Event Date: August 22, 2009
Event Venue: Millennium Stadium

U2 were fantastic at the millenium stadium Cardiff. support band The Hours were awesome too, definately a band to keep an eye out for.

It takes a very special act to keep an audience engaged in a venue this large, so unless you're off to see someone like U2, it's hard to recommend The Millennium Stadium (or any other stadium, for that matter). Our seats for The Stones were on the top tier, and it sounded like they were performing over a railway station PA system. We managed to sneak past security into some lower seats in another section, and things were better there.

For sport, though, this really is a world-class venue. It's a shame that so many football matches have been moved back to Wembley, because a day out in Cardiff is an unforgettable experience. The organisation outside the stadium is superb, too, with stewards and police helping fans find the nearby pubs and making sure that rival fans end up in different parts of the city centre for their pre-match pint!

I agree with the general comments about gigs in stadiums. Let's face it, they aren't intimate, but they do have a wow factor, especially on a good day.

My tip, get to Cardiff early and enjoy the day. It's a lovely city, with loads to do. If hugely busy bars and pubs aren't your thing, then head to Pontcanna or Cardiff Bay, where there are some nice pubs and restaurants within very easy and frequent public transport of the city centre (The Bay can be a bit 'chainy' but it's nice. If the weather is nice you cannot beat Bute Park. It's a huge city centre park a lot like Hyde Park in London.

Cardiff hotels are generally pretty pricey but there's one exception. The etap hotel is £35 per night and is only about 5 minutes walk away from the stadium (not suitable for girls to walk there on their own though).

The accommodation is basic (a bit like student halls really) but it's clean. It's not suitable for a romantic weekend away but is fine when you've been to a gig and just want somewhere to sleep.

I've been to a few gigs at the Stadium and usually live to regret it, mainly because I don't think the expensive ticket prices are justified. Huge gigs just aren't my thing. It takes a really special band to play somewhere so huge so that you feel like you're at a gig, rather than watching a live dvd on the screens. The Rolling Stones managed it, The Red Hot Chili Peppers failed.

In fairness though, Cardiff would be my stadium of choice. It always feels like a really big event and the atmosphere in the city centre before and after is great.

If you have any mobility difficulties, avoid the top tiers. There are an awful lot of steps which are fairly steep and slippery if drinks are spilled.