Gig review: Amy McDonald + The Coral at The Piece Hall, Halifax
The Scottish singer-songwriter delivers a powerhouse performance with some enjoyable banter with the West Yorkshire crowd.
Summer has officially arrived in Halifax. Last night, the stunning open-air courtyard of The Piece Hall played host to a phenomenal evening of live music, serving as the perfect, sun-drenched introduction to warm nights back at one of the UK’s most unique venues.
Following first support Nathan Evans, indie veterans The Coral delivered a brilliant guest slot. Rolling through a catalogue of timeless, scouse-tinged hits, they had the early crowd swaying, setting an impeccably cool tone for the rest of the night.
But the evening truly belonged to Scottish powerhouse Amy Macdonald. From the second she stepped onto the historic stage, the atmosphere shifted into high gear.
What followed was a beautifully upbeat, genuinely happy set that perfectly suited the breezy June weather. Her crowd banter was brilliant throughout the night – effortlessly warm, funny, and deeply engaging.
At one point, she playfully tapped into the classic Anglo-Scottish rivalry by mentioning the football and the Yorkshire rivalry between local towns, earning herself a chorus of good-natured, comedy boos from the Yorkshire crowd, which she laughed off with total charm.
Musically, the performance was a masterclass in feel-good storytelling. She treated the audience to a wonderfully curated medley of songs that ticked every box including Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For, Slow It Down and Woman of the World.
There were the massive, nostalgic classic favourites including This is the Life that had the entire courtyard singing along at the top of their lungs, seamlessly woven alongside a few beautiful tracks such as Beluga Lagoon’s The Glen, deeply depicting her proud Scottish roots.
Ultimately, it was just an all-round enjoyable and vibrant set from a world-class performer who knows exactly how to work an outdoor crowd. For anyone lucky enough to be standing in the historic courtyard last night, it was a beautiful reminder of why live music under the summer stars is completely unbeatable.