Council leader defends Stevie Wonder and Alanis Morissette gigs in Cardiff park

Wales Online

2 days ago

Council leader defends Stevie Wonder and Alanis Morissette gigs in Cardiff park
Cllr Huw Thomas argued that allowing events like Blackweir Live at Bute Park will help it protect other services
Blackweir Live will see artists like Stevie Wonder perform at Blackweir Fields
(Image: Getty Images )
Allowing more live music events to take place at Bute Park helped Cardiff Council avoid difficult budget decisions, the leader of the city council has said. Blackweir Live, which will see a number of world famous artists like Stevie Wonder and Alanis Morissette play at Blackweir Fields, will be taking place over select days in June and July.
Key decision makers at Cardiff Council and the leader of the local authority, Cllr Huw Thomas, argued that funds from the events will help protect grassroots music venues and the city's parks.
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However, there are others who worry it is another example of councils in deficit having to make quick money making decisions at the expense of public spaces. Never miss a Cardiff story and sign up to our newsletter here.
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Residents, volunteers and sports teams were angered about plans for events on Blackweir Fields, fearing it will wreck the land and make more parts of Bute Park inaccessible during the summer.
Allowing events at Balckweir Fields will help Cardiff Council avoid tricky budget decisions, according to its leader Cllr Huw Thomas
(Image: Ian Fernando )
Cllr Thomas said: "There is a financial upside to the council of hosting live music events in Blackweir.
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"That makes an important contribution to allowing us to set that balanced budget.
"One of the ways that we've avoided making really difficult facility closures in recent years is by generating income and that's where Blackweir Live comes in from a financial perspective."
Cardiff Council was initially facing the prospect of having to save more than £60m in 2025/26.
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The leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas
(Image: Ted Peskett )
Following a better than expected budget settlement from the Welsh Government, this figure was reduced to £27.7m.
The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) welcomed the additional funding that councils received this year.
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However, some councillors on the local government association said it still fell short of what was needed.
Cllr Thomas added: "We are also proud of our credentials as a music city.
"We want to see the biggest and best artists from all over the world perform in Cardiff, in the likes of Stevie Wonder [and] Alanis Morissett.
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"That is what you are seeing. Ticket sales are strong. Of course we recognise how loved the city's parks are.
"There are safeguards in place to ensure that the parks are maintained. If they are not maintained, there is provision to claw back the money to make them good.
"This is about music making. The last few summers in Cardiff have been exemplified by a litany of the biggest names in music coming here to perform.
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"That is what we are seeing again and expanded this summer.
"Whilst I recognise the concern, and hopefully people objectively will see that we've safeguarded to mitigate those concerns, this is also about getting some fantastic music happening in the city."
There is already a licence covering Blackweir Fields for events of up to 25,000 people and the land has been used for a firework display in the past.
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In order for the events to run as planned, a licence to allow events of up to 35,000 people was needed.
At a licensing sub committee meeting in April, the council was asked whether event organisers had done things the "wrong way round" by advertising and selling tickets before a new event licence was granted for Blackweir Fields.
When faced with this question, a lawyer representing the council at the meeting said the the organisers acted quickly to secure globally renowned artists.
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Jeremy Phillips KC said at the time: "The leading time has just necessitated them taking that risk."
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked Cllr Huw Thomas whether he felt the council had been rushed into making a decision on Blackweir Fields.
He said: "I don't think so. I think we've had to move quickly, but we are working with a promoter who is a local promoter.
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"It is bigger companies involved in delivering the artist, but this is a local promoter who is taking a risk on this project.
"That needs to be acknowledged.
"We will be working closely with the promoter to make sure things go well because... we want it to be a success and potentially [in] future years we will have a longer lead in time to get the right artists lined up, but I don't think it was a case of being rushed."
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The licence that's now been approved for Blackweir Fields has 46 conditions attached to it to manage future events correctly and to try and mitigate any potential negative impacts.
Under the licence, there can only be six main event days during the year.
Kings of Leon, who were supposed to play at Blackweir Live on Sunday, June 29, pulled out of their UK tour after frontman Caleb Followill sustained an injury.
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Courteeners are still scheduled to play on that same day and Noah Kahan will kick things off for the summer music event on Friday, June 27.
In the following month, the park will welcome Alanis Morisette, Slayer and Stevie Wonder who will play on Wednesday, July 2; Thursday, July 3 and Wednesday, July 9 respectively.