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Billy Joel will perform in Cardiff for the first time on Friday.
American singer-songwriter Billy Joel will perform in Cardiff for the first time in front of a sold-out crowd on Friday night.
The show at the Principality Stadium will be the artist's only European show of the year.
Full road closures will be put into place in the city centre, with more than 70,000 fans expected to make their way to the stadium.
“The concert is expected to cause very busy traffic on the M4 motorway so please plan ahead,” a Cardiff Council spokesman said.
One of the best-selling artists in the history of the US charts, Joel is best known for songs such as “Piano Man,” “Uptown Girl” and “We Didn't Start the Fire.”
His concert at Principality Stadium follows a string of recent concerts at the venue by other American superstars including Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, Pink and Foo Fighters.
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Joel's Cardiff show will be his only European show of 2024
In July, Joel completed a 10-year residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
But the 75-year-old said in an interview with BBC Radio 2's Zoe Ball last year that he had no plans to stop performing.
“I'm the least attractive pop star,” he said.
“I just sit at the piano and play the piano. I'm in my 70s and I'm not a matinee idol. So why would you come to see me in the first place? But it's all to do with music.”
Who is Billy Joel's supporting act?
Fellow American singer-songwriter Chris Isaak will support Billy Joel on Friday.
The 68-year-old musician from Stockton, California is best known for his 1989 single “Wicked Game.”
“I'm so excited to be back playing the show as a headliner after having such a great time in the UK last year,” Isaac said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“I'm also looking forward to supporting Billy Joel at his epic stadium show in Cardiff on August 9th. It's going to be an incredible show!”
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Chris Isaak is known for his hit single “Wicked Game.”
What time is Billy Joel performing?
Gates at the Principality Stadium open at 17:00 BST, with Chris Isaak due to perform at 18:45.
Billy Joel will take to the stage at approximately 8pm and the show will finish at 10pm.
Which roads will be closed?
Many roads in the city centre will be closed on Friday.
From 7am, both Scott Road and Park Street will be closed.
Then, from 15:00, a full closure of the city centre will be implemented, which includes:
Duke Street, Castle Street, High Street, St Mary Street, Caroline Street, Wood Street, Central Square, Westgate Street, Quay Street, Guildhall Place, Golate Park Street, Havelock Street, Scott Road, Kingsway (from the junction with North Road to the junction with Duke Street), Cowbridge Road East (from the junction with Cathedral Road to the junction with Westgate Street), Tudor Street (from the junction with Clare Road to the junction with Wood Street), Plantagenet Street and Baucham Street (from the junction with Despenser Place to the junction with Tudor Street), Station Terrace and Guildford Street (from the junction with Newport Road to the junction with Churchill Way) and Penarth Road will be closed from 30 minutes before the end of the concert until one hour after it ends.
All road closures are scheduled to be lifted at 00:00 following the conclusion of the event.
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Many roads around the stadium will be closed to traffic.
Trains, buses, parking
Cardiff City Council warned that the M4 motorway is expected to become extremely busy.
On the day of the event, paid parking will be available at the Civic Center from 8am until midnight.
Opposite the stadium, between Leckwith and Fitzhamon Embankment, the city council runs a park and ride service.
Transport for Wales said it would provide extra capacity on rail routes to and from Cardiff.
Great Western Railway has announced that it will run extra trains to carry people home from concerts in the evening.
