Stevie Wonder and Alanis Morissette Set to Headline Expanded Bute Park Concerts

In a contentious decision that has sparked significant local debate, Cardiff Council’s licensing sub committee has approved plans to expand live music events at Bute Park, allowing performances for up to 35,000 people on Blackweir Fields. The approval, granted during a heated meeting on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, paves the way for global superstars including Stevie Wonder, Alanis Morissette, and Kings of Leon to perform at the venue this summer.
The controversial “Blackweir Live” series had already drawn criticism from residents when tickets went on sale before the necessary licensing approval had been secured. This unusual sequence of events was addressed during the meeting when Councillor Sean Driscoll questioned the approach, asking: “Do you think we have done this the wrong way around?” Jeremy Phillips KC, representing Cardiff Council, defended the decision by explaining it was “a question of timing” and that securing world-class artists like Stevie Wonder required swift action. “The leading time has just necessitated them taking that risk,” Phillips stated, though he emphasized that the wider community has “by no means been taken for granted.”
The newly approved license includes 46 conditions designed to manage events properly and mitigate potential negative impacts on the park and surrounding areas. Under these terms, only six main event days will be permitted throughout the year. The inaugural Blackweir Live series will commence with Noah Kahan performing on Friday, June 27, followed by Kings of Leon and Courteeners on Sunday, June 29. July will see performances by Alanis Morissette on July 2, Slayer on July 3, and Stevie Wonder closing the series on July 9.
Local opposition to the plans has been vocal and multifaceted. One resident who lives in Bute Park expressed during the meeting that she would feel “imprisoned” in her own home during these events. Other concerns raised included increased traffic disruption, with North Road facing temporary closures during events, as well as noise pollution affecting the surrounding neighborhoods.
The Friends of Bute Park organization has been particularly outspoken about their concerns, warning that “vast swathes” of parkland would become inaccessible to residents and visitors for significant portions of the summer. The group contends that expanding the park’s event calendar is “tipping the balance in the wrong way,” prioritizing commercial interests over public access to green space.
Sports clubs that regularly use the park facilities have also voiced apprehension about the impact on their activities. Syed Abbas, chairman of the Cardiff Bay Dragons cricket team, expressed that “the potential long term impact for their future was a very real concern.” In response, Cardiff Council has promised that special protective measures will be implemented to safeguard cricket squares from damage, utilizing the same technology employed at prestigious venues like Old Trafford in Manchester when hosting similar events.
Environmental concerns have further complicated the situation. In March 2025, residents were angered when the council removed several trees along the edge of Blackweir Fields to create one of the proposed entrances for the summer concerts. Jenny Judd, Cardiff Council’s operational manager for park services, defended this action during the meeting, stating that six of the trees removed were either dead or diseased, while “10-15 single stem ash trees affected by ash dieback needed to be felled and 12 trees were coppiced.” She later added: “Based on information of the independent ecologist… based on the information we have got, I am confident that we have done enough to manage this proposed event moving forward.”
The council has acknowledged that transportation logistics remain under development. While a road closure affecting North Road is planned, the final draft of the transport plan has not yet been completed. Heather Brown, event development manager at Cardiff Council, assured attendees that staff will be positioned on highways to ensure the safety of both pedestrians and concert-goers.
Blackweir Fields is not entirely new to hosting events, as it already operates under a license permitting gatherings of up to 25,000 people and has previously been used for firework displays. However, the scale of the proposed concert series represents a significant expansion of the venue’s capacity and usage.
As Cardiff positions itself as a premier destination for live music, this development marks a pivotal moment in the city’s cultural landscape, balancing economic and cultural benefits against environmental concerns and the interests of local residents. With the first concerts less than three months away, all eyes will be on how effectively the council manages to implement its promised safeguards while delivering a world-class entertainment experience.