Sex Pistols

Sex Pistols - The Stranglers - The Undertones - Panic Shack - Cardiff Castle 1st August 2026

Another biggie, and what a fantastic setting.

I spent the day looking around the castle and visiting the wonderful Gothic house. Every now and then I'd hear a guitar or a drum beat blasting out from the stage as they prepared for the evening's show.

Wandering around the castle grounds with those occasional bursts of music in the background really set the scene for what was to come that evening.

Panic Shack

Sarah Harvey - Lead vocals
Meg Fretwell - Guitar, backing vocals
Romi Lawrence - Guitar, backing vocals
Emily Smith - Bass
Nick Doherty-Williams - Drums

Once again, I only caught the last song from the opening act, the local band Panic Shack. Sorry guys but I felt I had to pace myself for the main events, although I did at least manage to grab a distant photo.

The Undertones

Paul McLoone - vocals
John O'Neill - guitar
Damian O'Neill - guitar
Michael Bradley - bass
Billy Doherty - drums

The Undertones may no longer feature Fergal Sharkey, who left the band in 1983, but Paul McLoone has been fronting them since their reunion in 1999 and does a terrific job. This was my first time seeing them live. Although I'm mainly familiar with the hits, they all sounded fantastic, and the band showed why they're still so highly regarded nearly fifty years on.

The Stranglers

Baz Warne - guitar, vocals
JJ Burnel - bass, vocals
Jim Macaulay - drums
Toby Hounsham - keyboards

I've seen The Stranglers more times than I can remember. Rattus Norvegicus remains one of my all-time favourite albums aggressive, menacing and yet incredibly musical. Formed in 1974 and already seasoned by years on the pub circuit, they were a very different proposition from many of the bands that emerged during punk's explosion in 1976. They could really play.

When Hugh Cornwell left in 1990, I drifted away too. It wasn't until around 2012 that I started listening to them again, and in 2014 I saw them live on their Ruby Anniversary Tour. I couldn't believe how great they sounded.

Baz Warne, who joined in 2000, has made the role his own. He's not Hugh Cornwell and he never tries to be but after 26 years he truly is a Strangler.

The deaths of Dave Greenfield in 2020 and Jet Black in 2022 made me think my time with the Meninblack had come to an end. I went to see them in 2021 saying to myself this is my farewell and last time I would see them.

Then came Caerdydd

So... was this really my final Stranglers gig? Somehow, I doubt it.

Frank Carter - vocals
Steve Jones - guitar
Glen Matlock - bass
Paul Cook - drums

I never had the chance to see the Sex Pistols during their original, short-lived career, so seeing Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock together on stage fifty years later was something I'd never expected to experience.

I was fairly certain I'd recognise the setlist. After all, the Sex Pistols only ever released one proper studio album but what an album it was. From the opening notes to the iconic artwork, Never Mind the Bollocks remains one of the defining records of the punk era.

And then there was Frank Carter.

I'll admit I wasn't sure what to expect, but he was superb. Rather than trying to imitate John Lydon, he brought his own energy and charisma to the role. Constantly moving, diving into the crowd and urging the audience on, he gave the whole performance a fresh, exciting feel.

I'm still hoping to catch John Lydon himself on his Q&A tour later this year, but for one night at least, Frank Carter proved he was the perfect choice to front the Sex Pistols.