Shirley Manson of Garbage said she 'could cry' after the band's 'extraordinary' performance at Cardiff Castle, as part of a co-headline tour with Skunk Anansie. The gig, which took place on Monday night, saw both bands deliver high-energy sets that had the crowd roaring.
Skunk Anansie's Commanding Set
Skunk Anansie opened the show with frontwoman Skin taking off her heavy parachute pants on stage, joking, 'I didn't realise how heavy they were.' The band launched into hits like 'This Means War,' 'Charlie Big Potato,' and 'Hedonism,' mixing them with newer tracks from their 2019 album 'The Painful Truth.' Skin crowd-surfed and encouraged a mosh pit, praising Garbage as 'so lucky to tour with them.'
Garbage's Emotional Performance
After a 30-minute break, Garbage took the stage with Manson in a white 'PUNK' T-shirt and kilt. They opened with 'There's No Future for Optimism' from their 2025 album, before playing 90s hits like 'Empty,' 'I Think I'm Paranoid,' and 'Stupid Girl.' Manson returned Skunk Anansie's praise, saying, 'It's not an easy job' to follow them. She added, 'We have seen each other grow from the 1990s and to be here tonight in this extraordinary setting, I could cry.'
Climate Change Call and Finale
Manson made an impassioned call to politicians to address climate change before launching into 'Push It' and 'I'm Only Happy When It Rains.' The band closed with 'The Day That I Met God,' a cinematic track from their latest album. Manson said she was moved by the crowd's response, stating, 'I don't think anyone in this band expected this reaction.'
Upcoming Gigs
The gig was part of the TK Maxx presents Depot Live at Cardiff Castle 2026 series, which continues with Empire of the Sun on Tuesday. The concert coincided with record-breaking temperatures in Wales, and despite earlier thunder, the rain cleared for the show.
