Alex James’ Britpop Classical – Live Review – The Piece Hall, Halifax
By Steve Crabtree, July 2026
During the mid-90s, our ears really were spoilt for choice. Britpop was the music of my coming-of-age years…my GCSE’s, my first summer job, my first proper job, my A’Levels, my first legal pint…there were songs behind all that.
And everywhere you turned back then, something ‘Cool Britannia’ was there.
Britpop wasn’t just a playlist. It was a defining soundtrack, and a full uniform too. You couldn’t walk down the street without spotting low-profile suede trainers, crisp buttoned-up polos, and zip-up tracksuit tops layered under heavy parkas. A blend of Mod sharp and terrace casual, topped off with unkempt bowl cuts and feathery mop-tops.
It was an important era, and look at any montage of the mid-90s and those good-time memories come flooding back.
When Blur’s Alex James brought his Britpop Classical show to The Piece Hall, I didn’t need much convincing to get down there…
“Iconic anthems”
Everyone had ‘their’ bands from that golden mid-90s era. I always say it was impossible to like or know every Britpop or 90s guitar band, because we had so much of it. But that in itself was so good.
It was the last time British music had a proper, unfiltered cultural moment, so the chance to hear those iconic anthems backed by the Manchester Concert Orchestra in Halifax was an absolute no-brainer. And, the atmosphere in The Piece Hall was incredible right from the off.
DJ Dan began by giving us a trip down nostalgia lane with plenty of tunes you knew weren’t going to make the set on the night, but was great to hear them all together anyway. Shed Seven, Manics, Suede…that’s just a taster.
Packed with people who, like me, grew up with these songs, thousands of us were ready to relive our glory days. Drinks were flowing, the courtyard was busy…I was about to feel about 17 years old again…
“Hit after hit”
There was a brilliant welcome to the stage when Alex James came out, backed by all the other talent that was up there. And the night kicked straight into gear with Ocean Colour Scene’s ‘The Riverboat Song’. The place erupted a little bit when original lead singer Simon Fowler walked out to take the mic. That booming orchestral horn section backing his classic vocals gave the track a new layer of muscle.
Republica’s Saffron then came on stage to give us a high-energy rendition of ‘Ready to Go’, and from then on it was a relentless run through of hit after hit.
We had tunes originally released by Supergrass, The Wannadies and the Happy Mondays, plus loads more. And, unsurprisingly, Blur were heavily featured, with cracking takes on ‘Girls & Boys’, ‘Country House’, and a proper crowd-pleasing moment when we all joined in on ‘Parklife’.
“Symphonic”
‘The Only One I Know’ by The Charlatans sounded fantastic, as did ‘I Wanna Be Adored’ by Stone Roses. There was also a bit of drifting away from the Britpop theme with some Nirvana, and a little bit of Joy Division. Welcomed by some, and although they sounded very good, they shouldn’t have made the playlist for me.
What was correctly in the set though, was the stuff for Oasis fans. And they got plenty. The huge, sweeping symphonic versions of ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’, ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’, and ‘Wonderwall’ echoed nicely around the stone walls.
Was there really a rift between Oasis and Blur? I think we fell for it then, but we’re all a bit wise to acting it up in the media now!
“Absolute anthem”
Make no mistake, this was a top show and a brilliant addition to the Piece Hall’s summer lineup. Honestly, era-themed nights like this could easily become an annual fixture down here.
As the night wore on, our next ‘original’ guest was Gary Stringer from Reef, who powered through their classic ‘Place Your Hands’. I’d somehow forgotten just what an absolute anthem that song is. I’ll admit I even sang “It’s Your Letters…” for one chorus just to prove I was there in the 90s (and I guarantee I wasn’t the only one).
I overheard someone in the crowd saying Reef would make brilliant headliners here next year, and I couldn’t disagree.
“An unbelievable time to be around”
While everyone on stage put in an absolute shift, tonight’s covers really highlighted just how unique those 90s vocalists were. Voices like Gallagher, Cocker, and Albarn are every bit as vital to those iconic Oasis, Pulp, and Blur tunes as any guitar riff or drum beat. Hearing them reimagined with a live orchestra was fantastic, but it only proved how irreplaceable those original vocal tones truly are.
That said, my personal highlights came towards the end of the set when Pulp’s ‘Disco 2000’ and ‘Common People’ rang out under the night sky, with the light show ramping up to give a little bit extra. The entire Piece Hall joined in, singing every word, soaking up every second
Quite nicely, the show wrapped up with a stunning finale of Blur’s ‘The Universal’. Every special guest returned to the stage to join in, bringing the night to a fitting and impressive crescendo under the night sky.
Leaving the venue, it was impossible not to feel even more nostalgic for the era. What this gig really provided was a sharp reminder of just how spoiled we were back in the 90s to have such a saturation of incredible tunes shaping our lives.
It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years since Britpop ruled the world. But wow… what an unbelievable time to be around for.
Images: Cuffe & Taylor
Give Steve music, give him food, give him theatre, tech or travel… and he’s a happy man. He’s been writing professionally since 2003, turning to journalism in 2017 when it offered him the chance to enjoy a lot of his existing passions, and learn some new ones at the same time. Steve can be found spending many of his summer nights watching bands at The Piece Hall in his hometown of Halifax, or enjoying a bite to eat and a drink with his wife anywhere in Yorkshire at any time of year. Random fact: He does the best impression of Zippy and George from Rainbow that anyone has ever heard.
