Tom Grennan – Live Review – The Piece Hall, Halifax
By Steve Crabtree, July 2026
Tom Grennan has been popping up all over the UK charts for a solid decade now. Even so, I’ll admit he wasn’t someone I knew massive amounts about. So when his name appeared on the Piece Hall lineup for a sunny Sunday in Halifax, my wife Alex and I decided it was time to check him out. A bit of new music for us, right on our doorstep. So, why not?
Walking into the courtyard for this one, we weren’t quite expecting such a massive portion of the crowd to be groups of parents with young kids in tow. For a second, Alex and I exchanged a quick look, wondering if we’d made a total rookie error! Was this the right show for us?
But any doubts vanished the second the lights went down. We were treated to ninety minutes of pure energy, soaring pop hooks, and unbelievable vocals.
From 9pm when the main man stepped out, The Piece Hall was primed and ready to go.
“Sheer momentum”
Grennan launched straight into ‘Full Attention’ from his latest album, and the entire Piece Hall hit top gear straight away. All ages were dancing, clapping and singing along from the very first beat. And it was clear that his voice is something else.
The stage had ‘GRENNAN’ lit up behind it like a massive Hollywood sign, which felt totally fitting. He was adored like a proper star by the 6,000 of us packed in. For the entire show, it was upbeat pop-rock, but honestly, it was so much more than that. The sheer momentum he creates all night is incredible.
He ploughed through an absolute belt of a setlist. Classic hits like ‘Royal Highness’ sat alongside feel-good bangers such as ‘All These Nights’, ‘Lionheart’, and ‘By Your Side’. Newer tunes like ‘Higher’, ‘Diamond’, and ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ already sounded like established anthems.
Special mention has to go to his band and backing singers too. They matched his high-octane performance every step of the way and looked like they were having the time of their lives.
“Powerhouse vocal control”
Midway through, Grennan took a breath and slowed things down with ‘Don’t Break The Heart’. Stripping away the noise really highlighted his raw, powerhouse vocal control.
Between songs, his chat was genuinely touching. He spoke openly about feeling a bit lost last year, thanking the crowd for reminding him why he makes music in the first place. None of it felt rehearsed or forced; it was just honest gratitude.
Both Alex and I were absolutely loving the night, but Alex especially. Safe to say Grennan has officially earned a brand-new fan in her tonight!
“Stellar performance”
He ramped the energy back up with ‘Crown Your Love’, ‘Head Up’, and ‘Remind Me’, building toward a massive finale. ‘Little Bit Of Love’ proved to be the ultimate standout moment, with all 6,000 singing every single word as one.
It was a fitting end to his final show of the summer. What started as a curious night out turned into a treat, proving exactly why he’s earned his spot at the very top.
I came away thoroughly impressed, and honestly feeling a bit guilty that I didn’t know enough about him beforehand. But after that stellar performance, I certainly do now!
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.
