Bastille’s Glorious Return to Cardiff with the From All Sides Tour
Indie-pop giants Bastille made a triumphant return to Cardiff with their From All Sides tour, a celebration of the band’s first fifteen years, blending beloved classics with a few welcome surprises.
The evening unfolded as a journey through Bastille’s evolution, equal parts nostalgic and forward-looking, with a crowd that matched the band’s enthusiasm note for note.
The night began with local band MORN, whose short but blistering set jolted the sleepy Welsh crowd awake. Raw, gritty, and full of punk punch, their energy cut through the arena’s early stillness. Though their sound diverged from the smoother indie-pop that would follow, MORN’s ferocity set the tone, a defiant reminder of a thriving grassroots music scene.
Next up was Bradley Simpson, best known as the frontman of The Vamps, now stepping confidently into his solo era. To the delight of the many fans scattered along the barrier in their Simpson merch from previous shows, the singer was joined by his now resident duo of drummer Elena Costa and guitarist James Atwood.
He opened with Daisies, his third solo single, greeted by a shower of faux daisies thrown onto stage by fans, a now-traditional moment that has stuck since his first solo tour earlier in the year. The dreamy, upbeat number explores the excitement and fragility of new love, its infectious optimism perfectly suited to Simpson’s shining vocals.
The affection from the audience was palpable. Many sang along to every word, while one lucky fan had their evening made when Simpson responded to a shouted request for him to perform Favourite Band. “I’ll come back to it, I need a different guitar,” he promised, before returning a song later to dedicate it personally. It was a moment of spontaneity that revealed the singer’s charm and humility, traits honed from years of arena shows with his former bandmates, and more intimate gigs through his blooming solo career.
To win over any newcomers, Simpson cleverly worked in a cover of Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, a crowd-pleasing move that had the entire arena dancing. He closed his set with Carpet Burn, performed under a sea of twinkling phone lights stretching from the front barricade to the upper balconies. The moment shimmered with sincerity, a polished, heartfelt performance that confirmed Simpson’s ability to command a stage all his own.
After a short interval, the house lights dimmed and the roar of anticipation swelled. Dan Smith, Bastille’s ever-energetic frontman, bounded onto stage with infectious spirit as the opening notes of Things We Lost in the Fire filled the arena. Backed by the full band, Smith’s commanding vocals and the song’s surging chorus had the crowd leaping in unison from the very first track.
The From All Sides tour, showcased as a celebration of songs from Bastille’s impressive 15-year career, felt like both a victory lap and a love letter to their fans. Each track slotted neatly into the next, tracing their progression from early indie days to polished pop architects.
The staging was slick with glowing geometric visuals, striking lighting, and a stage design that struck a balance between cinematic and unexpectedly intimate. Yet what truly stood out was the warmth between the band and their audience. When the show briefly paused for a fan in need of assistance, Smith filled the gap with easy conversation, sharing anecdotes of festival memories and graciously accepting gifts tossed from the front rows, thanking the fans creativity and generosity. A moment of sincerity, and a reminder that Bastille’s strength lies as much in personal connection as in performance.
Confidence radiated from the band throughout, their gratitude sincere and often repeated. Smith paused between songs to thank the crowd for supporting their continued journey, visibly moved by the scale and volume of the reception they were receiving.
The emotional heart of the night came with Oblivion. As the lights dimmed once again and Smith’s delicate vocal floated through the arena, the energy softened into something fragile and touching. The audience stood hushed, the quiet intensity of the moment cutting through the noise. It was a testament to Bastille’s skill as performers, their ability to shift from euphoric anthems to intimate moments without losing any hard-earned momentum.
From there, the energy built again. Fan favourites Good Grief, Flaws, and Of the Night turned the arena into pure celebration. Midway through, the band surprised the crowd with a short DJ-style interlude, a mash-up of covers and remixes that injected playful chaos into the set. It was a clever nod to their roots and kept even the most casual fans at the back of the arena on their feet.
As the main set drew to a close, Happier provided a soaring final chorus before the lights went out again, the crowd buzzing with anticipation for the glorious encore everyone knew was coming. After a brief pause, the opening drumbeats of Pompeii rang out, instantly recognisable and met with thunderous cheers and smiles all around. The song that launched Bastille into global fame remains an undeniably perfect closer, euphoric, cathartic, and timeless. Thousands of voices joined in, word-for-word, to join the band in one final chorus.
In a heart-warming final gesture, Bastille invited MORN, their young opening act, back on stage to join in the closing song. It was a symbolic passing of the torch, a moment of unity between local newcomers and seasoned professionals. Bastille’s From All Sides tour is more than a greatest-hits showcase. The setlist balanced nostalgia with experimentation, the production dazzled without overwhelming, and the emotional honesty running through the night kept it grounded in a way that’s difficult to cultivate with such large audiences.
Bastille have grown into one of Britain’s most dependable live acts, capable of transforming massive arenas into communal spaces of shared emotion and joy. Cardiff’s crowd responded in kind, meeting every lyric and track with enthusiasm. By the time the final notes rang out, one thing was clear, Bastille’s connection with their fans remains as strong, and as heartfelt, as ever. Their return to Cardiff was a celebration of everything the band has spent fifteen years building, and a promise that the next chapter will be just as glorious as ever.
To catch Bastille on their last few tour dates in 2025, or at their Royal Albert Hall show in December, visit: https://www.bastillebastille.com/
