FYC 2025: The Moments That Defined Cardiff

Photo Credit: Angus Jenner

From those Oasis concerts, to one of Britain’s biggest superstar surprising and funding schools, to a summer of wonder with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Alanis Morissette and Lana Del Rey all descending on the city, it’s been another momentous year for Cardiff. As part of our wrap up series, we take a look back at five of the most defining moments for the Welsh capital in 2025.

Ed Sheeran Visits Cardiff Schools

Photo Credit: The Ed Sheeran Foundation Instagram - Ed Sheeran and Amy Wadge

JANUARY 09TH

One of the years most defining moments for Cardiff happened at the very outset as children returned to school at the start of January. Lucky students and participants at Fitzalan High School, Eastmoors Youth Centre in Splott, and the city-centre youth project Grassroots were greeted by Ed Sheeran and his acclaimed longtime songwriting partner Wales-based songwriter Amy Wadge.

Across the various visits Sheeran and Wadge conducted small performances and Q&A sessions with students as they toured the cities various facilities helping shape the next generation of Cardiff’s musicians. The visit marked the official launch of ‘the Ed Sheeran Foundation’, a UK-wide initiative committed to addressing inequalities in music education by supporting state schools and grassroots music organisations, particularly in underserved areas and designed to support youth music education across the UK through grant-making, raising awareness, and fostering collaborations.

Speaking about the foundation, Ed said: “Music education has shaped who I am. I’ve always enjoyed playing music, and it’s led to some of the best moments of my life” The Ed Sheeran Foundation is about breaking down barriers and opening doors to creativity.” As part of the foundation’s first wave of grants, four Cardiff-based organisations received funding. Beneficiaries include the Aloud Charity, Fitzalan High School, and Ministry of Life Education, with a significant multi-year grant awarded to Sound Progression.

Oasis kick off the reunion of a century at Principality Stadium

JULY 4TH + JULY 5TH

At the start of July the eyes of the world were firmly on Cardiff. Music’s biggest feud was set to be put to bed after years of bitter tirades between Manchester’s waring brothers. Oasis were back! Thirty years ago the band’s first album was first recorded here in Wales so in a way it only felt right that the band’s rebirth should also.

In the days and hours leading up to the two shows there was a sense of grand occasion and electricity about the Welsh capital we’ve never quite witnessed before. Broadcasters from the world over descending, BBC all day takeovers and the world’s music media all reporting from the first reunion night.

The shows didn’t disappoint. The emerging shot of Liam and Noel hand-in-hand, even then in the flesh, before it plastered every morning paper the next day, felt incredibly symbolic. From that moment on the group delivered two incredible hours of timeless rock hits. Whilst the occasion was a significant event in its own right, and a momentous show across the world, there was something special about those first two nights in Wales.

The band, fuelled by a full voiced Principality Stadium roaring them on, the sound of the group and crowd in unison able to be heard across the neighbouring River Taff and through the city centre. It’s no surprise that first night sits a top many gig of the year lists, why those photos and reviews top every music media metric for 2025. It was the reunion of a century, and here in Cardiff, we did ourselves proud.

Panic Shack take over The Canopi

JULY 18TH

2025 belonged to Panic Shack. It was a significant twelve months for the Cardiff punk group who released their long awaited self-titled debut album with a pair of raucous debut album launch shows at The Canopi. The band converted the sold-out grassroots venue into a Panic Shack themed album celebration; with exclusive merch, signings and capped off with two emphatic performances it felt like Cardiff turned out in force to show support for the group.

The heartfelt joyous atmosphere only added to the feeling you were witnessing an ‘I was there’ moment as the group played their debut front-to-back. It was just one of many landmarks for Panic Shack in a year which has seen them complete a major headline tour across UK and Europe, perform at festivals worldwide (including Brazil) and make their first appearance on the historic TV showcase ‘Later… with Jools Holland’. All that, and it still feels like they’re only getting started.

A Summer of Wonder

JUNE - AUGUST

Whilst Oasis rightfully take the headlines for Cardiff’s summer, it was a momentous year for the city wherever you looked. Fuelled by the sunshine, crowds flocked to the first ever set of Blackweir events just outside the city centre where fans got to witness icons such as Stevie Wonder and Alanis Morissette.

Stevie Wonder’s performance in particular was a defining moment. The legendary musicians first show in Wales in forty years was a spectacular nearly three hours hit-packed extravaganza that highlighted the breadth of options available to fans and artists here in the capital. Cardiff’s Castle also secured a coupe with a comparatively intimate set from Fontaines DC as 10,000 lucky fans secured the hottest ticket in town to see the festival headliners showcase their exciting blend of rock and post-punk.

It was also a gigantic year for Principality Stadium as they showcased their largest selection of live music to date. It played not just host to the Gallagher brothers, but it also saw Lana Del Rey perform her first ever stadium show to a sold-out crowd, the return of hometown heroes Stereophonics, and fresh off their super bowl success, the GNX tour from Kendrick Lamar and SZA.

A City of Celebration

OCTOBER

2024 saw the launch of Cardiff’s first ever ‘Cardiff City Music Festival’. A display of the next generation of Welsh acts, art installations, the cities grassroots venues and a selection of headline showcase performances. It’s 2025 return was once again a fantastic display of the cities cultural strengths providing a host of ‘defining moments’.

This years Welsh Music Prize saw the esteemed Pino Palladino receive the well-deserved ‘Welsh Music Inspiration Award’ alongside video messages from a segment of his incredible list of collaborators such as Miley Cyrus, Jools Holland and Questlove with the latter stating “If I only had one person to choose to play bass with for the rest of my days, I would choose Pino Palladino”.

Whether it was the Welsh Music Prize, the special one-off opening show from CVC at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Sŵn or Llais - Cardiff’s second annual Cardiff City Music Festival once more delivered a defining programme of culture.

FYC 2025: The Moments That Defined Cardiff