Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer rock Cardiff Castle as Billy Corgan reveals he's Welsh

There's a brilliant roster of gigs at Cardiff Castle this summer and the action kicked off with a double bill from 1990s alt-indie rockers The Smashing Pumpkins and slacker icons Weezer. The Tonight, Tonight singers were joined by Weezer, who are known for hits Buddy Holly and Sweater Song and we've got our review from the opening gig, plus more live music coverage of shows by Avril Lavigne, JLS, Rick Astley and more will be added as the summer continues.

Scroll down to see what we thought of the live shows at one of Wales' iconic live music venues, Cardiff Castle. Find out about the latest events in Wales by signing up to our What's On newsletter here.

The most recent gig reviews will appear at the top. For tickets for the gigs coming up check out Ticketmaster. And for a full list of the gigs, click here.

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The Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer

The alternative scene of 90s America pitched up at Cardiff Castle on Friday as The Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer took to a rain sodden stage in the Welsh capital

Draped in a black-and-white dress and eye make-up donned, Pumpkins singer, guitarist and auteur Billy Corgan continues to spit angst and rage into the microphone as he did in the band's grungey heyday. But these days he does it with a smile on his face.

And it turns out Billy is Welsh, or so he claimed with tongue firmly in cheek. Turning to guitarist James Iha, the Chicago rocker said: "You know I did a DNA test. I am part Welsh." Without missing a beat, Iha chimed back: "I've done a DNA test as well and I'm part Welsh." To which Corgan responded: "Amazing, maybe we're related."

It was also revealed the Pumpkins had played Cardiff decades ago in 1993, but Iha admitted had no memory of the gig. Corgan said: "None of these people were born then and they hadn't heard of Oasis yet."

The heavy lifting of the night's setlist was pillared by the grunge act's classic albums Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, with hits Today, Disarm, 1979, Tonight Tonight, Bullet with Butterfly Wings and fan favourite Mayonnaise drawing the biggest crowd reactions. But less warmly received were the five songs from the Pumpkins' latest album Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts.

Weezer also produced a set of classic-tracks with the River Cuomo fronted slacker outfit pumping out Say It Ain't So, Island In The Sun, Beverly Hills, Hash Pipe, The Good Life and closer Buddy Holly. They even gave a nod to the joint-headliner by covering Hole's Celebrity Skin, co-written by Billy Corgan.

Marking the last leg of their UK tour and perhaps missing the West Coast sunshine amongst the Welsh rain, River told the crowd: "We're the Weezers from sunny southern California and we're just trying to survive here."