Gig Review: Joe Bonamassa Utilita Arena, Cardiff

Gig Review: Joe Bonamassa Utilita Arena, Cardiff

By David Jeffrey Hughes

Night two of Joe Bonamassa’s 2025 UK Tour at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena launched with a punch, thanks to the groovy opener “Hope You Realize It” from his 2023 album Blues Deluxe Vol. 2. With big blues numbers, gospel and rock all on display, this set had it all. It’s easy to see why Joe is regarded as one of the seminal contemporary blues musicians currently touring. The crowd clearly agreed — cheering at every impressive lick of the guitar. As Joe mentioned later, Cardiff is a city he loves to perform in regularly.

One theme that really stood out, was Joe’s use of light and shade — not just through his setlist, but within the songs themselves. He balanced heavy guitar riffs with delicate touches on the fretboard, often causing the crowd to hush in attention. Each track became a mini journey, masterfully composed to captivate the listener.

Joe’s voice also deserves recognition. Not only is he a phenomenal guitarist, but his smooth vocal tone hooked me in. Backing vocalist Jade MacRae injected some powerful soul into the night — the dynamic between her and Joe was tight, and she’d occasionally throw in an enthusiastic “Oh yeah!” when Joe pulled off one of his signature guitar fireworks. The rest of the band also delivered a top-notch display of musical excellence. Even though this was just the second date of the tour, the performance felt like a finely tuned machine.

Particular shout-out to keyboardist Reese Wynans — once a member of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s backing band Double Trouble — whose solo on “Done Got Over It” was one of the standout moments of the night.

For me, “The Last Matador of Bayonne” stole the show. A slow-burning blues number that carried echoes of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon era, it was a true masterclass in storytelling through music. As the final notes rang out, Joe took a moment to introduce the band, making sure to get the whole arena on its feet to applaud Wynans.

Joe also shared a little slice of tour life — his hotel room happened to be opposite a rowdy late-night bar, and he humorously described being kept awake by students partying until 3am, only to be rudely awakened again a couple of hours later by bar staff tipping bottles into the recycling bin.

The night hit a brilliant high point with a thunderous cover of Led Zeppelin’s “How Many More Times,” cleverly spliced with a bit of Albert King’s “The Hunter” — a heavy, energetic mash-up that had me headbanging in my seat. The encore brought us one of his most beloved tracks, “Mountain Time,” before Joe walked off stage to a thunderous cheer from a very satisfied crowd.

Joe Bonamassa is truly a master of his craft, and this gig delivered a full-blown musical experience, bringing the very best of American blues to Cardiff. Don’t miss out on this tour — it’s something special.

 

Joe Bonamassa website