The Piece Hall: West Yorkshire venue announces new gigs

There’s Manchester’s Co-Op Arena, Wembley, Leeds’ First Direct and the Manchester Arena itself. But there’s one venue hidden up north that doesn’t seem to get its flowers like all the others.

Halifax, a town in the North of England, sat between Bradford and Huddersfield, finds itself home to the Piece Hall, a historic building full of shops that on nights can be found to play host to some of England’s biggest artists.

This year was one with a busy schedule for the building, playing host to performances from groups/artists like James, The Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Tom Odell and more. 

But what is the building, what’s it like for gigs, and who can be expected to visit next year? This article by Music News Blitz’s Charlie Gardner holds all the info.

What is the building?

Originally built in the 18th century, the Piece Hall was once a hub for textiles trading, a now extinct industry.

It sits in Halifax, West Yorkshire, within a small cluster of shops in the centre of town.

The building is still used for trade to this day. On a regular day, you can go buy books, coffee, food, vinyl records, and a variety of bars provide a range of drinking experiences.

By day, the building’s layout is composed of four two-tier balconies full of shops enclosing a large square-shaped courtyard that can be transformed at night for gigs, leaving space for a stage.

READ MORE: Pub music - The importance of supporting small gigs and artists

What is the experience on a gig night?

Halifax is a town that, of course, doesn’t come with the same gravitas as your London, Manchester or Liverpool, that’s for sure. But the town itself is one that holds a decent number of bars and atmospheres for you to attend ahead of your night out. 

The venue itself transforms rather seamlessly ahead of a concert. The stage appears in the courtyard, and food vans also pop up inside, while a number of the bars in the hall can remain open for some time before a performance.

The atmosphere in the evening is one I have found to be much more intimate and atmospheric than in some other venues, which might provide a more ‘isolated’ feel, in my opinion.

The balconies surrounding the pit add to the vibe while still giving that open-air feel, something that just makes things all the more fun - unless it rains, I guess.

With most of the crowd being amongst each other in the pit, an atmosphere can build rather quickly - whether you’re listening to a moody love song or an energetic Ibiza rave tune that takes you back to a lads' holiday some 20 years ago.

This atmosphere is something that undeniably comes as a plus for an admittedly smaller venue than most.

Who’s on?

Of course it’s Halifax, so you’re not going to hear Drake here, or see Benson Boon doing backflips from the top of a balcony into the crowd.

Or at least not for now (although I have seen Tim Booth do that while performing with his band, James).

But there really are some exciting performances announced so far, with more to come. 

There’s the long-time classic Billy Ocean, who even in 2025 finds himself being butchered on the setlist during karaoke nights.

He’s being supported by Marti Pellow of Wet Wet Wet fame, someone who, if you think you haven’t listened to, you definitely have.

Paul Weller from The Jam and The Style Council will also be a face to see there, along with Deacon Blue (Real Gone Kid) and David Gray (Sail Away).

For anyone into more modern, indie music, there’s still plenty for you. New sensation The K’s are in the schedule for 2026, along with British indie legends The Wombats, who will be supported by Circa Waves, Cherryholt and local band The Caymans.

None of these take your fancy? More artists will be coming after a big year, at a venue that has hosted a variety of great events every year, with the names only getting bigger.

There’s truly something for everyone and, if it’s not a big ask to travel, it might be worth checking out!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Against the algorithm: Could the Last Dinner Party mark the return of human artistry?

Personal thoughts/closing remarks 

Yes, the Piece Hall is local to me and naturally, I have an affinity for it. But one thing that can be said through is that this place really does have a feel to it like no other place.

Perhaps it’s the historic beauty of the building against the night sky, or maybe it really is just the artists that I’ve seen there.

But one thing’s for certain is that it provides for a venue that can’t be replicated in many other places. 

The artists might not be the biggest of modern times, but to say Billy Ocean and Weezer will have ended up coming to play here certainly speaks volumes for the relevance of such an exciting venue that hasn’t been hosting concerts for too long.  

If you want a concert that feels real and intimate under an atmosphere like no other, and you want to support small local businesses throughout, maybe check it out.

The guest list is expanding and seems to only be of a growing scale; keep an eye out for any news from your favourite artists, and consider whether it’s the place for you.

READ NEXT: HAUNT-O-HOLIXXX THE MIXTAPE: Semetary’s first solo album of 2025