Radio 1 presenter Sam MacGregor told BBC: “There has been a history of people who, when they have done a UK tour or European tour, have missed off Wales. But it’s exciting to see artists are starting to change that perception. And if people like Taylor Swift, the biggest artist in the world right now, can come to Cardiff, they why can’t some of the smaller or medium scale artists come?”

Fans had been eagerly awaiting information regarding Swift’s upcoming tour, and when the 34-year-old announced what cities she, along with support from American rock band Paramore, would be visiting, many were ecstatic to discover the singer would be hitting Cardiff this summer. The “Anti-Hero” singer will be playing Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on June 18, her only Welsh date for the entire tour.

Really can’t contain my excitement because… we’re adding 14 new shows to The Eras Tour. And I get to travel the world doing shows with @paramore!! Hayley and I have been friends since we were teens in Nashville and now we get to frolic around the UK/Europe next summer??? I’m… pic.twitter.com/kl1aijxR2o

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 5, 2023

Taylor Swift isn’t the only superstar to be performing in Cardiff this summer, as the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Billy Joel, and Pink will be performing at the Principality Stadium, giving Wales an unforgettable summer of live music.

Emily Cotterill from FOR Cardiff, a group representing businesses in the city centre, believes each event is a big opportunity. She said: “We want people who have maybe come to Cardiff once for a gig to think ‘we want to go back and spend a weekend’. Lots of the time, especially with these big names, they are a reason to come here for the first time and then it’s up to us to help those people come back for a second, third or fourth time.”

For more information on Taylor Swift’s upcoming Eras Tour, click here.

Tour dates:

07/06/2024 – Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium – Edinburgh
08/06 – Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium – Edinburgh
09/06 – Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium – Edinburgh
13/06 – Anfield Stadium – Liverpool
14/06 – Anfield Stadium – Liverpool
15/06 – Anfield Stadium – Liverpool
18/06 – Principality Stadium – Cardiff
21/06 – Wembley Stadium – London
22/06 – Wembley Stadium – London
23/06 – Wembley Stadium – London
28/06 – Aviva Stadium – Dublin
29/06 – Aviva Stadium – Dublin
30/06 – Aviva Stadium – Dublin
15/08 – Wembley Stadium – London
16/08 – Wembley Stadium – London
17/08 – Wembley Stadium – London
19/08 – Wembley Stadium – London
20/08 – Wembley Stadium – London

The second round of New Order’s outdoor shows will be an all-day event and homecoming performance held at Manchester’s Wythenshawe Park on August, 24. The exciting hometown show will feature UK artists Johnny Marr and Roisin Murphy as supporting acts.

We are pleased to announce two UK shows, at Cardiff’s Alexander Head with @thecharlatans, and at Wythenshawe Park in Manchester with @Johnny_Marr and @roisinmurphy.

Presale tickets are on sale at 10am on 04/12 General on sale begins at 10am on Tuesday 05/12.#NewOrderLive pic.twitter.com/ddJvOEZoxy

— New Order (@neworder) November 29, 2023

In 2023, the iconic synth-pop band celebrated the 40 year anniversary of their legendary track “Blue Monday”, and announced a reissued edition of their best selling compilation album Substance 1987 to celebrate the occasion.

Moreover, founding member of the group Bernard Sumner recently joined forces with American band Gorgol Bordello to cover Angelic Upstarts’ classic punk hit “Solidarity” in order to donate profits to a relief charity in Ukraine.

When it was first recorded, the song was written in support of the anti-Communist Solidarity movement in 1980s Poland, and went on to be the band’s most famous hit. Now, Gogol Bordello have introduced a new, alleged modern meaning to the original track, with the lyrics relating to ongoing attack on Ukraine.

Sumner had also spoke out on his feelings towards the conflict in Ukraine in his recent collaboration with Mella Dee on the song “Riptide”. When speaking to NME about the song, he said: “It was all about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and I was just seeing that all of the time. I’d been in a vacuum so I wrote it about politics, really, and the war. I wanted to write it about something that meant a lot to me,” he added: “I didn’t know what else I could write a song about. It was a bit like that scene out of A Clockwork Orange where he’s got his eyes pinned back and he’s made to watch all these horrible films.”

Presale tickets for New Order’s outdoor UK shows will become available at 10am on December, 4, with general sale for tickets starting at 10am the following day on December, 5. You will be able to purchase your tickets here.

Tour dates:

22/08/2024 – Cardiff Bay – Cardiff
24/08 – Wythenshawe Park – Manchester