October 2023. Halifax.
I’d actually come to Halifax for a gig, and you’ll be astonished to know this wasn’t a 22 year old Californian singing about duff boyfriends with sportscars. Lisa O’ Neill sings about the Irishwoman who shot Mussolini in the nose, which I guess is a marginally more serious topic, unless you’re a 22 year old Californian.
Lisa’s record is great, but it was the venue that made this unmissable.
One of many unmissable sights in Halifax, the Minster hosts occasional gigs by candlelight,
and is a stunning place to hear live music, though the remaining seats are what they’d call “restricted view”, even at Goodison Park.
One of the UK’s 5* churches, and I bet no-one visits it outside of events.
I caught up with “Mr Music” Chris Dyson at the gig, having clumsily failed to meet him in Halifax due to my error of failing to read messages. I really am a social media dolt, and will no doubt be replaced by AI at some point.
Mrs RM will never be replaced by AI, and thus needs food, so we stopped at the new Vocation bar (previously the Lantern).
Speaking of music, I was last in the Lantern when Tiffany was about to play there. I’d love to see Tiffany do the Minster. Make it happen, Halifax.
The Vocation was a mixed bag.
Average (NBSS 3) cask, and Mrs RM would have appreciated a 12% imperial stout like in Sheffield.
A giant rambling place, like a superior Brew Dog, with lots of after-work crowds eating excellent giant pizza from next door.
With a 90s indie soundtrack it felt a bit “townie” compared to the craft bars in the ‘Fax, but it was packed on a Thursday so clearly a winner.
I’m unsure how busy the Piece Hall is on a Thursday, but it’s still one of our great buildings at dusk,
and while I headed to the Minster, Mrs RM made her way to the Square Chapel for her own, rather less prominent, evening entertainment.
Of which more later.
retiredmartin 