Photo + Words: Jenna Laband
As part of Rag‘n’Bone Man’s summer 2025 appearances, the iconic British artist took the stage at Halifax’s Piece Hall for another sold out show with a setlist showcasing some new tracks and the famous hits we know and love.
The Piece Hall have seen their fair share of different weather conditions during this run of shows, from rain and wind to their sunniest and warmest show on the 10th July as fans waited in anticipation for Rag‘n’Bone Man‘s performance. With two support acts added to the lineup, 6000 fans were in for a treat of a night!
Kicking off the night with Scottish artist Kerr Mercer. Despite not having any songs released on streaming platforms, Kerr has secured a range of notable support slots throughout his music career so far, supporting Myles Smith, Teddy Swims and now Rag‘n’Bone Man. At only 19 years old, Kerr has amassed a significant and loyal fanbase who have sold out shows across the country. His set went down an absolute treat, with loyal fans singing along and new fans joining in too playing a range of unreleased tracks and a cover of Tom Odell’s ‘Another Love’ to really get the crowd going.
Shortly after, the folk rock princess Elles Bailey took to the stage, with her band assembling to begin the instrumental before Elles took the stage to bring us cowgirl realness with her vibrant outfit and incredible energy. Owning the stage as she danced across, Bailey had everyone up and dancing throughout the set, opening with ‘Enjoy the ride’ and performing other hits such as ‘1972’ and ‘Love Yourself’. The entirety of her set embraced a vibrant and colourful feel, with incredible backstage graphics and matching energy from the band as a whole. Before concluding her set with the undeniably catchy ‘Sunshine City’, Bailey brought fans together to create one big Mexican wave through the venue which she videoed and posted on social media. It was this energy that certainly got fans ready to interact and dance along to the main act of the night, Rag‘n’Bone Man.
The band took to the stage to begin the show, performing the opening to the Calvin Harris collaboration ‘Lovers In A Past Life’ as Rag‘n’Bone Man took the stage waving and smiling at fans to take his spot centre stage. The entire venue lit up at his presence with supporters cheering to the sound of his deep baritone voice – singing along to the hit single. Following this entrance, Rag‘n’Bone Man‘s son was spotted at the side of the stage, handing him a paper aeroplane he had made which was then signed and thrown out into the crowd which fans went crazy for.
The set continued with fan favourite ‘Skin’ which went down a treat as he was seen striding across the stage to each corner to smile, wave and interact with fans during the beginning of the set. Pausing afterwards to reflect on his performance at the Piece Hall two years prior, asking if there were any fans who remember that night and making everyone laugh by recalling a sign from the gig that said ‘My mum says you’re my dad!’, claiming it as the strangest sign he’s ever had, a humorous reference which provoked laughs and cheers from the crowd.
Throughout the set, the energy was kept at a high, with a setlist of tracks which kept the atmosphere alive, accompanied by the vibrant stage graphics which complimented the set and lit up the venue. Bringing together fans of all ages dancing to his music which has become widely known after the release of the chart topping song ‘Human’, in 2016 which he played as he began to conclude his set.
Closing his set with ‘Giant’, another one of his collaboration tracks with Scottish DJ Calvin Harris, Rag‘n’Bone Man left the crowd on a high. With a sold out venue of fans dancing, jumping and singing along to the songs which have soundtracked our summers, Rag‘n’Bone Man’s set certainly did not disappoint, with singing and cheers radiating from the crowd.
Taped Magazine 