Last week at Utilita Arena Cardiff, Bryan Adams rolled into town with the kind of no-nonsense arena show that reminded me why his songs have been clinging to mine and probably all of the audience’s lives since cassette days.
The staging was clever rather than flashy: big screens, clean lights… and his band, wow! They hit like a well-oiled engine, and with a frontman who’s somehow become even more likeable with age. Adams’ voice was studio-perfect — it had that lived-in rasp that makes “Run To You” feel like a confession and “Heaven” land like a warm drink after a long walk.
Newer cuts slotted in without killing the vibe — punchy, straight-ahead rock built for arenas rather than playlists. The best of them worked as palate cleansers between the classics, and at times I had to question whether these were actually new songs or old ones, since I didn’t know a few tracks but felt like I did.
Cardiff got the complete sing-along treatment. “Can’t Stop This Thing We Started” and “18 Til I Die” really did kick the room into motion, while “Everything I Do (I Do It For You)” turned the arena into one big karaoke bar.
There was plenty of easy banter, a few “how are we doing, Cardiff?” moments, and a sense that the crowd were being led by someone who’s done the miles but still enjoys the ride. When “Summer of ’69” hit near the end, the place lifted — arms up, voices out, strangers grinning at strangers.
If you wanted reinvention, you weren’t in the right room. If you wished for big-hearted rock’n’roll delivered with craft, charm and zero fuss, Adams nailed it — and you left smiling and humming all the way home.
