One of the standout moments from Coldplay's Cardiff show was when Bridgend's Male Choir (Cor Meibion Pen-Y-Bont) came on stage to sing the Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau - and the members themselves only found out about their guest appearance just over a week ago. The highly-anticipated concert, which saw thousands descend on Cardiff, was at the Principality Stadium on Tuesday, June 6 and it is safe to say that it has left the city more than impressed.
There were whispers that Kelly Jones would be making an appearance as a "special guest", which he did - delighting everyone in the audience. But it was while Chris Martin and the rest of Coldplay made their way back to the main stage, from a pop-up platform at the back of the crowd, that the band welcomed the singers from Bridgend to entertain the thousands of gig-goers.
Although there are usually 65 members of the choir, they had to downsize to just 25 of them on that specific night to make it work, and they will be doing the same tonight in Coldplay's second show (Wednesday, June 7). But the crowd did not seem to mind the reduced numbers one bit as they all joyfully sang along to them.
Read more: Bear Grylls spotted celebrating birthday at Coldplay concert in Cardiff
But how did they get a chance to sing on the biggest stage in Wales with one of the biggest bands in the world? It turns out that one of the chorister's sons went to university with Chris Martin and they had kept in touch for a number of years.
One member of the choir, Chris Jones said: "I believe in 2017 the choir went to Oxford recording studios and took part in one of the songs on an album with Coldplay. Ever since then, he told them- whenever I am looking for a choir to perform I will always be in touch.
"And he's been true to his word. It was literally 10 days ago that he asked if the choir would be interested in closing the two concerts in Cardiff by singing the Welsh national anthem. I think the management team went to our chairman and they discussed it then. We were very honoured obviously to be asked and it was an incredible experience.
"The reaction when we actually walked on was amazing in front of 70,000 people. Chris Martin introduced us, and said take it away, we started singing the national anthem and the noise was incredible.
"You can't really hear what it sounds like when you're on stage and you're obviously concentrating and can't hear the surrounding sound but listening back on videos on social media, it does sound amazing. Everybody is joining in, and it was an amazing experience."
The choir was established in August 1960 as the Bridgend & District Police Choir, when membership was mainly police officers. The name then changed in 1987 to the Bridgend and District Male Choir with the name simplified in 2006 to Bridgend Male Choir.
Bridgend Male Choir, whose motto is 'Friendship Through Music', is a member of the Welsh Association of Male Voice Choirs and is now composed of some 80 members led by a professionally qualified music team- and Chris Jones is just one of the people who has had many a memorable moment since joining. He said: "I've only been part of the choir for a year and a half and it's without doubt one of the best decisions of my life without a shadow of a doubt.
"It's enriched my life. It's almost saved my life in a way because the community spirit, and the singing and the atmosphere that goes with part of being in a choir has really, really helped me and others I presume. We sing everything from Elvis to Welsh hymns basically as most male choirs do.
"We are very proud, and they've done a few things. They've recorded for Coldplay, they've sung in rugby matches and we've got a constant list of engagements in Bridgend and in the community, as well as throughout the Wales area.
"It's a busy schedule, but the fact that we actually sang the national anthem on this incredible stage with an incredible band in front of all those people really was a pinnacle for us. I knew they had the connection with Coldplay but I never thought we'd get to do something like this, and I couldn't stop grinning."
Read next:
The incredible images that captured Coldplay turning Cardiff into a carnival
Coldplay in Cardiff 2023: Drinks prices, food for sale and the seating plan
'It's a super cool thing!' Welsh singer Hana Lili on supporting Coldplay in Cardiff
The Welsh singers we'd love to see make a guest appearance at Coldplay in Cardiff
