See the Manics make triumphant return at Radio 2 gig in Cardiff
Manic Street Preachers played their first live show for more than 18 months last night for a special Radio 2 show at St David’s Hall in Cardiff.
The intimate gig was hosted by Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley, in front of 150 lucky ticket holders who were successful in a ballot to win tickets.
Fans had to register for tickets to be in with a chance of being at St David’s Hall and tickets were allocated via a ballot.
The Manics dusted off the cobwebs after an enforced break due to the pandemic to run through a 12 song setlist that included several tracks from their forthcoming new album ‘Ultra Vivid Lament’, as well as a few Manics’ classics including ‘Motorcycle Emptiness’, ‘If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next’ and ‘Design For Life’.
They also threw in a memorable cover of Echo and the Bunnymen’s ‘Bring On The Dancing Horses’, a nod to the history the band have with the venue in the centre of the Welsh capital.
Ahead of the show, frontman James Dean Bradfield had commented: “We are really excited to be playing St David’s Hall in Cardiff on August 12th for Radio 2 Live. I’ve seen bands and artists including The Waterboys, Echo and the Bunnymen, John Grant and Gary Numan perform on stage there, and myself and Nicky Wire busked outside of it in the mid ‘80s.
“Hopefully, we can add to the musical memories we have experienced there.”
Smallest gig
On stage at St David’s Hall Nicky Wire talked about how the intimate show might well be the smallest Cardiff gig they’d played since their early show at the much loved indie venue The Square Club back in 1989.
The show will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer and hear on BBC Sounds from Saturday 11th September, with special highlights shows on BBC Radio 2 from 8-10pm on Saturday 11th September and from 7-9pm on Sunday 12th September.
The Manics will play two sold out shows for the NHS at Cardiff’s Motorpoint next month.
Their new album ‘Ultra Vivid Lament’ is released on Friday, September 10.
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