You think you've seen some great live music gigs - and then along come Coldplay who are completely off the scale. It's been six long years since Chris Martin and co last performed in Cardiff but on Tuesday, June 6 they brought the first of two consecutive sell-out gigs to the Welsh capital - and the wait was well worth it as they filled the venue with a riot of colour, twinkling lights and confetti.
Coldplay are renowned for their spectacular live performances and just one song into the Principality Stadium show, you knew that the Music of the Spheres tour was going to be every bit as incredible. After opening with the raucous Higher Power, giant colourful bouncing balls were released into the crowds, while the wristbands everyone was handed on the way in flashed as Adventure of a Lifetime played out. And this was just for starters.
From then on in we were treated to a mind-blowing performance which brought us hit after hit, from catchy tracks like Paradise and Viva La Vida to the slower paced Yellow. Energetic frontman Martin and the rest of the band - Mold-raised Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion - moved from main stage to circular platform and back via a walkway through the crowds as they entertained their fans.
The charismatic and very likeable frontman shouted "Shwmae Caerdydd" before explaining that his Welsh was "minimal" but no one cared a jot. He politely thanked us for being there and giving up our Tuesday night and even for putting up with any traffic congestion on our journeys there before telling us our city was "beautiful".
He said: "Everyone knows Wales is the best place for singing - tonight we will prove that to be 100% true." And, of course, we did as 60,000 fans sung their hearts out throughout the night. With the roof open, the voices, lights and confetti soared above - as well as those colourful balls. And as everyone belted out A Sky Full of Stars the twinkling wristbands came into their own.
One touching moment came when Martin invited one man up onto the circular stage with him after spotting him holding aloft a sign asking if he could sing Everglow with the superstar in memory of his best friend who had recently passed away. He wasn't the only one who joined Coldplay for some singing. Bridgend Male Voice Choir performed Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau while Kelly Jones was the special guest for the night and as he sang Dakota, Coldplay provided the instrumental to the Stereophonics' track.
The encore featured the glorious Fix You and we were even treated to fireworks. Even if you regard Coldplay's music as a bit too 'mainstream', their live shows will really blow your mind. Entertaining, uplifting, joyful and fun, it was just what we all needed on a Tuesday night. If you have tickets to the second Cardiff show on Wednesday, June 7 - the final UK gig of this world tour - you really are in for a treat.
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