It is almost five years since promoters Cuffe and Taylor partnered with The Piece Hall Trust to bring some of the biggest names in music to Calderdale.

The North West-based firm – who are part of Live Nation Entertainment – and the Halifax landmark announced they had agreed to a co-promote the summer shows in February 2022.

Gigs at the landmark were not a new invention. There had been previous concerts including a sold-out show by Elbow in 2019 and a performance from Manic Street Preachers in 2021, where lead singer James Dean Bradfield described the venue as "one of Britain's best kept secrets".

But the Cuffe Taylor partnership has helped mean The Piece Hall has not been kept a secret for long.

The huge acts have brought thousands of people to Halifax

placeholder image — The huge acts have brought thousands of people to Halifax

Fast forward to today, and the former Georgian cloth hall has since welcomed a huge range of artists from around the globe, including Tom Jones, Hollywood Vampires, James Taylor, David Byrne and Boygenius.

The prestige is unmistakable, with awards successes including Inspirational Venue of the Year at the Northern Music Awards 2025 and the Great Place award at the Urban Academy Awards.

CEO Nicky Chance-Thompson is now a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire and was awarded an MBE.

The numbers speak for themselves. What started out as 11 shows in 2022 has ballooned to 42 shows in 2026, with a total of 145 concerts and nearly 800,000 tickets sold.

The Piece Hall says it has generated over £680m for the region's economy in this period.

And the party shows no signs of slowing down, with acts for 2027’s summer series already announced including Rick Astley, Kraftwerk, Robert Plant, Basement Jaxx, Ronan Keating and Bananarama.

The past few years have not been without their difficulties. From arguments about council funding, to an initially controversial cut off time for people coming into the venue and even a wagon crashing into the Grade I listed building, it's not all been smooth sailing.

But Mark Richardson, who owns vinyl records and coffee shop Loafers with his wife Sarah, said the impact of the gigs has been massive.

“As an independent business that started out right from the start of the regeneration of The Piece Hall, it’s been wonderful to see the amazing musicians and bands that have played here, and the huge amount of people from across the UK, Europe and the world who have visited and love the building,” he said.

"We get so much joy from seeing people enjoying live music and the different demographics of music fans.

"The impact is huge for the town and the borough of Calderdale, which is brilliant to be part of.

"On gig days the building has its own energy, which is just wonderful. And beyond that, organically, it has enabled us to grow and enhance what Loafers can do all year round.

"We gain new fans, new followers, which generates more business for us and primarily that’s what’s important but beyond that, it gives us a massive amount of pride and excitement for what’s to come, the memories we make, watching our community grow and helping people have a wonderful gig experience, whilst enhancing the music culture in Halifax.

"It’s a special time for us, the town and The Piece Hall and we’re very proud to be part of it.”

Chris Sands, director of the Good Company and creator of Totally Locally, said The Piece Hall’s gigs have contributed to a wider cultural Calderdale buzz.

“As one of those involved in the early days of The Piece Hall regeneration, it's amazing to see where it is now,” he said.

"The Piece Hall concerts have had an undoubtable impact on Halifax as a whole, bringing many people to the town who would have never even thought of visiting previously.

“But there is a wider picture that often gets overlooked. Halifax and Calderdale as a whole punches way above its weight in cultural and historical terms.

"When you team this with the stunning landscape and warm people, it makes people want to return to explore more.

"I've overheard many times 'I'd never been to Halifax before coming to a Piece Hall gig, but I'm definitely coming back'.

"The Victoria Theatre has been doing a similar thing for years, with international comedians and iconic bands performing regularly.

"We also have Dean Clough, Halifax Borough Market, Westgate Arcade and more combining to make Halifax something special.

"We are lucky to have the gigs at The Piece Hall, but it is the warmth and spirit of the people, the landscape and the cultural offer that makes people return.

"It's the perfect combination!”

Share your lasting memories of Live at The Piece Hall by emailing [email protected].