Photo Credit: Cuffe & Taylor
Words: Abi Hawes

Hometown heroes Embrace delivered an incredible show at The Piece Hall on Saturday night, marking their third sold out night at the historic venue. Celebrating 30 years as a band in front of a 6,500-capacity Halifax crowd, the evening felt far more like a city-wide event rather than just another concert.

Having spent the afternoon meeting fans, signing merchandise and even staging a flashmob for adoring fans at The Borough Market, it became immediately clear just how many people support the band. From the outset, Embrace ensured this would be a memorable celebration for both them and their loyal fanbase. 

The show came at the end of a week of intimate performances showcasing material from their new album ‘Avalanche‘, which was released just one day before the Halifax gig. During the gig, lead vocalist Danny, joked that they needed everyone in attendance to buy 300 copies each, in order to compete with Olivia Rodrigo who had also released an album the same week.

The evening began with local support act The Hazy Janes who were a 3-piece band with a garage rock edge. Despite being only a three-piece band, their garage rock sound was far bigger than expected. They played some of their tracks including ‘Blow Off the Dust‘, which all included a rocky feel and an energetic edge. Though the band seemed small in number, they clearly had a dedicated following, with several audience members proudly supporting in their merchandise. They also revealed that it was this week 5 years ago that they did their first gig together. With a distinctive sound and an effortlessly cool style, they provided a strong start to the night. Before closing their set, they invited two guests onto the stage, describing them as “local legends”. The band clearly have something to offer, and it was lovely to start the night with another band from the area. 

It was not long before the Scottish indie rock band Idlewild took to the stage. The set showed the evolution of their sound over the years. They opened their set with a fan favourite ‘You Held the World In Your Arms‘ which had a particularly positive reaction. The truly captivating part of their show was the guitarists, who caught the majority of the audience’s attention. Acknowledging their limited set time, the band pushed through a selection of fan favourites, including tracks such as ‘Little Discourage‘, ‘Love Steals Us From Loneliness‘, ‘American English‘ and ‘In Remote Part/Scottish Fiction‘.

The night flew by and it wasn’t long before Embrace took to the stage. The song ‘Down To the River to Pray’ by Alison Krauss snatched the attention of many fans, signalling the band’s arrival was imminent. Moments after, ‘What A Wonderful World‘ boomed from the speakers as a montage of the band flashed on the screen. The roar that greeted Embrace was deafening. As cheers and applause filled the venue, the unmistakeable introduction to their hit ‘All You Good Good People‘ began. The band sprung into action, as Danny McNamara walked around the stage putting his thumbs up and waving to many different people. Having seen the band ten times myself, I can confidently say this was the biggest reaction I have ever witnessed for that song.

They then played one of their new singles ‘Road To Nowhere‘, the first single released from their album ‘Avalanche‘. It was impressive that so many people were shouting the words back to the band, demonstrating the enthusiasm surrounding the bands new material. The opening of ‘One Big Family’ from their album ‘The Good Will Out‘ sparked another huge response, with the crowd shouting the introduction back to the band as Danny encouraged them to continue. 

Embrace then played two songs off their album ‘Out Of Nothing‘, including ‘Someday‘ and ‘Looking As You Are‘. There was a slight change in tone as the band played the slower song, as pictures of the band when they were younger and also pictures of fans who had submitted previously lit up the screen behind the band. It was like an impossible game of people trying to spot themselves. Not only this, but it showed how impeccable the band do sound, highlighting the amazing vocals behind Danny and Richard McNamara. 

They then shifted back to their upbeat sound, and Danny asked the audience to jump as they went into one of their biggest songs, ‘We Are It‘. The song perfectly captured the connection between the band and their audience. Virtually everyone in attendance sang all of the lyrics back to the band, creating one of the nights defining moments. It encapsulated not only the bands enduring appeal but also the significance of the occasion for those who have spent decades listening to their music. 

