Everyone in our little part of the world Yorkshire must know how absolutely booming gig season is down at the Piece Hall in Halifax or have you been living under a rock the last three years? It is slowly becoming the most talked about hip place to been in the summer.
I went down to check out two nights of music with legends; 60s heroes Madness and reggae legends UB40 and let me tell you it was a tale of two halves. Friday night the sun was shining with blistering heat, Sunday for UB40 it was wild rainy conditions with a bit of thunder chucked in but that most definitely didn’t stop play! The crowds gathered and had the best time dancing, singing along and having fun, it definitely made me proud to be a Yorkshire lass, all these big names coming to our Piece Hall Halifax venue, what a time to be alive
Opening night Madness were unforgettable. Suggs and the band played big hits, Night Boat to Cairo, Baggy Trousers and It Must Be Love. The crowd went wild, I don’t think I have ever seen such energetic dancing, fans jiving with red fez hats paying ode to the band.
I and everyone else had the absolute best evening, Suggs and the lads definitely haven’t lost their nutty boy energy and the crowds still adored the hits. The opening act Stone Foundation had the crowds up and dancing getting them ready for the main act with their catchy numbers, the place was alive.
Up next were the legends UB40, Ali Campbell brings me so many memories of growing up, from a young age my mum had their music playing, the songs were a rite of passage growing up in my house.
Dancing and belting out a tune to the big hits Red Red Wine, Kingston Town, Cherry Oh Baby, people of all backgrounds came together in the 1799 cloth hall that is Halifax Piece Hall. Steeped in amazing local history, the only one left in the world what a venue to play !
Support act Reggae Roast got everyone up and jamming with a near two hour set! Everyone forgot the rain, even though by this time it was pouring, but it didn’t stop the band or the fans having the best time.
I think both the gigs made me feel exceptionally proud of what Nicky Chance-Thompson and Cuffe and Taylor have brought to Halifax, with the news of 120,000 tickets being sold for the gigs this year, which will bring plenty of visitors to Halifax over the summer months and plenty of revenue for small businesses in hospitality with revellers spending money at the local cafe’s bars and eateries.
If you get a chance this summer to bag tickets for the upcoming gigs, get yourself one and experience the magic for yourself. You will never see anything like it, its fantastically brilliant !
Check out What’s On and Book Your Tickets!
Review by Shannon Palmer @thelittlelifeofshazzap
Images supplied
