Cardiff Castle has hosted plenty of big names over the years, but last night it felt as though the walls themselves leaned in a little closer. TK Maxx presents Depot Live at Cardiff Castle welcomed SIR TOM JONES back to his homeland with the Defy Explanation tour, and the atmosphere was electric long before he set foot on stage.
The grounds were a sea of Tom Jones hats, T-shirts, and daffodil headbands. It wasn’t just a concert, it was a homecoming, and everyone there knew it.
Tom opened with ‘I’m Growing Old,’ a brave and deeply moving choice. Sitting on a stool, he sang with a raw honesty that stilled the crowd. The song carried a weight that only someone of his years and stature could bring, and it drew more than a few tears. Instead of charging in with a hit, he started with reflection, reminding us of the passing of time and the life he has lived. It set a tone of intimacy that made the night feel personal, even in such a grand setting.
After that, he paused to greet the crowd properly, sharing memories of growing up in Treforest. For almost three minutes he talked about his early days, his roots in Pontypridd, and what it meant to him to stand once again on a Welsh stage. The crowd hung on every word. Then came the eruption: ‘It’s Not Unusual.’ Suddenly the reflective hush flipped into a roar of voices, the courtyard alive with clapping, cheering, and the kind of singing you could probably hear well beyond the castle walls.
The hits brought the loudest reactions, but the real gems were the unexpected songs. His take on Cat Stevens’ ‘Pop Star‘ and Bob Dylan’s ‘One More Cup of Coffee‘ reminded everyone of the versatility and sheer control of his voice. These quieter, lesser-known choices let him stretch into different colours, soulful, gravelly, tender, and they carried just as much impact as the chart-toppers.
That said, when the anthems arrived, the energy lifted sky-high. ‘Delilah‘ had the crowd waving and bellowing every line. ‘Sex Bomb‘ came in a jazzier, funkier version that felt cheeky but fresh. His tribute to Prince with ‘Kiss‘ was playful and sharp, delivered with the same swagger he’s carried for decades.
And later came the hush again, as his band began those first gentle notes of ‘Green Green Grass of Home.’ The reaction was almost reverent. Sung not just as a hit but as a hymn to belonging, it turned the castle grounds into a choir, voices rising together under the night sky.
His band deserves a mention too: sharp, soulful, and perfectly attuned to every shift in tone. They drove the groove on the big numbers and pulled back with delicacy when the material demanded it, giving Tom room to soar.
Supporting him were Cardiff rising star BEN ELLIS and, just before Tom, the excellent STONE FOUNDATION, who will return tonight for his second Cardiff show. Both warmed the crowd with style, but the anticipation for Tom was undeniable.
By the end, it was clear this wasn’t just another stop on a tour. It was pride, memory, and joy wrapped into one night. Cardiff Castle has rarely sounded quite like it did when Tom Jones stood at its heart, still defying explanation, still ours.
TOM JONES returns to Cardiff Castle tonight, and there’s a handful of tickets remaining. BASEMENT JAXX join the Depot Live line-up on Sunday, with Hollywood royalty WILL SMITH rounding things off on Monday.
Full details on all the shows, and to get tickets, go HERE.
