‘The Cure’ to the Welsh heat at Blackweir
Words: Ciaran Hiscox
Photos: Coal Poet Media
★★★★★
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Photo: Coal Poet Media
The sun blazed behind the stage, hanging in a picturesque blue sky as they opened the set with ‘Plainsong’. Without much filler or faff, the band played continuously through an endurance-testing 28-song marathon lasting two hours and twenty minutes. The set felt like flicking through The Cure's record catalouge and picking out favourites. From beloved hits such as ‘Just Like Heaven’ to deeper cuts like ‘Burn from The Crow’ soundtrack.
Despite the intense heat, Robert Smith and the rest of The Cure delivered a superb performance. You could see how much fun they were having as they worked through their extensive back catalogue. From the musicianship to Smith's distinctive vocals, they sounded fantastic, even from a considerable distance back in the crowd.
The audience remained attentive and engaged throughout. Many were content to sit back and enjoy the music, while others reacted enthusiastically to every song. Looking across the field, there was a sea of heads bobbing and bodies dancing in unison.
After briefly leaving the stage, the band returned two minutes later. Robert Smith told the crowd: "Diolch. Of all the other languages I should have learned Welsh, because I married into a Welsh family. But it's better that I don't know what they are saying most of the time."
They launched into a ten-song encore, beginning with ‘Lullaby’ and the appropriately titled ‘Hot Hot Hot!!!’. Following their short break, the band returned with renewed energy and intensity, powering through songs such as ‘Wrong Number’ and ‘The Walk’.
Then came ‘The Lovecats’, marking the start of a run of crowd-pleasers, prompting a forest of smartphones to rise above the audience, ready to capture the moment.
‘Friday I'm in Love’ transformed the field into a giant choir, and neither the band nor the audience let up from that point onwards. The night built from strength to strength, reaching its climax with ‘Close to Me’, ‘Why Can't I Be You?’, and finally ‘Boys Don't Cry’, sending everyone home delighted.
As a bucket list band I never thought I’d see, The Cure delivered exactly what fans had hoped for. A career-spanning set packed with beloved hits, deep cuts and memorable moments. In the sweltering Cardiff heat, they proved that more than four decades into their career, they remain one of the most captivating live bands around.
Blackweir 2026 continues on Friday with Teddy Swims before two headline nights with Lewis Capaldi and another sold out show with US superstar Pitbull.