Llangollen Pavilion hosted one of the most enjoyable nights of the summer on Friday as Bowling For Soup, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls and American Hi Fi brought the Bowl My Bones Tour to North Wales.
If you’re local to North Wales, you’ll know we don’t often get nights like this. The region isn’t exactly a regular stop on the touring circuit and, while there are obvious logistical reasons for that, shows like this prove there’s a real appetite for them. Hopefully, this is just the start because we’d happily welcome more nights like this.
Before a single note had been played, the venue itself had already made a fantastic first impression. Nestled on the edge of Llangollen, it feels much more like a mini summer day festival than a traditional outdoor concert. With plenty of food vendors, multiple bars and lots of space to relax before the music started or between sets, it was easy to spend the whole evening there. Yes, the food and drink prices definitely matched the festival atmosphere, but everything was clean, well organised and easy to navigate. The staff were friendly throughout, and it’s the sort of venue that makes you want to come back before you’ve even left.
American Hi Fi got things underway and couldn’t have asked for a better response. Their energetic set quickly got people moving, and by the time they walked off stage, the crowd was fully warmed up for what was to come. They never felt like “just” the support act and were the perfect choice to kick off the evening. Their indie rock sound gave the night a different flavour and worked brilliantly as a bridge into Frank Turner’s set. One of the standout moments came during The Geeks Get The Girls, when Bowling For Soup drummer Gary Wiseman joined the band behind the kit, much to the delight of the crowd.
Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls kept that momentum going with a brilliant set packed with fan favourites. It may have been his first time performing in Llangollen, but you’d never have known it. Taking a moment to soak it all in, Turner joked that he’d played “3,162 warm-up shows” just to get to his first show in Llangollen, earning a huge cheer from the crowd. He also shared his thoughts on what punk rock means to him before swapping the traditional wall of death for a wall of hugs, creating one of the most memorable moments of the evening.
One thing that really stood out throughout the night was the importance both Frank Turner and Bowling For Soup placed on mental health. Between songs, both acts took a few minutes to remind fans to look after themselves, check in on the people around them and never be afraid to ask for help. Looking around the crowd, which included everyone from young children to lifelong fans, it was genuinely refreshing to see those conversations happening from the stage.
Bowling For Soup brought the night to a close in exactly the way you’d expect. More than 30 years into their career, they still perform with an infectious energy that never lets up. From Almost through to 1985, there was barely a moment when the audience wasn’t singing along. The surprise appearance of American Hi Fi’s Stacy Jones during Stacy’s Mom only added to the fun, while the band’s trademark humour and effortless crowd interaction made the set fly by.
The biggest takeaway from the night wasn’t one particular on stage moment, like a lot of people, being in large crowds isn’t always the easiest, and it can bring a bit of anxiety. But this show never felt like that. From the moment we accused the venue, there was a genuinely welcoming atmosphere where everyone was simply there to enjoy themselves. It didn’t matter whether you knew every lyric or were seeing these bands for the first time, there was a real sense of belonging throughout the evening. Three brilliant bands, a crowd that was up for every minute and one of the best outdoor venues in North Wales made for a fantastic night. If Live at Llangollen continues to bring line-ups like this to the region, I’ll definitely be back!
