS
We’ll keep it real – stadium prices still sting harder than an encore cut short. Here’s the damage:
- Pints: £7.50 for standard lager / £8.50 for “craft” options (if you could call it that)
- Water: £3.50 (yes, for H₂O – we were tamping!)
- Hot Dogs: £8.00
- Burgers: £10.50 (add £1.50 for cheese – capitalism, eh?)
- Loaded Fries: £7.00
- Vegan Wraps: £8.50
- Ice Creams: £4.00 – yes, people were melting fast enough to justify it 🍦
Top tip: Refill stations were available (thankfully), but hidden away like an Easter egg hunt from hell. Ask a steward near the lower tier blocks – they’ll point you in the right direction.
🎶 THE SETLIST – WALL-TO-WALL BANGERS
Here’s what went down, in all its stadium-shaking glory:
- C’est La Vie
- Local Boy in the Photograph
- Have a Nice Day
- Graffiti on the Train
- Maybe Tomorrow
- Do Ya Feel My Love?
- Just Looking
- Hanging On Your Hinges
- Fly Like an Eagle
- Mr and Mrs Smith
- A Thousand Trees
- Traffic
- Superman
- I Wanna Get Lost With You
- Pick a Part That’s New
- Handbags and Gladrags (Rod Stewart cover – emotional punch to the chest)
- The Bartender and the Thief
- I Wouldn’t Believe Your Radio
🔁 ENCORE:
- Maybe Tomorrow (acoustic reprise)
- Dakota (If you didn’t scream this, are you even Welsh?)
🚶♂️ GETTING TO (AND FROM) THE GIG
The Principality Stadium is smack in the middle of Cardiff – a blessing and a curse depending on your exit plan…
🚌 By Train:
- Cardiff Central Station is just a 5-minute walk from the stadium. Trains were rammed post-show – no surprise.
- If you’re from Newport, Bridgend, or anywhere Valleys-adjacent – book an early return or risk standing next to the loos. Again.
🚗 Driving?
- You brave fool. Roads were carnage. Park and Ride at Leckwith or Pentwyn was your best bet – still traffic-heavy though.
- NCP and stadium-area car parks hit max capacity by 6pm.
🚶♀️ On Foot:
- If you’re local, fair play. Walking back across the bridge with thousands of fans all singing Maybe Tomorrow was lush, honestly. Gave us goosebumps.
🤘 THE VERDICT – KINGS STILL REIGN
Kelly Jones didn’t just show up – he owned the night. Smooth as ever, belting out classics with that gravel-and-honey voice we all love. His connection to the crowd was pure Cymru magic: “Nice to be home again… you lot still sing better than me, mind.”
Every moment felt personal. Every lyric hit like it was written yesterday. And every chorus had 60,000+ backing vocalists. Only in Wales, mun. 🥹🏴
Best Moment?
That ridiculous roar during Dakota. We swear the stadium shook. Even the seagulls did a lap of honour.
Worst Moment?
Trying to find a second bottle of water without remortgaging your house. But that’s stadium gigs for you.
🧻 THE FINAL RIFF ROLL-UP:
Atmosphere: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Setlist: 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
Sound Quality: 🎧🎧🎧🎧
Toilets: 🚽 (bit grim by 10pm)
Overall Vibe: TIDY! 🤘🏴
📸 Got photos from the gig?
Tag us @theriffreportuk on Instagram and Twitter! We’ll feature the best ones in our gallery.
🖤 Stereophonics, diolch for making Cardiff sing again.
Let’s not wait another few years for the next one, yeah?
#Stereophonics #CardiffGig #StadiumAnthemsTour #WelshRockRoyalty #CymruAmByth #TheRiffReport #GigReview #LiveMusicWales