They swiftly moved onto ‘Save Me‘, a track from ‘Drawn From Memory‘, their second album to which they encouraged more jumping around to. Despite being performed less frequently than many of their other songs, the audience seemed to know every word. This gig not only celebrated the 30 years of the band, but for many, 30 years of listening to these tracks, to which soundtracked many fans’ lives. 

They then introduced ‘Pure-O‘, a track on their new album, which surprisingly enough many people knew. This track definitely reassures fans of the band’s familiar sound, while showing that the band still have so much to offer. This was followed by another recent single ‘Stop‘. Embrace claimed that they were really proud of this album, which the performance only cemented as the band played with infectious energy that radiated around The Piece Hall.

Next, they played ‘A Glorious Day‘, which felt rather fitting to the atmosphere around the venue. ‘Coming Home‘ was next on the setlist, a track they claim that could be as big as ‘Ashes‘ or ‘All You Good Good People’, not only is it catchy, but Richard’s solo in the song is absolutely incredible, highlighting his amazing vocals. He told the audience that the song was relatable for many of the crowd members as it is about having children that leave home before going into a crowd pleaser ‘Refugees‘. This song was introduced more simply as being about a big night out in Sheffield and no matter how many times I have heard this song live, it never loses its impact.

Danny returned to the stage to play another of their new songs ‘Get Out Of My Own Way‘, a song he claimed that is one of the most vulnerable songs he has ever made, inspired by his wife, who was present in the audience. Alongside ‘Up In Your Feelings‘, their most recent single ensured that the audience knew that the band still have what it takes to write fantastic tunes.

Throughout the evening, the 5-piece band sounded phenomenal. Their passion for both their music and their audience elevated the performance beyond a standard concert and made it feel genuinely special.

The closing stretch of the main began with ‘Gravity‘. It became clear that many members of the audience have seen the band before, as they knew the majority of the actions that Danny did. Couples embraced, some fans were visibly emotional and the crowd sang evert word back in unison. The show really did encapsulate the importance music has on people. Danny does a great job at making the audience feel involved, pointing at us when he sang the lyrics “the way gravity pulls on you and I”. The band truly do make the audience feel appreciated, and watching Danny take in the venue and all of the fans within it really did show their personalities.

They closed their main set with ‘Ashes‘, sparking one final eruption of energy. I have never experienced such a lively Embrace audience, as everyone sprung into life. It became so clear the importance the band has on individuals, and it felt magical as everyone jumped collectively. Despite many joking that they were now too old for such enthusiasm, almost everyone joined in. 

The band left the stage, and immediately the crowd were ready for more. It was not long until they returned, opening their encore with a song that has not been played since 2006, ‘Exploding Machines‘. Yet again, it became clear how the fans truly did adore their music, as the song was met with a positive reaction. Danny then explained that the last song for them to do off their new album was ‘Emily‘, a song for his 4-year-old daughter in case he is not around when she gets her heart broken. The vulnerable song was not only perfectly written but was catchy too, showcasing the skill that the band have.

The surprises continued with the track ‘The Love It Takes‘ from ‘Drawn From Memory’, which has only been played a handful of times since 2000. The band then went into ‘Come Back To What You Know‘ before closing the night with ‘The Good Will Out‘, a tune that concludes any gig exceptionally well. The crowd sang the final “na na na” refrain back to the band as Embrace stood and absorbed the final moments of a truly special night.

The set expertly balanced new material with beloved classics and deeper cuts, creating a show that celebrated every era of the bands career. While a few fan favourites were inevitably missed out, the sheer quality of the performance made it difficult to dwell on any omissions. With such so many songs, it would have been impossible to please everyone, but Embrace was remarkably close.

More than anything, the evening highlighted how important this band remains to so many people. Thirty years on, Embrace continue to produce outstanding music, deliver exceptional live performances and create unforgettable moments for their fans. Halifax could not have asked for a better celebration.

Photo Credit: Cuffe & Taylor