Let Robbie entertain you as he gets set to rock his capital gig
Pop star Robbie Williams unleashes his world tour on theWelsh capital on Wednesday.The hotly-anticipated gig, part of his The Heavy Entertainment World Tour, will bring the former Take That star to the Principality Stadium. If you are going to Cardiff for
Who is the support act? Robbie Williams will be raising the roof at his Heavy Entertainment Show in Cardiff with a little help from electropop legends Erasure.
The chart-topping duo who scored hits with A Little Respect, Stop!, Sometimes and Victim of Love are joining Robbie as his special guests on his summer tour.
Erasure are Andy Bell and Vince Clarke. The duo who first found fame in 1985 will be in Cardiff for Robbie’s gig on Wednesday. What time does it start? Gates open at 5pm, Erasure come on at 7pm and then Robbie at 8.30pm. What is Robbie’s setlist likely to be? The cheeky chappie will be performing some of his newest hits, as well as the old favourites that have made him a national treasure.
He’s already played to packed crowds in Manchester, Southampton and Edinburgh, before going continental with the show moving through Europe, at destinations including Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Prague, Budapest, Zurich and Moscow.
We don’t know for definite, but, judging from previous shows on the current tour, we’re pretty sure the following songs will feature in the show: ■ The Heavy Entertainment Show ■ Let Me Entertain You ■ Monsoon ■ Party Like a Russian ■ The Flood ■ Freedom 90 ■ Love My Life ■ Medley: Which may include Livin’ On A Prayer/Rehab/She’s The One ■ Something Stupid ■ Come Undone ■ Rudebox ■ Kids ■ Feel ■ Rock DJ ■ Angels ■ Strong ■ Feel What can we expect from the Williams, 43, will air songs from his 11th studio album, as well as an array of hits from across his three-decade career.
He’s already played an emotional gig at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium where he changed the lyrics for Strong to pay tribute to the Manchester terror attack victims.
During the show the star changed the words to the chorus in support of Manchester, singing: “Manchester we’re strong, we’re strong, we’re strong, we’re still singing our songs, our songs.’
The lyrics flashed up on the big screen with the whole audience joining in.
The reviewer for Manchester Evening News gave the show a thumbs-up. She said: “Robbie’s undoubtedly mellowed with age and, with humorous anecdotes about time spent with his own two children and his dad joining him on stage for a duet of Sweet Caroline, it’s clear that it’s his family that matters now more than ever.
“He joked about being high on drugs – this time to help his bad back – and mentioned growing old more than a couple of times.
“But 43 or not, he’s still got that boyish charm and swagger, along with the ability to have a 50,000-strong crowd hanging off his every word.”
The Scotsman reviewed his Edinburgh gig and rated it three stars and you can expect fireworks and flamethrowers as well as “comically overplayed dance moves and a half-dozen scantily-clad female dancers hanging off him”. No. The good news is that there are still tickets available. Ticket vendors include www.livenation.co.uk/robbiewilliams.com/Ticketmaster.co.uk and gigsandtours.com. You can also check out principalitystadium.wales and Robbie’s Facebook page for links. Following the three terror attacks on Britain in three months, security will be paramount at the 74,500-seater stadium in the capital.
All concert-goers are encouraged to arrive early and bring as little as possible, ensuring there are no items from the prohibited items list.
This includes: fireworks, flares, pyrotechnics, all horns including air horns, musical instruments, smoke canisters, laser pointers, bottles, glasses, cans, cooking devices, banners, poles, selfie sticks, knives, blades and other articles or containers – including any which could or might be used as a weapon – or any other item which, in the reasonable opinion of the WRU Group, its servants or agents, could be used as a weapon or cause nuisance to others. There will be a full city centre road closure from 6pm-11.30pm. The following roads are fully closed:
■ Kingsway from its junction with North Rd to its junction with Duke Street
■ Cowbridge Road East from its junction with Cathedral Rd to its junction with Westgate Street
■ Tudor Street from its junction with Clare Road to its junction with Wood Street (access for residents and traders will be permitted via Fitzhammon Embankment)
■ Plantagenet Street and Beauchamp Street from their junctions with Despenser Place to their junctions with Tudor Street (access for residents and traders will be permitted)
■ Saunders Road from its junction with St Mary Street
■ Customhouse Street throughout its length (access to private car parks will be permitted)
■ Penarth Road from its junction with Saunders Road to the entrance leading into the rear of the Central Train Station
■ The following roads will be closed in their entirety: Duke Street, Castle Street, High Street, St Mary Street, Caroline Street, Wood Street, Central Square, Westgate Street, Quay Street, Guildhall Place, Golate, Park Street, Havelock Street and Scott Road.
■ Park & ride: There is a park & ride facility at Cardiff City Stadium in Leckwith which is 1.5 miles (10-15 minutes) from the city centre. To get there: Access from Junction 33 of the M4, then follow signage to site. Drop-off point: Tresillian Way North, at rear of the railway station. Cost: £8 pre-book online or £10 payable on the day at the car park (cash only). To pre-book, go to www.parkjockey.com There is event day parking in the following areas:
■ Sophia Gardens Getting there: Exit Junction 32 of M4.