August 20th 2024.
Catfish and the Bottlemen, the iconic indie band that stormed onto the music scene with their debut album The Balcony ten years ago, has just announced their return. However, it seems that their loyal fans are not entirely convinced.
Despite their early success, the Welsh band's latest announcement of two stadium gigs in August 2025, one in Cardiff and one in London, has not been well received by their fans. The band, consisting of Van McCann and Benji Blakeway, had previously wowed audiences at festivals like Reading and Glastonbury in 2015, cementing their status as the next big thing in the indie music world.
But now, fans are expressing doubts about their ability to fill stadiums with a capacity of 60,000 to 75,000 seats. The band announced the two show dates on X, along with the news that pre-sale tickets would be available starting at 10am on Wednesday. However, fans have taken to social media to voice their concerns, with some even declaring that the shows will be "embarrassingly undersold."
The Cardiff Principality show is scheduled for August 1st, followed by the London gig at Tottenham's Hotspur Stadium two days later on August 3rd, 2025. Some fans have questioned whether the band is "big enough" to pull off these stadium shows, with others jokingly suggesting that they should have stuck to a 10-city tour instead.
The rise to fame for Catfish and the Bottlemen began with their debut album, The Balcony, in 2014. The band's latest tracks, however, have failed to impress their fans. And as they continue to release new music, some fans have expressed disappointment that their sound has not evolved since their debut.
Stadium tours have become increasingly popular in recent years, with artists like Harry Styles, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift selling out massive venues around the world. Adele even had a stadium built specifically for her return to Europe. However, not all artists have the same appeal, and it seems that Catfish and the Bottlemen may have overestimated their own.
Despite the initial success of their debut album, the band's follow-up albums, 2016's The Ride and 2019's The Balance, received mixed reviews and were criticized for sounding too similar to their first album. The departure of two members, drummer Bob Hall and guitarist Johnny Bond, further shook the band's momentum.
However, Catfish and the Bottlemen recently teased new music with the release of their single "Showtime" in February, which reached number 49 on the UK charts. And although some fans are skeptical about the band's ability to sell out stadiums, there are still those who are excited about the announcement and have pledged to attend the shows.
One major concern for fans is the potential cost of stadium tickets, given the recent trend of expensive concert tickets in the UK. While the band has not yet announced ticket prices for the two gigs next year, previous arena tours have been priced at £100 or more. Tickets for Catfish and the Bottlemen's stadium gigs will go on sale at 10am tomorrow.
Despite the uncertainty and doubts surrounding their latest announcement, Catfish and the Bottlemen remains a beloved band for many. And as they continue to make music and perform, their loyal fans will always be there to support them.
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