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:

  1. C’est La Vie
  2. Local Boy in the Photograph
  3. Have a Nice Day
  4. Graffiti on the Train
  5. Maybe Tomorrow
  6. Do Ya Feel My Love?
  7. Just Looking
  8. Hanging On Your Hinges
  9. Fly Like an Eagle
  10. Mr and Mrs Smith
  11. A Thousand Trees
  12. Traffic
  13. Superman
  14. I Wanna Get Lost With You
  15. Pick a Part That’s New
  16. Handbags and Gladrags (Rod Stewart cover – emotional punch to the chest)
  17. The Bartender and the Thief
  18. I Wouldn’t Believe Your Radio

🔁 ENCORE:

  1. Maybe Tomorrow (acoustic reprise)
  2. 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