Ash at the Cardiff Tramshed

With apparent modesty, Ash initially booked the Cardiff show in their 2019 tour into the Globe - capacity 350, apparently - but were forced, though demand, to relocate in across town, to the Tramshed - capacity 1000; and by the end of the night, with the audience packed together, sardine-like, it was clear that the trio, from Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, are still hugely popular, 25 years on from their emergence.

Supporting were Novacub, led by Louise Bartle and featuring her fellow Bloc Party alumnus Russell Lissack (also a sometime member of Ash) on guitar. Very likeable melodic indie-rock, with a lightness of touch which seemed at odds with what appear to be some angsty lyrics.

Inevitably the headliners’ set focussed on the latest album, “Islands”, the almost-hit single “Buzzkill” being a stand-out; but with classic debut album “1977” also well represented. Personal highlights included singalongs to “Oh Yeah” and “Shining Light”; bass-player Mark’s crowd-surfing during “Angel Interceptor”; and the general raucousness of the whole thing. Tim Wheeler does not have the most powerful of voices, but he’s a charming front-man and, of course, a gifted songwriter, whose sensitivity shines through the punkiness. The final song in the encore was “Burn Baby Burn”, which topped off an almost perfect evening. My fourth experience of seeing them live – hopefully not the last.