A virtual sell-out crowd filled Halifax’s historic Piece Hall on Saturday night as Supergrass rolled into town on the 30th anniversary tour of their landmark debut I Should Coco. The setting – a beautiful open-air square framed by stone arcades – was matched by an atmosphere that was buzzing long before the headliners took to the stage.
First up was local singer-songwriter Ellur, who immediately connected with the audience by sharing that her first-ever gig had taken place years ago in one of the venue’s corner art spaces. Returning to headline the courtyard itself was clearly a full-circle moment, and she seized it with charm and energy. Her set of indie-tinged pop songs, full of confidence and melodic flair, drew a healthy early crowd and plenty of warm applause. Tracks from her growing catalogue revealed a spunky, self-assured artist with a knack for choruses that stick – definitely one to watch.
Next came Sports Team, who were greeted by loud cheers from a section of loyal supporters scattered across the Piece Hall. Their angular, slightly off-kilter take on indie rock translated into a lively, engaging performance. The six-piece ran through fan favourites with unrelenting enthusiasm – M5 sparked a singalong, but it was Here’s The Thing that truly ignited the audience. Frontman Alex Rice bounded about the stage with his usual unpredictability, but perhaps the most memorable presence, as always with Sports Team, was their keyboard player Ben Mack, a quietly magnetic figure who either stood completely motionless or strolled to the stage edges with his hands clasped behind his back when not needed – an understated counterpoint to the chaos around him. By the end of the set, it felt inevitable they’d left with a few hundred new fans.
Then it was time for Supergrass. From the opening rush of I’d Like To Know and Caught By The Fuzz, the band delivered with the kind of precision and passion that reminded everyone why I Should Coco became such a beloved debut back in 1995. Gaz Coombes’ voice was rich and commanding, his guitar playing sharp throughout, while Danny Goffey’s drumming powered the set with unrelenting drive. At moments, he swapped onto guitar and bass while a drum machine held the rhythm, showing the band’s flexibility and sense of fun. Bassist Mick Quinn was in commanding form too – locking down the low end while his backing vocals gave real lift to the choruses.
The crowd was fully onside from the off, with pockets of mosh pits bubbling up throughout the night – at times verging on over-enthusiastic, but always fuelled by joy. Classic singles from across their catalogue were met with huge roars: Alright had the courtyard bouncing, Richard III sounded as fierce as ever, and Moving brought a wave of arms swaying in unison.
After closing the main set with Grace, the band returned for an encore that underlined just how deep their catalogue of anthems runs. Sun Hits the Sky shimmered gloriously into the night air, before Pumping on Your Stereo capped things off in euphoric style – the crowd chanting back every word.
Thirty years on from their debut, Supergrass remain a thrilling live act – tight, playful, and still radiating the energy that made them one of Britpop’s brightest bands. Long may it continue.
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