Forget the ravens, Cardiff Castle’s got a new resident bird: Blackbird Festival lands with 10,000 disciples, one legendary helicopter, and a headline set for the ages…

Words & photos by James Crisp (@james_taking_pictures) | July 2, 2026

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Right then, There is something so immensely special about walking through the gates of Cardiff Castle knowing you’re about to spend the day watching some of the coolest names in modern rock inside a venue that’s been standing for almost 2,000 years. It’s pretty damn surreal. One minute you’re staring up at ancient Roman and Norman walls, the next you’re waiting for stacks of amps to melt your face. Somehow, Blackbird Festival makes those two worlds fit together just wonderfully.

For a debut event, this doesn’t feel like a festival finding its feet at all. It feels like something that’s already earned its place on the Welsh summer calendar.

The Welsh weather certainly wasn’t messing around either. Temperatures climbed throughout the day and man it got sweaty. Well, I definitely did at least. The sun beat down relentlessly, but if anyone thought the heat would sap the energy from the crowd, they couldn’t have been more wrong. Around 10,000 fans packed the castle grounds from early afternoon until the final encore, never stopping singing, cheering or punching the air. Every band walked out to a huge reception and was easily left to an even louder one.

Opening proceedings we have local heroes Cardinal Black, and it was hard to imagine a better way to kick off the festival. Tom Hollister’s effortless, soul-filled vocals echoed around the castle walls. At the same time, Chris Buck once again proved why he’s regarded as, well, one hell of a player, delivering tasteful, blues-soaked solos that never felt overplayed. Their blend of blues, soul and classic rock eased everyone into the day, but there was still plenty of bite behind songs like Where Did You Go? By the time they left the stage, Cardiff was fully warmed up.

The mood shifted up a gear when Florence Black took over. Tristan Thomas barely stood still, prowling the stage as the Merthyr trio fired out riff after riff. Their hard-hitting, no-frills rock felt tailor-made for this festival crowd, with every chorus shouted straight back and just as loud at the stage. Looking around, it was impossible to miss the sea of smiles. This was a Welsh crowd getting behind one of its own, and Florence Black soaked up every single second of it.

Things are really starting to kick off now. If there were any lingering doubts about Mammoth and whether Wolfgang Van Halen could escape the gigantic shadow of his surname, they disappeared within minutes, actually no, seconds. Mammoth sounded absolutely massive. Wolfgang switched effortlessly between insane guitar riffs and breathtaking vocals while leading a band that looked completely at home on a stage of this size. Emotional moments like Epiphany landed just as well as the heavier material, proving that Mammoth have earned every bit of their growing reputation on their own merits.

Then it was time for organised chaos.

The moment Skindred hit the stage, Blackbird Festival turned into one giant party with 10,000 attendees. Benji Webbe remains one of the most captivating frontmen in British rock, commanding every inch of Cardiff Castle with seemingly effortless charisma. One minute he’s cracking jokes, the next he’s calling for circle pits, sing-alongs, and enough bouncing to make the castle’s ancient foundations shake to the core. Their unique blend of reggae, metal, punk and absolute fun is still unlike anything else, and watching 10,000 people completely lose their sh*t during Nobody was one of those unforgettable festival moments.

And, of course, they finished the only way they ever could. As Warning kicked in, thousands of fans grabbed T-shirts, hoodies and literally anything else they could wave above their heads for the now-famous Newport Helicopter. If you’re a Skindred fan and let’s be real, how could you not be by now, you’ll know exactly what that means. If you don’t, all I’ll say is this “You need to go and watch Skindred live.” Seeing 10,000 people spinning shirts above their heads beneath the ancient walls of Cardiff Castle was out of this world, brilliantly funny and the perfect way to bring an unforgettable set to a close.

By this point, the crowd had been on its feet for hours under relentless sunshine, yet somehow they were louder than ever.

That brings us to our headliners and curators of this fine day.

The roar that greeted Alter Bridge was beyond deafening; honestly, standing in the photo pit and hearing it was just something else. This wasn’t just another headline set, it felt like an actual homecoming. From the opening song, Myles Kennedy was phenomenal, his voice effortlessly hitting notes most singers wouldn’t even attempt after weeks on the road. Mark Tremonti was simply flawless as always, delivering catchy, shredding riffs one minute before launching into soaring, epic solos the next. Brian Marshall and Scott Phillips locked everything together with the kind of precision and power that has totally become Alter Bridge’s trademark sound.

The set was packed with fan favourites such as Addicted to Pain, Open Your Eyes, Watch over you and Rise today. Each one somehow received an even bigger reaction than the last. Every chorus became a mass sing-along, with thousands upon thousands of voices almost drowning out the band itself. As darkness fell over Cardiff Castle, the atmosphere only intensified. Floodlights lit up the ancient walls while Alter Bridge delivered a finale worthy of such an incredible setting. The band finished with Blackbird and Isolation which truly was the perfect ending to a set filled with towering guitar solos, huge choruses and 10,000 people singing every single word. Really was one of those magical festival moments that will live long in the memory.

Perhaps the biggest compliment I can pay Blackbird Festival is that it never once felt like a one-off experiment. Throughout the day there were plenty of hints that this is the start of something much bigger. The organisation was slick, the line-up was expertly put together, the crowd bought into the idea completely, and every band looked genuinely proud to be part of it. It already feels less like a new festival and more like the beginning of a new tradition.

Walking out of Cardiff Castle, my feet ached, my eyes were heavy, and my ears were still ringing from one of the loudest crowds I’ve heard in years and you know what,
That’s exactly how a rock festival should leave you.

Blackbird Festival didn’t just put on a brilliant first event.
It announced itself as Wales’ newest rock institution.