Review: Alanis Morissette at Blackweir
There’s something special about watching 30,000 people sing their hearts out to songs released before you were even born, and somehow feeling just as emotionally involved. That was the magic of Alanis Morissette at Blackweir.
CREDIT: CUFFE & TAYLOR/DEPOT LIVE
As someone in my early 20s, I didn’t grow up with Jagged Little Pill playing on the radio. But I did grow up hearing her voice in iconic moments—from rom-coms and 2000s soundtracks to TV dramas where Uninvited would roll in and instantly raise the emotional stakes. So while I didn’t have that deep, nostalgic connection, I still found myself completely absorbed in the performance. Because honestly? She’s that good.
From the second she hit the stage with Hand in My Pocket, Alanis’s energy was non-stop. She barely paused once, constantly moving, pacing the stage with intensity, arms open, spinning and swaying like someone truly lost in the music. At one point she just started turning in circles for what felt like half a minute, smiling to herself, fully immersed. And weirdly? That moment said everything about the night. It was free, expressive, and totally raw.
The setlist was packed with hits, You Oughta Know, Ironic, Mary Jane, Thank U, with a few newer tracks and deeper cuts mixed in. It was emotional without ever feeling overly sentimental. She didn’t need to talk much between songs; her performance spoke volumes.
Support from Megan Wyn, Gwenno, and Liz Phair gave the night a strong, all-women lineup that felt thoughtful rather than tokenistic. Gwenno, especially, felt like such a proud Cardiff moment—owning the stage just a stone’s throw from where she grew up.
Blackweir Fields delivered on all fronts. The setting was stunning, nestled in the middle of the park with the River Taff nearby and the city skyline glowing behind the crowd. To be honest, leaving the site felt noticeably quicker and smoother than the first Blackweir show too, which is proof that the organisers are already learning and improving.
Whether you grew up playing her CDs or only know her from film scenes that made you cry at 16, this show proved that Alanis’s music is still deeply relevant and totally magnetic on stage.
