Tree species Cardiff Castle has a huge list of gigs this summer including the Talking Heads legend, David Byrne, who, lucky for me, played at the Utilita Arena this MarchThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
It was an absolute no-brainer getting tickets for David Byrne’s Where is the Sky show when it announced a Cardiff date. To my surprise a second, outdoor summer show at the castle was announced at the start of the year, but I’ll tell you now, I can’t wait to go and see this show again.
The no-brainer attitude came after years of hearing music fans rave over the former Talking Heads frontman’s vibrant live shows. About how joyous and life-affirming they are, full of fun with legendary art rock hits thrown in for good measure.
Sat on the side, we did have a hampered view of the full staging and screens, the latter of which are used to great effect, but this didn’t matter as the energetic and engaging singer and visual artist and his merry band of musicians and dancers moved around the stage in a way you couldn’t help but join in and dance. Ensure our latest news and sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.
Byrne’s offbeat way of performing his feelgood tracks and bonafide Talking Head classics is mesmerising. I loved how every member of his band were fully embroiled in the quirky dance routines, they stand front and centre as one, it seems, in their matching electric blue get-up.
But Byrne is still a laser focus for your attention, he talks to the audience, tells anecdotes about writing And She Was, the 1985 Talking Heads hit, and his lockdown-created tune, My Apartment is My Friend. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here
All the while the background screens matching the tracks with vivid colours, images, videos and starry skies. It was clever, engaging and fun all at once.
Launching into newer track, Everybody Laughs, the energy from the 74-year-old was infectious. Byrne is a purveyor of effervescent positivity, but I just love that he still includes the slick, darker-energy hits from Talking Heads in his set, like Psycho Killer, Once in a Lifetime. It was a pure feeling of chuffedness to hear these in reality.
The reverse-psychology of the, semi-hopeful, I think, (Nothing But) Flowers was really exciting to hear live. As a seated gig, there were moments when the whole crowd were up, some I wish they were more into, like the aforementioned track from the final Talking Heads studio album – which, with its Afro-beats/Latin infused influences – is the most fun I ever have dancing so I did it anyway.
I’m not totally sure if the gig at Cardiff Castle will follow the same path as this spring show, but whatever happens, I can’t see an act, a show that lends itself more to a cheerful summer gig, in one of our impressive venues.
As Byrne himself remarked, this week’s weather was much better than when he last visited Cardiff, and so we hope the July 26 show will see some sunnier climes than we will inevitably predict.
I have visions of the clear Cardiff sky, with a rich purply-hue as background to the Cardiff Castle Norman keep as Byrne and his team encourage an en masse conga line of sorts around the crowd.
If this sounds like your vibe, there are still tickets left for David Byrne at Cardiff Castle and you can find them, here.