Status Quo and The Alarm: The Piece Hall, Halifax - review

Review: Gareth John

Photos: Cuffe and Taylor/The Piece Hall

OPENING the evening’s proceedings at The Piece Hall, Halifax this week was Mike Peters of The Alarm in support of the legendary Status Quo.

"We first played with Status Quo at Wembley Stadium in 1984 along with the legendary Freddie Mercury and Queen," Peters told the audience as he worked through an 11-song set of material new and old.

Tonight’s songs included anthems Spirit of ‘76, Breathe and We Got This as well as the timeless Sixty-Eight Guns.

Peters performed hits from The Alarm’s 40-year career and this evening spoke of starting his fifth round of chemotherapy in Manchester the following morning.

Smiling and impressively energetic throughout, Peters took a few moments to promote the Love Hope Strength Foundation in an opportunistic yet sensitive manner, raising awareness of this impressive charity and its partnering with cancer care specialists across the globe.

Mike Peters of The Alarm at The Piece Hall, Halifax, August 2024. Photo: Cuffe and Taylor/The Piece Hall.

As an established front man and performer, Peters was natural yet commanding throughout, leading the crowd and winning hearts with his engaging performance style and a performance which encouraged much singing and clapping. It was a privilege to see Mike Peters performing as The Alarm this evening and many of the crowd wished him well in his health journey through rapturous, appreciative and respectful applause and cheering.

As the skies opened, Status Quo took to the stage, opening with the classic Caroline and performing to a packed sold-out audience.

These rock legends were in sensational form, bringing their EFrancis Rossi of Status Quo at The Piece Hall, Halifax, August 2024. Photo: Cuffe and Taylor/The Piece Hall. uropean tour to this iconic venue. Frontman Francis Rossi and the band ran through a hit-packed set which included What You’re Proposing, Beginning Of The End and In The Army Now.

The band’s back catalogue is extensive which makes song choices a challenge.

Tonight the band stuck with their classics and the fans favourites. Hold Ya Back was followed by Down Down, Don’t Waste My Time and Rocking All Over The World to a surprisingly mixed audience of young and old.

Frontman Rossi told the capacity crowd: “It’s brilliant to be here – what a venue. It’s beautiful!”.

The crowd lapped up the atmosphere and the venue, not knowing if and when they might see Status Quo again.

Less than an hour from York, The Halifax Piece Hall has established itself as a firm favourite with bands and artists in the past few years.

A record-breaking 180,000 tickets have been sold across this year’s 34-date summer series with headline shows from the likes of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Jess Glynne, Nile Rodgers and CHIC, Fatboy Slim, Bryan Adams, Sheryl Crow plus many more.

For me personally, the evening was nostalgic and prompted memories of saving for and buying my first band t-shirt in the early 1980s, a simple Status Quo design from a market stall in The Piece Hall as well as taking me back to my first ever gig, The Alarm at Middlesbrough Town Hall in late 1984.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, emotional, and memorable night for all.