Alter Bridge to bring new rock festival to Wales
Rock band Alter Bridge is gearing up for its inaugural Blackbird Festival, scheduled for June of next year at Cardiff Castle in Wales. The American group will not only headline but also curate the rock-centric event, which is part of the TK Maxx presents Depot Live series at the 10,000-capacity Cardiff Castle, organized by promoters Depot Live and Cuffe & Taylor.
The one-day festival, set for June 27, 2026, will mark Alter Bridge’s first live show in Wales in over seven years. Myles Kennedy, the band’s vocalist and guitarist, expressed their desire to make this event special, celebrating over two decades as a band and showing gratitude to their loyal fans in Wales who have patiently awaited their return.
Joining Alter Bridge at Blackbird Festival will be Welsh bands Skindred, Florence Black, and Cardinal Black, with one more act yet to be announced. Additionally, Alter Bridge will be headlining various theaters and arenas in support of their upcoming self-titled album, slated for release in January.
The band’s 31-date “What Lies Within Tour” kicks off on January 15 at Hamburg’s Sporthalle and includes stops in cities like Oslo, Copenhagen, Vienna, Zagreb, Barcelona, Paris, and London, wrapping up at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena on March 5.
On a different note, the popular music and motoring festival Carfest is set to relocate to the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire starting in 2026. Past performers include Travis, Rita Ora, and Madness, and this year’s event will feature acts like Busted, Sam Ryder, Squeeze, and Tom Walker, among others.
Chris Evans, the event’s founder, expressed excitement about the move, citing the potential for increased space, more cars, and new opportunities to engage and entertain the audience while raising funds for UK children’s charities. Silverstone Circuit is evolving into a more versatile entertainment venue, following successful music events such as the Formula 1 British Grand Prix, which attracted an estimated 500,000 attendees earlier this year.
Silverstone’s Chief Commercial Officer, Nick Read, highlighted the venue’s existing infrastructure and its potential to host standalone music festivals and multi-night shows, signaling a new chapter focusing on music events separate from motorsport activities.
With thrilling developments on the horizon for both Alter Bridge and Carfest, music enthusiasts can look forward to exciting performances and unique experiences at these upcoming events.