LIVE REVIEW: DEPOT in the Castle – The Wombats, Sugababes, Red Rum Club, Cardiff Castle, 25/07/2026
Photo Credit: Lene Ray
DEPOT in the Castle is a one-day outdoor music festival held every summer within the historic grounds of Cardiff Castle. Organised by DEPOT Live, it brings together major live music acts, street food, bars, entertainment and a lively festival atmosphere right in the heart of the city. Since launching in 2018, it has grown into one of South Wales’ most popular summer events.
Unlike a standard concert where crowds arrive shortly before the headline act, DEPOT in the Castle has the feel of a relaxed mini festival. Gates open from midday, giving people plenty of time to explore the grounds, enjoy the wide variety of food vendors, have a drink in the sunshine and soak up the atmosphere before the evening performances begin. It is a genuinely family-friendly event during the daytime, with music lovers of all ages coming together to enjoy a fantastic day of live entertainment. We headed to the day headlined by The Wombats.
Red Rum Club are a British indie rock band from Liverpool, formed in 2016. They’re known for blending energetic indie rock with a distinctive trumpet, giving their music a cinematic, almost western-inspired sound that immediately sets them apart from many other bands in the genre.
As they walked onto the stage in the afternoon sunshine, the crowd had already built a real sense of anticipation. Neil Lawson took his place behind the drums, Tom Williams and Michael McDermott stood either side on guitar, Simon Hepworth settled in on bass, Eli Younger raised his trumpet ready for the opening notes, while lead singer Fran Doran confidently took centre stage with the charisma and presence of someone completely at home in front of a festival crowd.
They opened with one of their best-known tracks, Vibrate, instantly getting the audience jumping, clapping and singing along. It was clear there were plenty of dedicated Red Rum Club fans in attendance, with many knowing every lyric and shouting their appreciation towards Doran between songs.
The band followed with the heavier Buck, from their latest album, showcasing a slightly grittier sound that carried hints of Arctic Monkeys while still retaining the band’s signature trumpet-led style. Their music seemed to sweep across the castle grounds, with smiles appearing across the audience as groups of friends danced together in the sunshine. Throughout their set they effortlessly balanced newer material with fan favourites including Would You Rather Be Lonely? and Vanilla, never allowing the energy to dip.
Although they were one of the earlier acts of the day, Red Rum Club set the tone perfectly for everything that followed. Their infectious energy, tight musicianship and obvious enjoyment on stage made them an ideal choice to warm up the festival crowd.
Next on stage were Sugababes, one of the UK’s most successful girl groups and undoubtedly one of the defining pop acts of the early 2000s. Blending pop, R&B, garage and soul influences, formed in 1998 they quickly became famous for their distinctive harmonies and string of chart-topping hits.
What makes Sugababes unique is their history of changing line-ups over the years. However, today’s group features the three original founding members; Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy whose reunion has been warmly welcomed by fans who grew up listening to their music.
The trio emerged to a huge roar from the audience before launching straight into Freak Like Me. Their harmonies were flawless, sounding every bit as polished live as they do on record. It was impossible not to notice the huge smile on people’s faces as thousands of voices joined in with every chorus. Fans who had grown up with Sugababes stood alongside younger audience members discovering their music for the first time, creating a lovely atmosphere that spanned generations.
Their set was packed with hit after hit, with several songs cleverly woven together in energetic medley sections that kept the pace high throughout. The giant screen behind the trio displayed cinematic visuals, archive footage of the band and striking graphics that complemented the performance without distracting from it.
There was a real sense of nostalgia in the air, but rather than feeling like a throwback, Sugababes proved just how timeless their music remains. Their confidence, effortless stage presence and exceptional vocal blend reminded everyone why they became one of Britain’s biggest girl groups. They closed with the upbeat version of About You Now, which produced one of the loudest singalongs of the afternoon and left the crowd wanting more.
As daylight slowly began to soften into the evening, anticipation continued to build for the headline performance.
The Wombats are an English indie rock band formed in Liverpool in 2003 by Matthew “Murph” Murphy, Dan Haggis and Tord Øverland Knudsen. They met whilst studying at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) and quickly became known for their energetic live performances, infectious melodies and witty, self-deprecating lyrics. Like many great northern indie bands of the mid-2000s, they have built an incredibly loyal fanbase that has remained with them for over two decades.
Bathed in warm golden sunlight, the band burst onto the stage with Moving to New York, immediately lifting the atmosphere to another level. From the opening moments, the crowd were bouncing in unison, clapping to every beat and singing every lyric back to the band. The chemistry between The Wombats and their audience was obvious from the start, making it feel less like a performance and more like one huge celebration.
It was lovely to see fans of all ages filling the castle grounds. Some had clearly been following the band since their early days, while younger fans proudly wore newly purchased tour merchandise and sang along with exactly the same enthusiasm. That kind of cross-generational support says a great deal about the staying power of The Wombats’ music.
As the evening continued, they played favourites including Techno Fan, before introducing songs from their latest album, Oh! The Ocean. Impressively, the newer material received just as much enthusiasm as the classic tracks, with the audience embracing every song rather than simply waiting for the biggest hits.
Once darkness had fully fallen over Cardiff Castle, the atmosphere changed once again. During Lethal Combination, the band encouraged everyone to hold their phone torches high in the air. Thousands of tiny lights illuminated the crowd beneath the ancient castle walls, creating one of the most memorable and visually stunning moments of the entire evening.
The energy quickly returned as the band launched into favourites including Lemon to a Knife Fight and Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves). Bright, colourful visuals filled the large screen behind them while a performer dressed in an oversized wombat costume danced playfully around the stage, adding another layer of humour that perfectly matched the band’s personality. It was impossible not to smile.
After leaving the stage to deafening cheers, chants of “one more song” echoed around the castle grounds. Thankfully, the band didn’t keep the audience waiting for long. Returning for an encore, they delivered two of their biggest anthems, Greek Tragedy and Let’s Dance to Joy Division. The final song transformed the entire venue into one huge mass of jumping, dancing and singing, bringing the evening to a euphoric close.
DEPOT in the Castle once again proved why it has become one of the standout live music events in South Wales. The beautiful setting of Cardiff Castle, glorious summer weather, fantastic organisation and a carefully curated line-up created an unforgettable day that appealed to music fans of every generation. From Red Rum Club’s infectious indie energy, to Sugababes’ polished nostalgia and The Wombats’ electrifying headline performance, each act brought something unique to the festival. As thousands of people slowly made their way out of the castle grounds, still singing the choruses long after the music had finished, it was clear that DEPOT in the Castle had delivered another outstanding summer festival.
Photos and Words: Lene Ray
