Taylor Swift leads Wales' 2024 summer of live music

Preparations are under way for a huge summer of live music across Wales, with Taylor Swift, Billy Joel and Sir Tom Jones among the big names playing in 2024.

Some older music fans might remember feeling like the big stars never came to Wales when they were growing up, but that is definitely changing.

And it is big business too, with the latest industry figures suggesting the total spent by people going to gigs in Wales in 2022 was £218m.

Radio 1 presenter Sam MacGregor said: "There has been a history of people who, when they have done a UK tour or European tour, have missed off Wales. But it’s exciting to see artists are starting to change that perception."

He added: "And if people like Taylor Swift, the biggest artist in the world right now, can come to Cardiff, they why can’t some of the smaller or medium scale artists come?"

Sam presents the Radio 1 weekend breakfast show with Danni Diston, who is originally from Cornwall and came to university in Cardiff after travelling a number of times to the city to watch her favourite bands.

“If something is not close to you, live music is so important that you will make the trip.

"And for artists - why wouldn’t you do the of the whole of the UK? I think they are recognising they have fanbases all over so why not take advantage of that."

The big summer of live music kicks off in May with Bruce Springsteen at the Principality Stadium.

Pink, Foo Fighters, Billy Joel and Taylor Swift will also play the venue this summer.

The Manic Street Preachers, Crowded House, Girls Aloud and New Order will play different venues in the city.

It is not just Cardiff - there are loads of gigs at this year’s International Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Denbighshire, including Jess Glynne and Bryan Adams.

Sir Tom Jones is also playing there, as well as a date at Chepstow Racecourse, while Take That play Swansea in June.

So if artists want are looking to play different venues, what can bring them to Wales?

Nick Saunders is director of events at Depot Live, the team behind events at Cardiff Castle - an idea which started small in 2017 but will see 18 nights of gigs in 2024.

He believes Cardiff has been "punching under its weight" for some time and needs to make the most of what it’s got.

"The first thing a lot of the artists who come here ask for is to have a look around," he said.

"Some of the medieval things that are in the castle are fascinating for the artists.

"But also we’ve got a little pocket of where you take yourself back in time, and I think artists find that really special when they are performing here. “

But Nick is unsure whether Cardiff can attract more of the biggest gigs, without more investment in the infrastructure.

The latest figures from UK music, which represents the industry, estimates that the number of music tourists attending live music events in Wales in 2022 was 510,000 - spending £218m.

Emily Cotterill from FOR Cardiff, a group representing businesses in the city centre, believes each event is a big opportunity.

She said: "We want people who have maybe come to Cardiff once for a gig to think 'we want to go back and spend a weekend'.

"Lots of the time, especially with these big names, they are a reason to come here for the first time and then it’s up to us to help those people come back for a second, third or fourth time."

Wherever you live in Wales, there are options to see great gigs in 2024 - the only debate might be which is top of your wish list.