Heavy metal fans flock to Cardiff for Metallica gig

Tens of thousands of heavy metal fans are set to flock to Cardiff as Metallica gets ready to rock the Principality Stadium.

The Enter Sandman performers will take to the stage on Sunday as the second and last act performing in the venue this year.

Metallica's stop in the Welsh capital forms part of their record-breaking M72 World Tour, which has extended into its fourth year and seen them play to four million fans.

Dedicated Metallica blood donation sessions have run across Wales during the week before and after the concert, after they called on people to donate blood and plasma as a "simple act that can make a powerful difference".

The show promises to bring a "massive in-the-round stage" and a full production as the four-man band performs their classics including Nothing Else Matters and Master of Puppets.

Temperatures are predicted to dip down to 21C with light rain and a moderate breeze during the day, following a week of record-breaking extreme heat warnings.

Roads will be shut around the city centre, with additional train services put on to try and minimise disruption for concert-goers.

Last month, the group announced they were teaming with the Welsh Blood Service "to give something meaningful back to the communities that welcome us".

Alan Prosser, of the Welsh Blood Service, called it "a unique moment" for UK blood donation.

As well as working with the Welsh Blood Service, the band are working with England's NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service to co-ordinate with dates at Glasgow's Hampden Park and London.

It marks the first time the heavy metal veterans have collaborated with UK blood services, but follows a similar drive in the US and Australia.

Chris Risner, Metallica's tour accountant who came up with the idea with band members, said he thought the idea would "see a lot of fruit" knowing the strong connection between the band and its fans but it had been "mind-blowing how big it has become".

He he told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast that "giving back was important to the band... and the fans".

"We just started it, and it took off to where it's at now.

"[The band] are not surprised because they know how committed the fans are to this... knowing that the fans are such a massive community that adding any sort of blood donation to this band's fans was a very simple connection in just introducing the two."

Simon Campbell-Daves, of Welsh Blood Service, said the "Metallica family" had "come out in their thousands" to support the donation drive and help save lives.

"We cannot be any more thankful to them and to Metallica for their support in making this happen, it's been incredible."

Blood donation sessions are being held until 3 July as part of the M72 World Tour stop.

On Sunday there will be a full road closure around the Principality Stadium from 15:00 BST until midnight.

The following roads will be shut in Cardiff city centre:

• 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 its junction with North Road to its junction with Duke Street
• Cowbridge Road East - from its junction with Cathedral Road to its junction with Westgate Street
• Tudor Street - from its junction with Clare Road to its junction with Wood Street
• Plantagenet Street and Beauchamp Street from their junctions with Despenser Place to their junctions with Tudor Street

In other areas, partial road closures will be in place.

Station Terrace and Guildford Street will allow access for buses only from the junction with Newport Road to the junction with Churchill Way.

Station Terrace will also close to allow Queen Street Station to operate safely for 90 minutes after the end of the event.

Penarth Road will be closed for 30 minutes before the concert finishes and for up to an hour afterwards, for train passengers arriving and departing from Cardiff Central station.

Train services and the M4 are expected to be extremely busy on the day of the concert.

Transport for Wales has said those travelling to Cardiff, the valleys and the Vale of Glamorgan after the event must go to Cardiff Queen Street central, rather than Cardiff Central.

Maesteg and Ebbw Vale services will continue to depart from Cardiff Central.

This is due to £140m plans to redevelop Cardiff's main railway station, which means the space previously used for post-event queuing for these routes will no longer be available.

Great Western Railway said additional services will operate from Cardiff Central to Swansea, Newport, Bristol and Swindon.