Great Western Railway
US singer-songwriter Billy Joel caught the train to Cardiff for his first ever gig in the Welsh capital.
The sold-out Principality Stadium concert is the artist’s only performance in Europe this year.
Great Western Railway (GWR) shared a photograph of Joel next to a train manager on the London Paddington to Cardiff service on Friday, with the caption: “It was a pleasure to take the ‘Piano Man’ Billy Joel Uptown to Cardiff today for his only gig in Europe. Get ready to be rocked Wales!”
GWR said it was “not every day” that fans got to travel on board with the star of the show.
“When we arrived at Cardiff the fans got off the train only to see the star of the show behind them,” a GWR spokesperson said.
More than 70,000 fans headed to the stadium on Friday night, prompting a full city centre road closure.
And they weren’t disappointed – as the Piano Man invited his first audience in the Land of Song to join in.
“After 55 years, I’m finally playing in Wales. I’ve never played here before,” he said.
“I was told that the Welsh love to sing, so if you feel like singing along, I don’t care if it annoys the guy next to you. Sing away, and we’re going to have fun.”
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Joel, who is one of the best-selling artists in US chart history, is best known for tracks including Piano Man, Uptown Girl and We Didn’t Start the Fire.
His gig at the Principality Stadium follows a string of recent performances at the venue from other US superstars including Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, Pink and the Foo Fighters.
And like some of the stars to visit the capital before him, Joel added a little Welsh flavour to his performance, as he treated the Cardiff crowd to the chorus of Green Green Grass of Home by Tom Jones.
“I didn’t write that one, but I wish I did,” he said.
Returning to the Tom Jones tribute a little later, the audience got very involved in a call-and-response version of What’s New Pussycat?.
“I don’t know the words,” Joel laughed. “I know the pussycat bit.”
He followed this with an equally fun singalong of The Lion Sleeps Tonight, before launching into his track The Longest Time.
In July, Joel ended a 10-year residency at Madison Square Gardens in New York City.
But speaking to Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2 last year, the 75-year-old said he had no plans to stop performing.
“I’m the least glamorous pop star there is,” he said.
“I mean I just sit at the piano and play the piano. I’m in my 70s, I’m not a matinee idol. So why are you coming to see me in the first place? But it all has to do with the music.”
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Who is Billy Joel’s support act?
Fellow US singer-songwriter Chris Isaak was on hand to support Billy Joel in Cardiff.
The 68-year-old musician from Stockton, California, is best known for his 1989 single Wicked Game.
“We had a blast rocking out in the UK last year, and we’re thrilled to be returning for more headlining shows,” Isaak said on X, formerly known as Twitter, before the concert.
“Looking forward to supporting Billy Joel at his epic stadium show in Cardiff on August 9th too. It’s gonna be one heck of a run!”
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What time is Billy Joel performing?
The Principality Stadium gates opened at 17:00 BST with Chris Isaak performing at 18:45.
Billy Joel took to the stage at around 20:00 with the show coming to a close at 22:00.
Which roads will be closed?
A number of roads are closed throughout the city centre.
Since 15:00, a full city centre closure is in effect. This includes:
- Duke Street
- Castle St
- High Street
- St Mary Street
- Caroline Street
- Wood Street
- Central Square
- Westgate Street
- Quay Street
- Guildhall Place
- Golate
- Park Street
- Havelock Street
- Scott Road
- Kingsway from its junction with North Road to its junction with Duke Street
- Cowbridge Road East from its junction with Cathedral Road to its junction with Westgate Street
- Tudor Street from its junction with Clare Road to its junction with Wood Street
- Plantagenet Street and Beauchamp Street from their junctions with Despenser Place to their junctions with Tudor Street
- Station Terrace and Guildford Street from the junction with Newport Road to the junction with Churchill Way
- Penarth Road will be closed 30 minutes before the concert finishes and up to an hour after the concert ends
All road closures should be lifted at 00:00 following the event.
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Trains, buses and parking
The M4 motorway is expected to be very busy, Cardiff council has warned.
Event day parking, available between 08:00 and 00:00, is being offered for a fee at the civic centre.
A park and ride service is being operated by the council between Leckwith and Fitzhammon Embankment, opposite the stadium.
Transport for Wales said it would be providing additional capacity on rail routes in and out of Cardiff.
Great Western Railway said it would be putting on extra trains to get people home from the concert in the evening.
