David Byrne – Live Review – The Piece Hall, Halifax

By Steve Crabtree, July 2026

So, where to start with this one? David Byrne? Of Talking Heads? In Halifax? Almost doesn’t seem real…but it is.

There are some bands and artists who, however great, pass-by where touring is concerned. You miss out on a show, no worries…you’ll see them next time. But with this one…there was a greater need to be there for this one.

I’ve seen plenty of Piece Hall crowds over the last few years, but the sheer number of genuine fans trying to bag themselves a spare ticket outside the gates on Saturday was on another level. This one was a sell-out within minutes of its tickets going on sale, and so many missed out. I knew he was an icon, but seeing 6,000 real fans pack out the courtyard proved just how huge his appeal remains.

By the time we got inside, we knew why. This wasn’t just another gig; it was a proper cultural event…

“Mobile musical spectacle”

The Piece Hall was a happy place pre-gig. A mix of ages, and a mix of cultures wherever you looked. Always a good thing, and with a positive mood everywhere you went, this happy feeling couldn’t help rub off on you.

When it was time to begin, the stage came alive with a burst of bright orange as David Byrne and his entire band stepped out dressed in matching colour outfits, launching straight into the Talking Heads classic ‘Heaven’.

Right from the off, you knew this wasn’t going to be a standard rock setup. Nobody on stage was anchored to a spot; the drummer and keyboard player had their gear strapped to them, wandering freely around the stage with the rest of them. The whole thing was a brilliantly choreographed, mobile musical spectacle.

We got a fantastic mixture of career-spanning gems alongside newer tracks from his Who Is The Sky? album. Fresher tunes like ‘Everybody Laughs’ and ‘When We Are Singing’ sat comfortably next to the older material. The sound was tight, the energy was right up there, and the visuals were fantastic too.

“Artsy”

To make sure everyone got a good view, the production team had set up clever extra screens for those stood towards the sides. Now, I usually prefer watching the main stage directly. But, as someone who always manages to get the tallest bloke in Yorkshire standing right in front of me, those extra screens can be a godsend.

It’s a setup they use near enough everywhere, and to great effect at places like Scarborough Open Air Theatre. Bringing that idea to a sold-out Piece Hall was a smart piece of staging, and although needed for this one (the stage screens were angled, so those who like to stand at the side would miss out on a bit of a view) I think if there’s a small number of improvements to the gig-goer experience at the Piece Hall, introducing screens next year would go down well.

As for observations on the gig: There’s a distinct artsy side and following for David Byrne. You only had to look around at the choice of people’s spectacles in the crowd to realise his fans fully appreciate the true artist in him. What goes up on the back-screen also helps, but I keep going back to this movement on stage to highlight that this was a real all-round brilliant show.

“An absolute masterclass”

Between tracks, Byrne was pure class. He holds an audience really easily with his gift of the gab. Warm banter, sharp wit, and genuinely fascinating stories. He just comes across as a thoroughly lovely fella.

That, together with these brilliant numbers, made the night go by at a fast pace. Honestly, this gig was so good it felt over far too soon. As the night moved into its stride, you realised that the setlist was just incredible. Hits like ‘And She Was’ (my tune of the night), ‘Like Humans Do’, and ‘This Must Be The Place’ made The Piece Hall really come alive.

When ‘Psycho Killer’ and ‘Life During Wartime’ kicked in, the entire place was jumping. That was followed by an immense version of ‘Once In A Lifetime’ that had all 6,000 of us singing every word back at the stage.

By the time they stepped off for a brief breather, the people of Halifax didn’t want to stop there. So, they returned for a triumphant two-song encore, kicking off with ‘Everybody’s Coming To My House’ before smashing into ‘Burning Down The House’.

What a gig. It was enjoyable, gave us the best in showmanship, the best visuals, and it was full of timeless tunes too. David Byrne delivered an absolute masterclass in live performance, and Halifax won’t forget this one in a hurry.

Images: Cuffe & Taylor