Gary Barlow – Live Review – The Piece Hall, Halifax
By Kirsty Masterman, June 2025
It’s been seven years since Gary Barlow first came to Halifax. Back in May 2018, the singer-songwriter performed to a sell-out audience at the Victoria Theatre in which he declared the crowd, “one of the loudest he’s ever heard.”
Now, as his Songbook Tour takes to the road for a series of outdoor gigs, he’s back for his debut appearance at the Piece Hall, and it seems his appeal is as enduring as ever.
With fans queuing since 6.30am to gain that prime spot at the front of the stage, this highly anticipated concert from one of pops finest promised to be a night to ‘Never Forget’.
“That unmistakable voice”
Soul singer and Gaz’s ‘old pal’ Beverley Knight, who was in her words, “enjoying their reunion” opened the show, taking to the stage to warm up the crowd. Dressed for the occasion in a glitzy catsuit, she wowed the audience with a 40 minute set.
But it was clear to her and the 6000-strong crowd, that nobody could wait for the main man himself.
So, when that unmistakable voice of Barlow’s rang out across the courtyard, introducing himself to the stage as “The man you’ve all been waiting for”, it was no surprise that the place erupted with whoops and cheers. Enter an 11 strong ensemble cast of musicians and singers, all taking their place on the two-tiered stage, before The Captain himself appears sporting a sparkly sequin jacket. “Hello Halifax”, he shouts to the cheers of the audience, before bursting into the opening number, ‘Open Road’.
“Early singalongs”
‘Greatest Day‘ and ‘These Days’ follow, sparking early singalongs, before ‘Let Me Go’, a song that sees the singer wielding a tambourine and the audience bouncing along.
The next part of the show takes the music in a different direction, as a steady stream of Take That hits – ‘Sure’, ‘Everything Changes’ and ‘Whatever You Do To Me’ are performed alongside Gary’s solo track ‘Incredible’ in a swing-style. Each one received with an increasing amount of enthusiasm as the excitement ripples through the audience.
As he makes his way through a 25-strong songbook of hits – all written or co-written by him, Barlow takes us on a journey through the decades of both Take That and his solo work. From his earliest composition of ‘A Million Love Songs’, which he penned at the ripe old age of 15, right through to his most recent work, ‘If There’s Not a Song About It’ – a duet, which tonight, sees Jemma Donovan, backing singer and daughter of ’80s pin-up Jason, stepping up to join the songwriter centre stage for the performance.
There’s even a few surprise inclusions, such as ‘Whatever You Do To Me’ from the 1993 Everything Changes album. A song, which despite being over 30 years old and not one of the band’s most well-known, die hard fans don’t have a problem remembering the words to.
“Squeals of delight aplenty”
As Barlow takes to the piano to perform ‘A Million Love Songs’, a song he wrote almost 40 years ago, back in 1986, he has Halifax in the palm of his hand. “I love this one”, I hear several people say as the first few notes ring out. A sentiment that seems to be echoed by many. Accompanied by musical director Mike Stevens on saxophone, it’s an exceptional display of musical talent and has the audience captivated.
The highlight for many has to be the moment Barlow addresses the audience, “One thing we’ve not covered – a dance routine”, cue the haunting notes of ‘Pray’, to which the audience goes wild. As Barlow puts in an admirable performance, it is received to rapturous applause and squeals of delight aplenty. “That routine gets harder every bloody year” he quips, to which the audience erupts in laughter.
Songs to be sung together and songs penned around a piano follow, with the crowd singing along word perfect to the likes of ‘The Flood’, ‘Patience’ and ‘Forever Love’. An eclectic mix of high-energy songs and ballads, Barlow’s years of performing have clearly paid off. He certainly knows how to put a show together. The energy is electric and it’s apparent he is in his element as his army of fans are transported back to the ‘90s and their teenage years.
“Transformed into a disco”
As the show builds towards its climax, and we are treated to a sequence of Take That’s biggest hits – ‘Shine’, ‘Relight my Fire’ and ‘Back for Good’, the historic venue is temporarily transformed into a disco, before the audience are asked to take out their phones to light up the darkening Halifax sky for what we are told is the final song of the night… ‘Rule the World’.
However, Barlow’s fooling no-one. If you’ve ever been to a Take That gig, which I’m guessing the majority of this audience have, then we all know there’s one more to come. Confirmed when the man himself suggests, “he might have another in his back pocket if we are lucky”.
“Energy is off the scale”
And so, after what has been a glorious summer evening, with blue skies and singing aplenty, the audience and musicians join together for what has become the staple grand finale at any Take That or Gary Barlow concert – ‘Never Forget’. As the song rings out, there’s not a soul in the house that hasn’t got their arms in the air singing their heart out. The energy is off the scale, as everyone puts every ounce of energy they have got left into it.
As Barlow leaves the stage, he bids farewell saying, “It’s the first time we’ve ever played here. Please, please let us come back and play here again”.
Judging from tonight’s audience, I’m pretty certain he’ll be welcomed back any time. And who knows? Next time he might bring the other two with him…we can only hope!
Images: Cuffe & Taylor and The Piece Hall
