Photo Credit: James Mirfield
Words: Amy Booth

Tom Grennan ended his run of summer shows at Halifax’s Piece Hall perfectly on  Saturday the 26th July. With sunshine and a sold out-crowd, Tom Grennan reminded  everyone of exactly why he’s become one of Britain’s most exciting live artists. His  relentless energy is infectious, and his heartfelt honesty made the night feel truly  special.  

The evening began with two impressive support acts. Fiona-Lee opened with a set of  indie-rock, blending guitar riffs with storytelling. Finn Askew followed, bringing an  effortless mix of R and B and Hip-hop. His smooth vocals and relatable lyrics had the  crowd swaying from side to side, setting the tone for the headline act. 

Grennan opened with the first track ‘Full Attention’ from his most recent Number 1 album ‘Everywhere I went, Led me to Where I didn’t want to be’. Without hesitation, he  had the whole crowd dancing, clapping, and singing every word. His gripping stage  presence was matched by powerhouse vocals that remained consistent throughout the  night. 

The set mixed classic old school Tom Grennan with tracks such as ‘Royal Highness’ with  the popular upbeat feel-good tracks such as ‘All These Nights’, ‘Lion Heart’, and ‘By Your  Side’. As well as newer tracks from his most recent album including, ‘Higher’, ‘Diamond’,  and ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ 

He also mixed in tracks ‘Crown Your Love’, ‘Head Up’ and ‘How Does It Feel’ from his  2023 album ‘What If’s and Maybe’s’ which also debuted at Number 1. 

The songs from the latest album slotted seamlessly into the setlist, proving that the  newer material already feels at home alongside the fan favourites. ‘Cool With That’ saw  hands swaying across the crowd. 

During ‘Don’t Break The Heart’ Grennan slowed it down to showcase his incredible raw  vocals and this emphasised just how great of a vocalist he is as well as an energetic  performer. 

Before ‘Boy’s Don’t Cry’ Grennan admitted he had cried a few tears today and looking  around the venue, it was easy to see he was not alone in this. Father’s stood arm in arm  with their sons, sons climbed on their Dad’s shoulders and Mother’s set up their  cameras to capture their boys during this song. It was refreshing to see so many young  boys in attendance with their parents, and I truly believe that there could never be a  better role model for these lads. Grennan spreads the very important message that it is  okay for men to be vulnerable in a society that does not express this enough.

One of the night’s most heartfelt moments came during ‘Found What I’ve Been Looking  For’ where Grennan reflected on his journey across the past decade. Speaking openly to  the audience, as always, he admitted that this tour has been the most at peace he has  ever felt and joked about this being related to the name of the venue. His words  resonated with everyone at the Piece Hall.  

Grennan also performed ‘Let’s Go Home Together’ a fan favourite originally written and  performed by Ella Henderson and James Arthur but released with Grennan in 2021.  Grennan’s backing singer Petra Luke showcases incredibly strong vocals and the  charisma between them was perfect for the performance. 

By the time ‘How Does It Feel’ and ‘Lion Heart’ arrived, thousands of voices echoed  matching Grennan lyric for lyric.  

During ‘All Goes Wrong’ the crowd felt electric and the atmosphere felt like a replica of  the big summer festivals. 

‘Remind Me’ and the reflective ‘Something In The Water’- Grennan’s debut solo single allowed us to pause and really take in everything that he has achieved in the last 10  years. Grennan admitted that he truly does not know what he would be doing without  this, performing to his dedicated fans.  

Perhaps no song captured the collective energy quite like ‘Little Bit of Love’ which had every individual singing as one. 

Throughout the evening, Grennan repeatedly expressed his gratitude for the life that he  gets to live. He spoke candidly about feeling lost last year and how this run of shows has  reminded him as to why he makes music. His gratitude never felt rehearsed. 

As the final notes rang out under the summer sky, Grennan reassured us that he wants to do this forever and this left fans with plenty to look forward to.  

Ten years into his career, Grennan proves that the heart behind his music is still full of  passion. If this show at The Piece Hall is anything to go by, it promises that the next  chapter will be his biggest yet.