This Generation's Nirvana? Turnstile Turn Piece Hall Into A Hardcore Haven

Two reviewers, two takes: we dispatched a pair of writers to cover Turnstile's Piece Hall show from different angles. This is gig correspondent Ian Street's view.

Piece Hall really is a quite astonishing backdrop as a live music venue; it must be really unique for the artists, which is perhaps why it’s gone from strength to strength over the last few years. The summer lineup is now incredibly eclectic, bringing acts from across the musical spectrum to Halifax. Even so, luring Turnstile to Halifax for their only UK show in 2026 felt like a real coup and must surely have been the first time that Piece Hall has been turned over to hardcore.

I have a view that Turnstile is this generation's Nirvana, a band that has come from a unique scene that most people know little about and through releasing first Glow On and particularly Never Enough have released albums influenced by the scene but that are more accessible and have moved them out of the punk clubs and into venues like Piece Hall. Much of their appeal lies in the reputation for brilliant live performances, and a hugely expectant crowd packed the open-air venue.

Turnstile has come under some criticism, like any band that becomes successful from an underground scene, for moving away from those roots. However, they were clear in their appreciation for the UK hardcore scene and backed that up with the support slot going to London hardcore band Dynamite, who warmed things up nicely in what must surely have been their biggest show yet. They took to the big stage with energetic aplomb.

Before Turnstile took the stage, Islands in the Stream was the intro music, a beautiful nod to the news of the death of Dolly Parton, which had the whole crowd singing along. The sense of community and joy was so palpable in the crowd, which included people of all ages; it was intoxicating.

As the darkness drew in and the bright-coloured barcode backdrop was revealed, huge cheers went up as Turnstile roared onto the stage and into Birds, which instantly had the whole crowd bouncing. Unsurprisingly, tracks from Never Enough and Glow On dominated the setlist, but there was a good smattering of tracks from earlier albums, including Drop, Canned Head and Real Thing, showing what Turnstile are all about.

A massive singalong took place to I Care before the crowd was plunged into another sweaty mass for Dull and Don’t Play. It was clear that Turnstile’s live reputation was thoroughly deserved, and I can’t recall a band I’ve seen in a long time that can pull off the level of energy they have whilst ensuring that the sound and lyrics are spot on. Lead singer Brendan Yates is a whirling dervish feeding off the energy of the crowd to deliver a truly great performance.

A nod to being in the North of England saw the band throw in an unexpected cover of the Stone Roses’ I Wanna Be Adored, which was surprisingly effective and slowed things down and gave everyone a chance to catch their breath. Blackout, Never Enough and TLC finished off what was a truly euphoric gig. I’m not sure Piece Hall has experienced anything quite like it. This was a truly memorable show by one of the most energetic and best bands out there, a privilege to witness.