The Cure delivered a remarkable performance at Blackweir on a record-breaking night of soaring temperatures, defying concerns over whether the first Blackweir Live concert of the summer season should proceed. Thousands of attendees were glad it did, as the band played for nearly two and a half hours, performing 28 songs.
Heatwave Concerns and Organiser Preparedness
In the days leading up to the concert, there was considerable debate about whether the event should go ahead amid a rare heat warning. With temperatures exceeding 30°C, some questioned the wisdom of gathering 35,000 people outdoors. However, organisers appeared well prepared, with plentiful water stations, attentive and well-drilled staff, and concertgoers arriving armed with fans, parasols, and sun cream. A slight breeze also helped, and as the sun set behind the stage, Blackweir revealed itself as a stunning venue.
Robert Smith's Enduring Stage Presence
Robert Smith, hidden beneath his iconic mass of hair, showed no signs of discomfort from the heat. He and the band delivered a powerful set, including classics such as Pictures Of You, Inbetween Days, Just Like Heaven, Lovesong, A Forest, and Disintegration. Smith addressed the audience in Welsh, saying "Diolch," and revealed he had married into a Welsh family, prompting cheers from the crowd.
Not every track was familiar to all fans, with some songs coming from after the band's peak years. However, the 10-song encore, which included Hot! Hot! Hot!, more than compensated, delivering many classics the crowd had been waiting for. Highlights included The Lovecats and Friday I'm In Love.
Personal Reflections and the Magic of Music
For one attendee, the concert evoked memories of discovering The Cure through a poster on a friend's bedroom wall, listening to tapes of Friday I'm In Love and Boys Don't Cry. Later, the music was rediscovered with her own children, who loved A Forest and Boys Don't Cry, often played on loop during car journeys.
As she stood in the sweltering park, jumping around with thousands of other fans, those memories came flooding back. "That's the magic of bands like The Cure. They don't just perform songs; they transport you back to who you were when you first fell in love with them," she reflected.
Upcoming Blackweir 2026 Concerts
Blackweir 2026 continues on Friday with Teddy Swims, followed by two headline nights with Lewis Capaldi and another sold-out show with US superstar Pitbull.
