‘Well, I never thought you’d get me out in Cardiff tonight!’ – Nathan Collett reviews Bruce
Springsteen and the E-Street Band at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium...
It safe to say that Bruce Springsteen really was the man on fire last night. Kicking off the
European-leg of his 2024 tour on a rainy day in Cardiff was a perfect way to do it. With the
roof (luckily) closed, and nearly 75,000 fans eagerly awaiting the Boss’ first UK appearance
since his headline BST Hyde Park shows in July last year, the stage was set.
After a three-and-a-half-hour journey from Nottingham to Cardiff, and four hours waiting
outside the ground, we were ushered in as the first of the General Admission standing. We
made our way to the barrier separating us from ‘the golden circle’ giving us the perfect view
over the heads of those in the pit. As stage-time drew closer I could sense the tension,
anticipation, and excitement brewing around the stadium.
At 7pm sharp, out walked Springsteen backed by his long-time bandmates: “Miami” Little
Steve Van Zandt, “Professor” Roy Bittan, Gary W Tallant, “the Mighty” Max Weinberg, Nils
Lofgren, “Sister” Soozie Tyrell, and Jake Clemmons (nephew of the late-great “Big-man”
Clarence Clemmons).
Opening with a surprise So Young and In Love (performed for the first time since 2013), the
crowd were on-side from the off knowing that Bruce and the band were going to give their
all for the next three hours. Followed by some fan favourites of No Surrender, Prove It All
Night, and Darlington County, he took his first sign request of the evening to play Better
Days for the first time since 2017. This fan service is exactly what gives him his good name,
and paired with his handing of a harmonica to a young girl in the crowd (as her dad looked
on in tears), it is no surprise his fans view him the way they do.
With his second sign request of the evening, Bruce kicked into If I Was the Priest, a fan
favourite from his 2020 album Letter to You, but one he has only performed a handful of
times, and never outside of the US. It was clear we were being treated and it became only
As the show wound down to a close Bruce gave some audience service to classics like
Thunder Road, Born to Run, Dancing in the Dark, and tribute to lost band-mates Tenth
Avenue Freeze-Out. With the band leaving the stage after covering Twist and Shout, Bruce
stayed behind looking vulnerable with only his acoustic guitar and harmonica for protection.
With a short speech thanking everyone for coming, and pointing out the importance of
remembering those we’ve lost, and stating how ‘grief is just proof we have loved well’, he
played I’ll See You in My Dreams. This seemed all the more poignant following the passing of
Springsteen’s mother Adele in February, and was something which I’m sure resonated with
everyone in the room.
Overall, Bruce took every single person at last night’s show to The Promised Land and back,
and this should provide great excitement for anyone looking to travel to further UK dates in
Sunderland (22nd May), or Wembley (25th and 27th July).
Nathan Collett
Edited by Alice Beard
Images courtesy of Nathan Collett, video courtesy of Bruce Springsteen on Youtube
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