The 1975 fans have set up camp outside the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff ahead of a huge gig as part of the band's UK tour. The Manchester four-piece will hit the Welsh capital on Monday, January 16 as part of their 14-date UK and Ireland tour which will also see them perform in London, Exeter, Birmingham and Glasgow.
The tour was announced in September in support of the band's fifth album, 'Being Funny In A Foreign Language'. The gig will also be the band's first time back in Cardiff since the pandemic - their last appearance saw them play the Motorpoint Arena in late February, 2020, just weeks before Wales went into its first lockdown.
Throughout Sunday fans began to gather outside the Motorpoint Arena with the aim of staying overnight and securing a place near the stage. The first 100 people to show up are given wristbands first thing in the morning of the gig. It allows them to explore the city and check in at their hotel before coming back for the gig and dodging the queue. By around 7pm on Sunday evening around 12 tents could be seen along with more people in sleeping bags.
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Flora Ingram, 22, and Valentina Cecchi, 20, said they had been queueing outside the venue since around 11.30am. They came fully equipped with a sleeping bag, blankets and lots of layers. The pair said they had been following the band's tour with some mutual friends and met eachother for the first time at one of the shows.
They are particularly excited to see the band's flamboyant frontman Matty Healy. Flora, who is from Bristol, said: "They're just so publicly aware. They listen to how it is for people and they vocalise that. They have the power to get it across and to us, that is just amazing.
"I've been following them since 2018 and I never want to stop now. It's such a great community here, the band really do care about the fans. It's changed a lot from previous tours. They are doing the first part of the show as the album they just released, then they go off for 10 minutes while Matty does his own thing on stage. Then they come back and do their greatest hits that everyone knows. And then every show - which is why a lot of us come to multiple shows - they change one song. They'll change that to a song you'll rarely hear live."
Valentina, who has travelled from Rome to watch the UK tour, added: "This is my first time touring for them. My friend has been to almost 30 shows and my other friend about 15. For me it's because they actually care about societal problems. They like to try out new things in each album." Flora and Valentina said because of the wristbands, venues prepare for fans to camp outside overnight. It means security staff stay on duty to keep them safe.
Georgia Dawkins from Barry has also been following the tour. The 18-year-old said she had been at the venue since around 2pm in a bid to get close to her favourite band. She said: "I go to most of the tour when they play. As Cardiff's my hometown, I want to be in the front row to get pictures. I usually do it with a lot of my friends as well.
"I have friends coming here soon. There are only three of us as we are getting older now - when we first started camping out we were about 16 and 17. It means you are guaranteed to go in first. I've got a tent and a duvet. I usually give the tent and duvet to the homeless people when I'm done with it. I've got loads of layers. I only camp outside for 1975. I feel like they care and they put on enough of a show to make me want to camp out."
Liana Gale has been outside the venue since around 6pm. The 23-year-old from Kent said she has been a fan for the last decade and likes to feel close to them at gigs. She said: "I'm quite short so I like to be at the front with all the vibes. It's a really nice atmosphere and you get really close to the band. It feels really intimate and one night of camping is worth it. I grew up listening to the band and started listening to them when I was about 12 or 13. It's just really important to me and I love their music - it really resonates with me."
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