Experience Cardinal Black like never before.
An Evening With… showcases unique, stripped-back performances from January Came Close and Midnight at The Valencia, paired with untold stories from the rehearsal rooms and studio sessions that brought the songs to life and tales from the road across North America, the UK and Europe. An intimate evening for fans old and new and a rare opportunity to hear the songs as they were written.
Cardinal Black aren’t here to mess around. Fresh off a show-stealing set at London’s Royal Albert Hall – opening for Peter Frampton, no less – the Welsh- born trio walked offstage to a standing ovation that felt less like polite applause and more like a coronation.
Frontman Tom Hollister, guitar phenom Chris Buck, and drummer Adam Roberts have been through it: false starts, near-misses, solo careers, and even a break- up before their debut ever saw daylight. But when they finally reunited during lockdown, their first single, Tell Me How It Feels, shot straight to No.1 on the iTunes Rock Chart, toppling Oasis’ Noel Gallagher. Suddenly, the band that almost wasn’t had something unstoppable on their hands.
Their new album, Midnight at the Valencia, is the sound of three lifers cashing in their “10,000 hours.” Produced by Cyrill Camenzind in Zurich, it brims with grit, grief, and redemption. Hollister’s soulful roar powers songs that cut between intimacy and widescreen drama: the haunted blues of Keep on Running, the grief-stricken ache of Push/Pull, the defiant uplift of Need More Time. And then there’s Buck, whose solos have already earned nods from Slash and Joe Satriani, equal parts fire and finesse, every note loaded.
For Hollister, music was plan B after a rugby career ended in a near-fatal car crash. For Buck, it was a legacy handed down by his guitar-obsessed father. For Roberts, groove was practically in the DNA. Together, they’ve fought their way through wedding gigs, dive bars, and brushes with stardom to finally land here: a band with stories to tell and the songs to back them up.
Midnight at the Valencia isn’t just an album; it’s Cardinal Black’s victory lap, and their opening salvo. The 2025 tour takes in a Sold Out coast-to-coast North American tour before returning home for dates nationwide around the UK and Europe.
Dates & Times
Derby Hall @ The Met
£30.50 (inc fees)
Tickets on-sale 10am Saturday 6 December
Doors open 7pm. Band on-stage 7:30pm.
Related events
- Tue 24 Nov 7:30 PM
Metro Jazz presents: “Y’Ariteor Wot?!!”
The Met’s community jazz orchestra Metro Jazz brings an entertaining selection of jazz classics and originals for all to enjoy!
- Sat 25 Sep 2027 8:00 PM
Moments of Pleasure: The Music of Kate Bush
Moments of Pleasure present a celebration of Kate Bush's first five albums, from The Kick Inside to Hounds of Love.
- Fri 30 Apr 2027 7:30 PM
Emerging Showcase: Canter Semper + Linus Lai
Canter Semper are a Manchester based vocal trio creating rich, soul-filled soundscapes. Their harmonies are distinct and at the forefront of their brand. They are supported by musician Linus Lai.