It had been a long time coming after being postponed due to the pandemic but Michael Bublé's Welsh gig was well worth the wait as fans were treated to a string of hits, including a selection of Elvis' tracks. And, between songs, the Canadian crooner injected plenty of humour as he bantered with fans and put them centre stage. Bublé was the latest in a line up of names to perform at Cardiff Castle this summer, which also include Pete Tong and A-ha.
And like those before him, he didn't disappoint. This was one of a number of UK dates on the rescheduled An Evening with Michael Bublé tour, which sees the the four-time Grammy Award winner perform a series of open-air concerts at locations such as stately homes and castles.
Opening with Feeling Good, this high-energy show brought non-stop hits as Bublé performed along with his superb backing singers and incredible big band musicians, who also acted as impromptu dancers, swaying along to the music when they weren't required to play an instrument.
Read more: Bryan Adams played a Cardiff gig and was totally obsessed with the city's beautiful castle
Bublé was clearly delighted to be performing live music again after lockdown, telling the delighted crowd: "I'm finally here. Oh my God, I missed you so much!"
A walkway straight from the stage stretching into the crowd against the castle backdrop meant the singer could connect with his fans much easier. There were plenty of quips with one who held up a T-shirt with the slogan: 'I'd go gay for you Bublé' and lots of chatter with an eight-year-old who had been held aloft.
He stopped to sign hats and T-shirts that landed at his feet and he even stepped down from the walkway to shake hands with lucky fans who had a front row seat. At one point, he read out a message sent to him on social media from one fan among the Cardiff crowd who asked if he would dedicate a song to her mum who had recently suffered the loss of both her parents within weeks and he was more than happy to oblige.
While his comic timing is impeccable, it was his music we were all there for and he certainly delivered. As well as his biggest hits like Haven't Met You Yet and It's A Beautiful Day, the singer belted out a fine selection of covers and there were nods to Dean Martin (Sway) and Nat King Cole (L-O-V-E) among others but the real tribute was to the King himself, Elvis Presley, with Bublé singing everything from All Shook Up and Can't Help Falling In Love to Fever. Can we expect an Elvis covers album this Christmas?
There was no warm up act - as if Bublé needs one - but fans enjoyed getting on for two hours of music including an encore which finished with You Were Always On My Mind so it was well worth the price of a ticket. And it was definitely worth the wait...
Read next:
- Stereophonics at the Principality Stadium review: Hit after hit for Welsh rockers as they duet with Tom Jones
- Rammstein gig causes people to panic that Principality Stadium was on fire
-
A-ha in Cardiff review: The Norwegian trio open a series of castle gigs with a storming set
-
Elton John in Swansea review: The extraordinary way the Rocket Man said farewell to Wales
-
Elton John sets fans straight on health after being seen in a wheelchair
